THE STORY OF THE MINIMUM INCOME SCHEME REPORTAn Analysis of Minimum Income Schemes conducted by EAPN for the Irish Minimum Income Network

Audry Deane, October 2014

What I will cover in this talk

And I will try very hard not to duplicate what other speakers are going to shsare with you......

But wull attemtpt to offer you a glimpse of the insights, ideas, energy and commitment I

Why the report, what it is about Changes to MIS Key themes Key challenges and next steps

What the report is all about

What I found along the way....

Varying levels of knowledge on how widespread meanstesting is.....

SWA widely understood as the scheme of last resort

When, why, what, whoWhat schemes we are not talking

about:Social Insurance Payments, Universal Payments

What schemes we are talking about: Jobseekers Allowance, Supplementary Welfare

Allowance, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Farm/Fish Assist, Carers Allowance - schemes aimed at people of working age

What themes we concentrated on: Adequacy, coverage and take up

Snapshot view of relevant stats...

Homelessness growing

Food Poverty

Lone parents

Health inequalities

Early School Leavers

Poverty Deprivation Unemployment, Youth

unemployment /NEETS, ESL Jobless households

Changes to MIS & secondary benefits

Cost of Education Allowance cut then abolished....

Back to School Footwear & Clothing payment halved for under 12 yr olds

Rent Supplement changes......

Cuts to JSA for young people began in Budget 09, and by Budget 14 max rate was €100 for those up to 24 yrs

Drastic changes to One Parent Family Payment, changes in eligibility, earning disregards,

Christmas Bonus abolished

Adequacy, coverage & take up of MIS

Those affected by the HRC and people within the Direct Provision system are not covered.....

Qualified Adults.....

MIS payment levels remain below poverty lines, SWA still remains €2 below the basic social welfare payment

VPSJ research shows the cost of an MESL rose more than the CPI putting it ahead of inflation and in the majority of cases does not provide an adequate income

Most felt that the high number of schemes covered most circumstances

Administrative barriers , access issues, varying practices in different settings

What is wrong with MIS

Secondary benefits can become poverty & unemployment traps for some

Different mean tests for lone parents for Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance than couples

HAP now in pilot

Contingency and complexity of schemes Number of means tests for different

schemes Volume of demand, issues of

appropriate activation, skills & training mismatching, DES & SOLAS collaboration

Need for cultural change to permeate to all levels and schemes

Need for better data sharing between departments, DSP, DES/SOLAS, LAs

What needs to change in MIS

Glass screens not part of the Minister for Social Protection’s vision for service

Adequacy debate is critical

More simplicity, transparency & fairness

Avoid means testing or standardise - central unit ?

Agree definition of adequacy which creates safe floor below which various groups will not fall

Improve quality of service provision Evaluate reasons for so many

schemes