Work and welfare reform impacts in the South West Survey of 200 working age social housing tenants

WORK 57% of households out of work 52% households with ill health or disability 80% of tenants not confident in their ability to find and hold down work Work does not reliably cover costs 83% of working households rely on benefits

WELFARE REFORM 67% do not feel well informed Worry Universal Credit will disrupt budgets and cause arrears Monthly, direct and bundled payments Bedroom tax most significant financial impact on households so far

FINANCIAL MANGEMENT Making ends meet Cutting back on food Cutting back on household goods and utilities Selling belongings Depleting savings Borrowing money Resort to family  Sustainable? Split between households just managing and households really struggling

LOOKING AHEAD Round 2 of our survey begins April 2014 Ten case studies on work and welfare reform Next report due Autumn 2014

Survey of 16 Housing Associations (Regional) 16 Associations, one small one large in each region October-November 2013

Major changes dealing with wider challenges Very active planning round welfare reform Wider efficiency and structural changes Reviewing: Operations – much more front line IT; split of arrears/money advice teams Policies – restrictions and finance checks for new lets; stricter enforcement of arrears; increased focus on energy efficiency “Housing plus” – more work around jobsearch/ apprentices/ community support/ supporting foodbanks Overall more contact with tenants previously “unseen”

Views of impact Lots of financial contingency planning Financial impact contained so far for associations BUT clear tenants increasingly vulnerable Uncertainty about medium term – admin/delivery/unresolved policy Development programme cumulative risks Committed to work/WR agenda; but frustrated by DWP/timetable Working hard to make new system work BUT not being deployed to best advantage