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Scottish Welfare FundFor Decision Makers
What We’re Covering
Day 1• Background• Who can get a grant– Eligibility– Qualifying conditions– Priority– Budget
Day 2• Making decisions– Putting it into practice– Decision making stages– Gathering and dealing
with evidence– Making decisions– Communicating
decisions
• Reviews
Aims Of The Course
• To know who is eligible for a grant, who qualifies and how to prioritise applications
• To understand the stages of decision making• To be aware of good practice in gathering
information and evaluating evidence• To be aware of other types of support
Welfare Reform
Community care grant REPLACED by Scottish Welfare Fund April 2013
Crisis loan – alignment payment
REPLACED by DWP short-term advance from April 2013
Crisis loan – other REPLACED by Scottish Welfare Fund April 2013
Budgeting loan Available until universal credit fully rolled outThose on UC get budgeting advance instead
Developing the Scottish Welfare Fund
Addresses similar needs to previous provision
What’s the difference?
►No loans ►Not just cash grants
– goods too►Local delivery but
national guidance ►Delivered by Local
Government ►Linking to other
support – it’s holistic
Delivery by Local Government
Benefits• You already support
vulnerable people• So there can be better
outcomes for users• National infrastructure in
place• Reliable delivery in a tight
timescale• Some concerns but
delivering interim scheme
Opportunities/Challenges
PLUS• Closer link to needs
of users• holistic support and
early intervention• Improved delivery
• making best of local opportunities and meeting local needs
MINUS• Balancing supply and
demand at a time of change in benefits system and few job opportunities
• Tight timetable in high profile area of great importance to vulnerable people
Scottish Welfare Fund – Two Purposes
provide a safety net in an emergency when there is an immediate threat to health or safety
Crisis Grant
enable independent living or continued independent living, preventing the need for institutional care
Community Care Grant
To offer grants or in kind support in order to
I’m Fatima. I’ve got 3 sons and have just separated from my
husband.
• We had to move quickly. The youngest are sharing a bed, we haven’t got enough bedding and the boys haven’t got the things they need for school
• I pay rent of £150 a week. I claimed housing benefit but they’ve only given me £137 a week.
• My sister is doing her best to help us out but that can’t go on for ever
Who Can Get a Grant
Stage 1 Are they eligibleRepeat applications/ exclusions/ qualifying benefit
Stage 2 Do they qualifyDo personal/ family circumstances meet the criteria in guidance
Stage 3 Are they a priorityHigh, medium or low given nature, extent, severity and urgency of need, vulnerability
Stage 4 Is there money in the budget
Stage 1 Eligibility
• Identity check/ home address• Repeat applications• Exclusions• Qualifying benefit
HOLISTIC If grant refused at this stage, what other help or support can you offer?
CCG Stage 1 EligibilityRepeat Applications
• Not if previous award (or refusal) in last 28 days for same items or services
EXCEPTION Relevant change of circumstances
CCG Stage 1 EligibilityExclusions
Excluded living arrangements
• Care home resident• Hospital in-patient • In prison or release on
temporary licence unless plans to discharge/ release within 8 wks,
• Member of religious order fully maintained
Other• Savings and capital• Excluded needs eg, for
education, TV, phone, debts, holidays
• Benefit sanctions
This slide is blank
CCG Stage 1 EligibilityQualifying Benefits
Applicants aged 16 or over and getting
• Income support• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance• Income-related employment and support allowance• Pension credit • Payment on account of one of these
EXCEPTION Likely to get benefit when they leave care
Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityRepeat Applications
• Maximum 3 awards in rolling 12 month period
• Must allow claim and make decision – but only up to this stage
• Discretion to allow more awards in exceptional circumstances where applicant can show no fault on their part
• Not if previous award (or refusal) in last 28 days for same items or services
EXCEPTION relevant change of circumstances
Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityExclusions
• Benefit claim in progress• Other resources• Excluded needs eg, for
education, TV, phone, debts, holidays
• Benefit sanctions
This slide is blank
Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityQualifying Benefits
Applicants aged 16 or over and getting
• Income support• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance• Income-related employment and support allowance• Pension credit • Payment on account of one of these
EXCEPTION No other means of support and grant will help avoid serious risk or damage to health or safety
CCG Stage 2 Qualifying Conditions
CCGs are to help• Someone moving out of residential care into the
community• Someone stay in the community rather than have to
go into care• Someone set up home after an unsettled way of life• Families under exceptional pressures• Someone care for a prisoner or young offender on
release
CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsMoving Out Of Residential
Care/Establishing in the CommunityThe accommodation• Must have been in
accommodation where received ‘significant and substantial care, supervision or protection’ – eg hospital, care home,
prison
The risk• Must be a risk of person
not being able to live independently without the grant
CCG Stage 2 Qualifying conditionsAt Risk Of Going Into Care
• Must be a risk that won’t be able to continue to live independently without the grant
• Consider how immediate the likelihood of having to go into care is, and whether the item or service requested would prevent this happening
CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsSetting Up Home After Unsettled Way Of Life
• Must be getting help as part of a planned resettlement programme
• Eg, after being homeless, or after staying in a hostel
CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsFamilies Under Exceptional Pressures• Exceptional pressures =
eg. disabled/ ill child, relationship breakdown, housing problems
• Applicants must be without resources to provide safe and secure environment for their children
Family = someone with a dependent child, including someone heavily pregnant
CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsCaring For A Prisoner On Release
• Must be someone staying with applicant on temporary licence from prison or youth detention centre
• Normally to help with their living expenses
Crisis Grant Stage 2 Qualifying Conditions
Immediate short-term living expenses needed because of an emergency
• ‘Emergency’ = unforeseen circumstance of pressing need which needs immediate action
• Eg, losing money or having money stolen, having had to leave home suddenly
Items or living expenses needed because of a disaster
• ‘Disaster’ = event of great or sudden misfortune, usually causing damage to, destruction or loss of, possessions or property
• Eg, serious flood or fire
Travelling Expenses
• No separate criterion
• Award in connection with crisis or
• In support of independent living
• Standard rate public transport
Recap Community Care Grant
Eligibility• ID/home address• Repeat applications– 28 day rule
• Exclusions– Excluded living
arrangements– Excluded items/ needs– Capital limit– Benefit sanctions
• Qualifying benefit
Qualifying conditions• Moving out of care• Staying in community• Setting up home after
unsettled way of life• Families under
exceptional pressure• Caring for prisoner on
release
Recap Crisis Grant
Eligibility• ID/home address• Repeat applications
– 3 per 12 months– 28 day rule
• Exclusions– Benefit claim pending– Other resources– Excluded items/ needs eg
phone– Benefit sanctions
• Qualifying benefit
Qualifying conditions• Immediate living
expenses because of emergency
• Items or living expenses because of disaster
Stage 3 Assessing Priority
High Medium Low
Need ImmediateSevere
Less immediateLess severe
Not time critical
Vulnerability High Moderate Some resilience
Consequences of no grant to health/ wellbeing
Significantly adverse
Moderately adverse
No identifiable effect
Effect of grant ImmediateSubstantial
Noticeable Minor
Stage 4 Budget
• From time to time, new decision on whether budget can meet high, medium or low priority applications
• Consider affordability• Decide based on date application received
(not date decided)
What Level of GrantCrisis grants• How much is needed• Maximum amounts– 60% income support
personal allowance for adult + full allowance for each child
– 30% if not liable for rent, mortgage (but not homeless)
• No minimum amount• Valuation assessment
CCG• Discretion to set
minimum (eg, £30)• Amount discretionary –
should be enough to meet the need
• List of items and costs available to check
• Can award goods instead of cash
• Valuation assessment
Other Support for ApplicantsYour local authority• Discretionary housing
payments• Benefit check• Social work financial
support (section 12 or 22 for families/ section 27 prisoner release)
• Housing options• School meals/ clothing
Direct referral• DWP • Save the Children – Eat,
Sleep, Learn Play• Family Fund• Other local authority• CAB
Other Support for ApplicantsOther local support• CAB• Money advice• Financial capability• Food bank• Furniture recycling• Women’s aid• Shelter• Carer’s centre• Fuel efficiency• Employability
Scottish Welfare FundFor Decision Makers
Day 2
What We’re Covering
Day 1• Background• Who can get a grant– Eligibility– Qualifying conditions– Priority– Budget
Day 2• Making decisions– Putting it into practice– Decision making stages– Gathering and dealing
with evidence– Making decisions– Communicating
decisions
• Reviews
Making an Application
How• Face to face• By phone • Online • By downloading and
posting a form
Which of these does your local authority provide?
Who• By applicant – with or
without support eg, CAB
• By appointee• By someone else – eg,
family, CAB (get consent)
Suggested Decision Making Process
1. Evidence
2. Facts
3. Decision
•Check application•What are the issues eg,
–Crisis grant or CCG–What item or expense requested–What potential criteria
•From this decide what facts needed•Look at evidence in hand•If not enough, gather more•Weigh evidence
•From evidence establish facts
•Make decision based on facts•Record decision (and facts/evidence)•Communicate decision
Which Facts Are Relevant
• Check application• What are the issues• What potential criteria might apply
Gathering Evidence
• Do you have enough evidence already• What other evidence do you need• What potential sources are there• What method will you use to get the evidence
(phone, writing, interview, home visit)• Think how to phrase your questions
Weighing Evidence
• Some evidence has greater weight
• Balance of probability• Some issues– Inconsistencies– Mental ill health– Corroboration– Previous applications– Late evidence
Communicating the Decision
• Time limits– Crisis grants as soon as possible
2 days maximum– CCGs 15 working days
• Method– By phone for crisis grant if
possible– Always follow up in writing and
include standard information • Advise on other support– Eg, debt advice, benefit check
Recording and Monitoring
• Decision should be clearly recorded
• Must include summary of relevant facts and evidence
• Was guidance followed?
• Documents kept for 6 years
Reviews
I’ve been offered a loaded store card instead of cash and I’m NOT happy. I’m able to go round the shops and pick out my own cooker.
What can I do about it?
I’m Mike. I applied for a
community care grant.
Grounds for Review
• Disagree with decision on eligibility eg• Whether on qualifying benefit• Whether repeat application
• Disagree with priority level• Disagree with support provided eg• Award too low• Item/ supervised spend instead of cash
• Not enough information gathered• Disagree about evidence
Not Grounds For Review
• Disagree with set level of priority for budget eg if only high priority applications get award
• Unhappy with how they were treated during application process
Refer to Local Authority usual complaints procedure
Applications For Review• Time limit to apply – 20 working days from
original decision • Should apply in writing – explain reason – give date of decision– include an explanation if there has been a change
of circumstances since the application– signed by applicant (or consent for other to act)
First Tier Reviews
• Crisis Grant Reviewsshould be carried out as soon as possible, and within 2 working days
Carried out by a different decision maker, not involved in original decision
• Community Care Grant Reviews should be carried out within 15 working days
Notify applicants in writing, or by phone ASAP if urgent
If applicant not happy can ask for second tier review
For More Information
• Scottish Welfare Fund Guidance• Decision Makers Guide• Improvement Service