Scottish Welfare Fund For Decision Makers

1. Scottish Welfare FundFor Decision Makers

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

3. 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

4. Welfare Reform

5. 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 Developing the Scottish Welfare Fund

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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 Scottish Welfare Fund – Two Purposes To offer grants or in kind support in order to

9. 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

10. Who Can Get a Grant Stage 1 Are they eligible Repeat applications/ exclusions/ qualifying benefit Stage 2 Do they qualify Do personal/ family circumstances meet the criteria in guidance Stage 3 Are they a priority High, medium or low given nature, extent, severity and urgency of need, vulnerability Stage 4 Is there money in the budget

11. 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?

12. 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

13. 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

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15. 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

16. 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 EligibilityRepeat Applications

17. Benefit claim in progress Other resources Excluded needs eg, for education, TV, phone, debts, holidays Benefit sanctions Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityExclusions

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19. 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

20. 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

21. The 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 ConditionsMoving Out Of Residential Care/Establishing in the Community

22. 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 conditionsAt Risk Of Going Into Care

23. 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

24. 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 ConditionsFamilies Under Exceptional Pressures

25. 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

26. 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

27. Travelling Expenses • No separate criterion • Award in connection with crisis or • In support of independent living • Standard rate public transport

28. 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 Community Care Grant

29. 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 Recap Crisis Grant

30. Stage 3 Assessing Priority

31. 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)

32. Crisis 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 What Level of Grant

33. Your 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 Applicants

34. Other Support for Applicants Other local support CAB Money advice Financial capability Food bank Furniture recycling Women’s aid Shelter Carer’s centre Fuel efficiency Employability

35. Scottish Welfare FundFor Decision Makers Day 2

36. 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

37. Who By applicant – with or without support eg, CAB By appointee By someone else – eg, family, CAB (get consent) Making an Application How • Face to face • By phone • Online • By downloading and posting a form Which of these does your local authority provide?

38. Evidence Facts Decision Suggested Decision Making Process • 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

39. Which Facts Are Relevant • Check application • What are the issues • What potential criteria might apply

40. 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

41. Some evidence has greater weight Balance of probability Some issues Inconsistencies Mental ill health Corroboration Previous applications Late evidence Weighing Evidence

42. 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 Communicating the Decision

43. Recording and Monitoring • Decision should be clearly recorded • Must include summary of relevant facts and evidence • Was guidance followed? • Documents kept for 6 years

44. Reviews I’m Mike. I applied for a community care grant. 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?

45. Grounds for Review • Disagree with decision on eligibilityeg • 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

46. 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

47. 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)

48. First Tier Reviews Carried out by a different decision maker, not involved in original decision • Crisis Grant Reviewsshould be carried out as soon as possible, and within 2 working days • 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

49. For More Information • Scottish Welfare Fund Guidance • Decision Makers Guide • Improvement Service