1. Welfare Reform Working Group 26 th September 2012

2. 2 Welfare Reform changes from April 2013 Universal Credit Benefit Cap Under occupation penalty Personal Independence Payment Changes to Council Tax Benefit Social Fund Reform Some residents will be affected by multiple changes

3. Universal Credit Pathfinder

4. 4 Universal Credit Brings together a range of working age benefits into a single monthly payment. The benefits replaced by Universal Credit are Income Support Income-Based Job Seekers Allowance Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance Housing Benefit Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credit

5. 5 Single combined benefit with households as the primary unit An integrated contract with terms and conditions (for eligible claimants) Claims process via online self service Housing Benefit will be paid direct to claimants Significant changes

6. 6 Universal Credit timeline for Oldham DateClaimant group April 20134 Pathfinder areas (Oldham, Tameside, Warrington and Wigan) implement UC for limited group of JSA claimants October 2013National roll out commences for all new JSA claimants January 2014New Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit April 2014New IS, ESA and HB claims July 2014Managed migrations with priority given to those who will benefit most from the transition From 2015 - 2017 A gradual managed transfer of the remaining claims for all benefits included

7. 7 Pathfinder PhaseTimescalesActivity 1October 2012 to March 2013 Preparing communities and individuals for UC 2April 2013 – October 2013 Preparing communities and individuals for UC Supporting those claimants who move to UC

8. 8 Aims for the Pathfinder activity Provide claimant and community support - strong focus on testing approaches with BME communities Supporting on line access Provide access to Financial and Budgeting Support Identify claimants with complex needs and assess support required Monitor, evaluate and feedback

9. 9 Next Steps Meeting on the 28 th September will confirm what the DWP want us to deliver Funding confirmed early October Project begins mid October

10. 10 Opportunities for RSL’s to be involved Communications Supporting on line access Financial and Budgeting Support Understanding your tenants with complex needs and assess support required Monitoring the impact on your organisations and your tenants

11. 11 Discussion and any questions?

12. Findings from Data Analysis

13. 13 Benefit Cap in Oldham Information received from DWP shows –194 households affected –All are households with children The highest cap in Housing Benefits is £185.00 per week The highest overall cap is £303.60 per week

14. 14 LANDLORD NUMBER OF CLAIMANTS AKSA28 CONTOUR7 FIRST CHOICE HOMES36 GREAT PLACES23 GUINNESS NORTHERN COUNTIES1 REGENDA13 VILLAGES3 PRIVATE LANDLORDS83 OLDHAM194

15. 15 LANDLORD NUMBER OF CLAIMANTS WEEKLY REDUCTION IN HB ANNUAL REDUCTION IN HB AKSA28 £1,787.71£92,960.92 CONTOUR7 £257.27£13,378.04 FCHO36 £1,903.58£98,986.16 GREAT PLACES23 £1,282.15£66,671.80 GUINNESS NC1 £38.23£1,987.96 REGENDA13 £791.93£41,180.36 VILLAGES3 £33.95£1,765.40 PRIVATE LANDLORDS 83 £5,102.12£265,310.24 OLDHAM194 £11,196.94£582,240.88

16. 16 Size criteria 8,791 working age Housing Benefits claimants in the social rented sector Reviewed 8,290 (so far), of those 2,460 are under occupied (30%) –2,013 are under occupied by 1 bedroom, this would result in an average reduction in eligible rent of £10.83 per week – 447 are under occupied by 2 bedrooms or more, this would result in an average reduction in eligible rent of £20.51 per week

17. Data Sharing Protocol

18. 18 Activities and Proposed Timelines Requirement for data sharing protocol –Draft protocol being developed and undergoing internal review –Request for information from each RSL Confirming the information we will supply –Circular A5/2012 –Benefit cap - Details of HB award and any shortfall in amount can be supplied to a landlord so that the landlord and LA can consider what help might be provided. –Social Sector size criteria - Landlord can confirm property details to help identify people affected by the new rules. LA HB team can share details about the HB award to help decide what support might be available.

19. 19 Agreeing the method of transfer –Secure portal being developed Your responsibilities once you have received the data –How do you intend to maintain the security of the data?

20. 20 Discussion and any questions?

21. Communications Action Plan and Timeline

22. 22 Developing a Welfare Reform Action Plan and Communications Plan Progress will be reported to OHIP Board Communications Action Plan and Timeline

23. 23 Proposed Benefit Cap activities HB and DWP DateActivity September 20123 rd Data scan received Needs to be checked to HB records and discrepancies reported to DWP September/ October 2012/ DWP writing to claimants affected October 2012HB to write to claimants affected January 2012HB to write to claimants affected End March 2012Benefit notifications will advise reduced benefits

24. 24 Proposed Underoccupation activities HB DateActivity September 2012Collect bedroom data from RSL’s and match to HB data Resolve discrepancies October 2012/early November HB to write to claimants affected advising will be sharing data with landlord End March 2012Benefit notifications will advise reduced benefits

25. 25 What don’t we know? When we will receive further data scans from DWP When we will receive the final data scan from DWP How the DWP will transfer the final data

26. 26 Working together Sharing information Agreeing wording and timing of letters What contact information do you want to include? What support can you offer ? What else can we do together ?……………

27. 27 Discussion and any questions?