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Welfare Reform and the implications for Scotland

This presentation outlines the importance of welfare reform for Scotland, what the Scottish Government is doing, and the potential impacts on local partnerships. It also provides suggestions on how individuals and organizations can get involved in the process.

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Welfare Reform and the implications for Scotland

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  1. Welfare Reform and the implications for Scotland

  2. Outline of Presentation • Why Welfare Reform matters to Scotland • What the Scottish Government is doing • Overview of the proposals • Potential impacts on local partnerships • What you might want to think about • How you can be involved

  3. Why does it matter? • Biggest item of UK Government spend in Scotland -£9990m in 2008/09 • State pension, pension credit and winter fuel payments – 62.6% • Disability benefits – 24.5% • Job seekers allowance – only 2.5% • Scotland over-represented in nearly all major benefits groups – Glasgow’s IB caseload extreme in Scottish and GB terms

  4. Why does it matter? • Decisions on reserved policy can impact on devolved policy – SG has no control over housing benefit policy, yet HB is essential to financing and maintaining housing supply in Scotland • And vice versa – SG introduced free personal and nursing care, UKG withdrew Attendance Allowance adding £30m pa to Scottish costs

  5. Why does it matter • People on benefits live, work and contribute in our communities • People on benefits will access our services and this will be influenced by their sense of financial security and well being • Some of our SG, local authority and third sector services are predicated on access to benefits or “passporting”

  6. What Scottish Government is doing • Recognised that there is a legitimate role for Scottish Government and its partners • Need to have an understanding of the impact on our people, the policies that we own and the services that are delivered in Scotland • Need to articulate the Scottish interest in Westminster and support Scottish Ministers to get the best deal we can • Work with other stakeholders in Scotland to build understanding and influence change through Welfare Reform Scrutiny Group and Housing Benefit Advisory Group

  7. The Proposals • June 2010 Budget and October CSR • 21stCentury Welfare – 30 July 2010 • White Paper “ Universal Credit – Welfare that works” – November 2010 • UK Welfare Reform Bill – 17 February 2011 • DLA consultation – 6 December 2010 • Review of specialist disability employment programmes – 2 December 2010

  8. Overview of proposals so far • Universal Credit • Housing Benefit • Council Tax Benefit • Social Fund • Conditionality and sanctions • Benefit caps • Incapacity Benefit

  9. Impact on local partnerships • Successor to council tax unclear – potential fundamental change to local government finance in challenging timeframes • Housing Benefit – changing the demands for local housing and how much people can afford to pay, homelessness duties • Changing financial circumstances and demand for information, advice and support services • Sanctions based jobseeking regime, placing demands on employability and skills infrastructure as well as health and childcare services • Potential implications for local authority and other staff engaged in benefits work

  10. Things to be thinking about • Who are your customers and how do they relate to the welfare system just now? • How typical are they of people elsewhere in Scotland, is there a local dimension for you? • How are the circumstances of people in your area going to change and how will this impact on the demand for and type of services that you and your partners deliver?

  11. How can you be involved? • Welfare Reform Scrutiny Group co-chaired with CoSLA • Contribute evidence and views through public and private fora via Scottish Government website • Engage with political decision makers and contribute to the influencing work on the Bill in Westminster and Holyrood

  12. Conclusion • This is a reserved area of policy but it matters for the planning and delivery of devolved services • Scottish Government is seeking to understand with others the impact at a Scotland and local level • The proposals are wide ranging and interconnected, some things are not yet settled • There is a lot for local partnerships and national organisations to be thinking about • There are ways you can contribute to the emerging analysis and influencing strategy going forward

  13. Welfare Reform Team Beverley.Francis@scotland.gsi.gov.uk Telephone 0300 244 1327 Chris.Boyland@scotland,gsi.gov.uk Telephone 0300 244 1207 http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/People/welfarereform

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