1. U Can Pilot: How effective is the proactive approach?
Presentation to CWAG
July 2016
Nyree Laugharne and Sara Nott

2. Our aims
To understand what resources are required to support tenants to get UC ready
To equip tenants to manage UC for themselves

3. What did we do?

4. Case Study – the ‘Jones’ Family:
An example of what we found, the benefits of support and what can be achieved
Case Study – the ‘Jones’ Family:
As a direct result of the support received progress to readiness has been made
One tenant is working and one on FTE and planning to go to University

5. What did we find? ! Quite important Not so important ← Here and now

6. Money management strategies
Using weekly, fortnightly and monthly income to guide cash flow “Good week, bad week”
Avalanche of debt caused by poor financial management – overwhelming
Not just knowledge and skills

7. Credit Union U Can started with this pilot: Jam jar accounts
Rent management accounts
Saving account
People still want autonomy and privacy

8. IT and Work club Provided local access – DWP grant for IT
Job club and employment advice
Very small uptake
Better success with home visit strategy

9. ECCABI MoneyBox 18 started level 1 – 14 fully completed
Level 2 – 5 started – 4 completed
Most participants improved their readiness
This training has really helped tenants change their lives

10. Our Direct Payment Trial
17 removed during the trial;
10 had changes to HB
7 removed for non or under-payment – some of these at the very end of the trial
At the end of the trial 11 chose to stay on direct payments

11. Our qualitative assessment
Reviewed the progress of 76 tenancies:
Debt management
Budgeting and monthly payments
Online access and making a UC claim
Managing benefits, and
Employment training

12. Did we help to get tenants get ready?

13. Net progress

14. What is ready? Assumptions challenged:
Information and skills = readiness
More support = more readiness
Once ready, stay ready
The role of the claimant commitment

15. Our findings Support provided many improvements in people’s lives
But the direct impact on ‘managing Universal Credit housing costs’ was limited
Is there a role for the housing provider?

16. Potential impacts?
Considering these results for CHL if 28% can manage UC:
Just HB claimants – 2520 in total may struggle
HB who need lots of support – 1645 tenants
Intermittent = 875

17. What next? Considering these results We are looking at our options
What will be the impact on the customer?
What will be the potential impact on partners in Cornwall?

18. 3 case studies Different needs
3 case studies Different needs. Different journeys (Provide overview dependant on available time)

19. Different needs, different journeys
“The support worker persuaded me to go onto ECABBI,
and the training increased my confidence more than I ever thought possible.”

20. Different needs, different journeys
Photo removed
Because of their high level of social anxiety “our support worker enabled us to do our Moneybox course from home.
The training taught me to write down incomings and outgoings, it really helped me to have that visual.”

21. Different needs, different journeys
“Without the support I received from the U Can project I would have given up.
The support workers could get answers to questions I couldn’t.”