1. Welfare Reform Update Tracey Nicola Training and Development Officer Revenues and Benefits Southend Borough Council

2. Welfare Reform Updates Council Tax Reduction (CTR) Replacement to Council Tax Benefit Everyone (except some pensioners) to pay something towards their Council Tax Starting a new consultation on how the scheme will work for year 2

3. Welfare Reform Updates Size Criteria Last report (run monthly) was 749 affected cases 598 14% 151 25% 166 successful applications for DHP funding

4. Welfare Reform Updates Benefit Cap Went live 15 th July 2013 Rolled in over 5 weeks Last estimate of affected cases was 187 – 49 loosing over £100 per week Working in partnership with JobCentre Plus Revised DHP policy

5. Welfare Reform Updates Essential Living Fund – Statistics April Total number of calls Total for Essex Total for Southend Total for Thurrock APRIL 447130591058354 MAY 472533631362377 JUNE 435028841035431 JULY 441725511416450

6. Welfare Reform Updates Essential Living Fund Total number of applications TelephoneOnline APRIL1093 251 Southend, 117 Thurrock, 725 Essex 606487 MAY1245 218 Southend, 125 Thurrock, 902 Essex 855390 JUNE1171 238 Southend, 153 Thurrock, 785 Essex 704472 JULY1090 218 Southend, 148 Thurrock, 724 Essex 667423

7. Welfare Reform Updates Essential Living Fund Under Budget Gathering Feedback Monthly meetings with providers Approved Partners Finalists for National Award Future Tie into healthy eating Courses for budgeting and life skills System improvements

8. Questions? Questions?