1. Overcoming Barriers to Financial Support
Steve Dubbins
Benefits Advice Programme Manager

2. Barriers to take-up Lack of awareness about potential entitlements
Complexity of the benefits and tax credit systems
Poor benefit administration, particularly decision making, resulting in wrongly refused claims
Lack of support available with benefit checks, claims and appeals
Stigma attached to claiming

3. Consequences...
DWP estimate up to £11 billion in means-tested benefits went unclaimed in 2009/2010
This does not include DLA and AA – which have take-up rates of approximately 55% and 65%, respectively.
It is estimated that the combined benefit and tax-credit under-claim is in excess of £20 billion.
Even when people successfully make claims they may not always receive their full entitlement (DLA underpayments in amounted to £260 million)

4. Funding for advice and support
There is no statutory duty to provide advice services
Austerity measures have led to wide-scale decommissioning
Legal Aid is no longer available for social welfare law (e.g. benefits, employment, debt & housing)
A perfect storm: Increasing need, diminishing provision and the most radical reforms since Beveridge

5. Welfare Reform Welfare Reform Act 2012
Intention to simplify the benefit system and encourage people to move into work
A complete restructure of working age benefits
Social Security expenditure to be reduced by £22 billion per annum by
A further reduction of £10 billion announced in budget

6. Personal Independence Payment
PIP replacing DLA for year olds
No new claims from June 2013
Aim to reduce number of claimants by 500,000
More medical assessments
Tougher criteria, shorter awards, more frequent reviews
DLA renewal or changes of circumstances will require claim for PIP

7. Universal Credit
UC completely restructures means-tested benefits provision for working age claimants
Introduces ‘Digital by Default’ – claims will have to be made online.
Payment will be made once a month (to mirror salaries)
Aim for UC to be fully implemented by 2017

8. Some other highlights
Housing Benefit cut for working age tenants of social landlords (bedroom tax/spare room subsidy)
Council Tax Benefit localised and reduced by 10 per cent
Help with mortgage interest payments reduced by 50%
Contributory- based ESA time-limited to 12 months
Discretionary Social Fund (Grants and Loans) replaced by local authority support schemes

9. Macmillan’s Financial Support Programme
Welfare Rights Line
Macmillan Grants
Local
benefits advice
services
Policy & campaigns
Financial
Guidance
Information Resources

10. Local benefits services - 2012 impact
Local advisers helped more than 112,000
Financial gains of £191m
126 benefits services

11. Policy & Campaigns
Welfare Reform
Fuel Poverty
Prescription charges

12. Maximising Income: Some Tips
If you’re struggling financially or just want to make sure you’re not missing out get a benefits entitlement check (use the internet, your local CAB, or ask a health or social care professional to refer you)
If entitlements are identified try to get support with the claiming process.
When you receive a decision get it checked by an advisor immediately – there are tight time- limits for appeals and reconsiderations
If you’re refused try to get support with your appeal and don’t give up, decisions are often overturned at appeal

13. Concluding remarks
Income maximisation at the earliest opportunity (and at key transition points) can significantly reduce financial hardship and improve well-being
However, accessing advice and navigating social welfare is arguably more challenging now than it has ever been
Charities must work together to build capacity and to ensure that advice and support is embedded within future care pathways

14. Thank you,
any questions?