Crisis and Care award scheme Mark Ransom Assessment Manager

Introduction - Background Part of the Welfare Reform Act 2012 Elements of current Social Fund will be abolished from April 2013 and replaced with a localised scheme administered by Local authorities New service does not need to reflect current Social Fund scheme Local authorities have been encouraged to think radically and creatively when creating the new service.

Introduction to Cornwall scheme Cornwall Council’s CLT agreed that an in-house scheme will be adopted for administering the localised scheme from April 2013 Shared Services assessment team will be responsible for administering the fund from April 2013 During 2013 alternative delivery options will be explored Short time scale to design and implement the scheme ready for go-live date of 02/04/2013 Named as Crisis and Care Award Scheme

What remains in the Social Fund? Budgeting loans will continue to be available until UC is fully rolled out. As customers migrate to UC they will have access to a new system of budgeting advances. Sure start maternity grants Funeral payments Cold weather payments Winter fuel payments

General information Will be a telephone and web based service only, there will be no face to face provision Moving away from paying out cash awards, instead purchasing goods and services as required on behalf of the customer Working with charitable partners to look into re- conditioned goods where possible Web based application which can be completed by customer over the internet, completed by an advisor on behalf of a customer over the telephone or used by external partner organisations

General information - continued Signposting to other departments/organisations will be a big part of process whether an award is made or not Emergency funding only, not used for budgeting Maximum household award of £1500 per application Maximum award of £1500 per household per year

Background continued These new awards will not be loans This will help to relieve hardship in the longer term and hopefully break the cycle of repeat claims, especially when coupled with signposting to outside support organisations/charities etc, as well as helping with immediate short term need Budget of £835,074 for 2013/14 so careful monitoring of expenditure required

Crisis Awards Available to anyone (whether on benefits or not as long as they meet eligibility criteria) To help those who cannot meet immediate short term need due to emergency or disaster Must be able to prove/provide evidence of need

Crisis awards – eligibility quick guide Must be aged over 16 Must not have received financial assistance from another source for the same reason Must be without sufficient resources to meet immediate short term needs of self/family Must not be excluded person (i.e. in hospital, care home, prison) Must not be a person subject to immigration control Must not be for an excluded item

Care Awards Assistance to help people remain in the community Help with the care of a prisoner or young offender on release on a temporary licence Ease exceptional pressures on families Help people setting up home as part of a resettlement plan

Care awards – Eligibility quick guide Must be in receipt of qualifying benefit Must not have access to funds or capital in excess of £1500 Must not be a person subject to immigration control Care award must not be for excluded item Must have a local connection (however this may be waived in certain exceptional circumstances)

Crisis & Care awards – some excluded items Outside the UK Educational or training need (including clothes and tools) Travelling expenses to or from school School uniform Expenses in connection with court proceedings Domestic assistance and respite care Work related expenses Investments This list is not exhaustive

Any questions? Over the next few weeks more details will be published on the Council’s website: From 2 April 2013 a dedicated team of advisors will be available on (press option 2)

Cornwall Council County Hall Truro TR1 3AY Tel: