Post on 03-Jan-2016
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Steve Dubbins Benefits Advice Programme Manager
Overcoming Barriers to Financial Support
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
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
2007 amounted to £260 million)
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
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 2014-2015
• A further reduction of £10 billion announced in 2012 budget
Personal Independence Payment
• PIP replacing DLA for 16-64 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
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
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
Financial
Guidance
Macmillan’s Financial Support Programme
Macmillan
Welfare Rights Line
Local
benefits advice
services
Macmillan Grants
Policy & campaigns
Information Resources
Local benefits services - 2012 impact
• Local advisers helped more than 112,000
• Financial gains of £191m
• 126 benefits services
Policy & Campaigns
• Welfare Reform
• Fuel Poverty
• Prescription charges
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
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
Thank you, any questions?