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Welfare Reform Changes to Benefits

Welfare Reform Changes to Benefits. BT Benevolent Fund – June 2013. Presentation Outline. To provide an overview of the Welfare Reform Act and the proposed changes to the Welfare Benefits system. To show a time line for the benefit changes

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Welfare Reform Changes to Benefits

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  1. Welfare ReformChanges to Benefits BT Benevolent Fund – June 2013

  2. Presentation Outline • To provide an overview of the Welfare Reform Act and the proposed changes to the Welfare Benefits system. • To show a time line for the benefit changes • To provide an overview of the criteria for the new benefits.

  3. Welfare Reform Why The Change? • Too complicated • Too costly • To provide the right incentives to get people into work.

  4. Aims of the Reform • To provide a system that is fairer, more affordable, and better able to tackle poverty. • To create the right incentives to get more people into work, whilst supporting those who cannot. • To be fair to both those claiming benefit, and to the tax payer.

  5. Current system

  6. Changes Already Implemented HOUSING BENEFIT • LHA rates capped • Bedroom allowances & removal of 5 bedroom rate • Rates set at 30th percentile – no longer 50th • Removal of excess payment • Non dependent deductions increased • Extra bedroom for non resident carer • Discretionary Housing Payments Budget increased • Age threshold for shared room rate raised to 35

  7. Housing Benefit One bedroom is allowed for: • Every adult couple • Any other adult aged 16 or over • Any 2 children of the same sex under 16 • Any 2 children of either sex under 10 • Any other child

  8. LHA RATES LHA national weekly rates capped at: - £250 for 1-bed - £290 for 2-beds - £340 for 3-beds - £400 for 4-beds or more (mainly affecting London)

  9. Changes Implemented continued Tax Credits • 50+ element removed from Working Tax Credits (WTC) • new applications and changes only backdated for one month. • a couple with at least one child must work least 24 hours a week between them, with one working at least 16 hours per week. • Falls in income of up to £2500.00 will not be re-assessed.

  10. Changes Implemented Employment & Support Allowance • People in the work related activity group who are on contribution based ESA will have their benefit limited to one year. • Those still on Incapacity Benefit to be moved to ESA by 2014. Income Support • Lone parents with a child aged 5 and over will be moved to JSA.

  11. Welfare Reform Act – Main Changes Child Benefit – taxable for high earners from January 2013 Benefit Cap – from April 2013 Housing Benefit changes – April 2013 Council Tax changes – April 2013 Personal Independence Payments – from April 2013 Changes to Social Fund Universal Credit – from October 2013

  12. January 2013 Child Benefit – from 7 January 2013 • Income tax charge to be applied to any taxpayer who has an adjusted net income of over £50,000, where they or their partner receives Child Benefit. • Rate of 1% of the child benefit for every £100 of income between £50,000 and £60,000. • For earnings above £60,000 the income tax charge will be their total child benefit. • People can decide to opt out of child benefit. • Will be included in the “benefit cap” from April 13 and Universal Credit from October 13.

  13. HB changes From April 2013 • LHA rates reviewed and increased in line with CPI, rather than actual rents • Social tenants of working age will have HB reduced: • By 14% if they have 1 spare bedroom • By 25% if they have 2 or more spare bedrooms

  14. Personal Independence Payment • Personal Independence Payment (PIP) will replace DLA for eligible working age (16 – 64) claimants from 8 April 2013. • Children under 16 will remain on DLA • DLA recipients over 65 will not be migrated onto PIP • AA remains for all those over 65. • No automatic transfer to PIP. Existing DLA recipients will be invited to make a claim for PIP – from October 2013. All on PIP by 2017. • If PIP not awarded, DLA will cease.

  15. Features of PIP • 3 month qualifying period remains • New 9 month “forwards” test • Special rules for terminal illness remain • Remains non means tested and non taxable • Payable both in and out of work • Assesses individual needs • More consistent use of supporting evidence • Based on how a claimants condition affects them, not on the actual condition • Reviews at appropriate intervals – no lifetime awards

  16. Personal Independence Payment Made Up of Two Components: • Daily Living Component • Mobility Component Awards will be made up of one or both Components Each component will have two rates: • Standard • Enhanced

  17. PIP Criteria The criteria DWP will use to assess people against for PIP will: • Assess disabled people as individuals • Focus on the impact that their health condition or impairment has on their daily lives • Consider the individual’s ability to carry out key everyday activities • Take account of physical, sensory, mental, intellectual and cognitive impairments and developmental needs • Reflect variable and fluctuating conditions

  18. PIP Criteria They take into account whether activities can be carried out: • Reliably • Repeatedly • Safely, and • In a timely manner

  19. Areas of assessment Daily living component • Preparing food and drink • Taking nutrition • Managing therapy or monitoring health conditions • Bathing and grooming • Managing toilet needs or incontinence • Dressing and undressing • Communicating • Engaging socially • Making financial decisions Mobility Component 10. Planning and following a journey 11. Moving around

  20. Scores required for benefit • Daily living component payable if points scored under activities 1-9 Standard rate = 8 points Enhanced rate = 12 points • Mobility component payable if points scored under activities 10-11 Standard rate = 8 points Enhanced rate = 12 points

  21. Variable conditions • If one descriptor in an activity applies for more than 50% of the time, then that descriptor should be chosen. • If more than one descriptor in an activity applies for more than 50% of the time, then the descriptor chosen should be the one which applies for the greatest proportion of the time. • Where one single descriptor in an activity is not satisfied for more than 50% of the time, but a number of different descriptors in that activity, when added together, are satisfied for more than 50% of the time, the descriptor satisfied for the highest proportion of the time should be selected.

  22. Claims for PIP • “Tell Story” form • Assessment of claim against descriptors • Medical evidence • Account taken of Aids • Most will have face to face meetings and can be accompanied • Health professional will provide evidence to DWP decision maker • No change for terminally ill

  23. Benefit ‘cap’ From April 2013 income from means tested benefits will be capped for some people. The level of the cap will be: • £500 a week for couples (with or without children living with them) • £500 a week for single parents whose children live with them • £350 a week for single adults who don’t have children, or whose children don’t live with them

  24. Benefit ‘cap’ The cap will not apply where if anyone in the household (excluding non – dependents): • Is entitled to Working Tax Credit • In receipt of IIB, DLA, AA or PIP • In receipt of War widows/widowers pensioners • In receipt of the ESA support component • Claimants who have been in employment for at least 12 months before their job ends (only for the first 39 weeks)

  25. Benefits Included in the Cap • Bereavement Allowance • Carers Allowance • Child Benefit • Child Tax Credit • Employment & Support Allowance • Guardian’s Allowance • Housing Benefit • Incapacity Benefit • Income Support • Jobseekers Allowance • Maternity Allowance • Severe Disablement Allowance • Widowed Parent’s Allowance

  26. Benefit Cap The following benefits are not included: • Council Tax benefit • Pension Credit • State Retirement Pension • Statutory Sick Pay • Statutory Maternity / Paternity/ Adoption Pay

  27. Benefit Cap From April 2013, any excess deducted from Housing Benefit Options: • Apply for discretionary housing payment ( £75 million allocated from 2013) • Check benefits • Consider trying to increase working hours

  28. Likely Impact • 56,000 households will be affected by the cap in 2013/14 • The average benefit reduction is £93 a week per household • 46% of households affected by the cap are in the social rented sector • 54% of households affected by the cap are in the private rented sector • 74% of households affected by the cap have 3 or more children • 28% of households affected by the cap have 5 or more children • 50% of households affected are lone parents • 34% of households affected receive jobseekers allowance • 25% of households are in receipt of ESA • 39% of households are in receipt of Income Support

  29. Council Tax Benefit • Local Authority budget for C. Tax support cut by 10% - in RBC this equates to £1.2 million. • Local Authorities must decide on their own scheme of Council Tax Support – must be in place by 31 Jan 2013 Money not ring fenced, but some principles apply: • Local authorities will have a duty to run a scheme of council tax support • There should be no change to the current scheme for pensioners • Local authorities should consider support for other vulnerable groups • Local schemes should support work incentives

  30. RBC Proposals • Council Tax support to be based on 85% of council tax bill, not 100% • Working age claimants who have £3000.00 and over in savings will not be eligible for any support in that tax year. • Abolition of Second Adult Rebate scheme. • Automatic switch to new scheme for those already in receipt of CTB. • No Backdating of benefit. • Proposing discretionary hardship fund.

  31. Social Fund Current DISCRETIONARY system of: • Community Care Grants • Crisis Loans • Budgeting Loans No change to regulatory Payments, e.g. winter fuel payments, cold weather payments, maternity grants, funeral payments.

  32. Social Fund From April 2013: • Community care Grants abolished from April 2013 – replaced by “local welfare assistance” from Local Authority for emergency situations. • Crisis Loans abolished. Replaced by scheme of short term advances – administered by DWP. • Budgeting Loans remain for those not on UC. • From October 2013 – 2017 Budgeting Loans will be replaced by payments in advance for claimants on Universal credit.

  33. Local Welfare Assistance “The Government is committed to removing burdens and controls from local government, and so there will be no new statutory duty requiring local authorities to deliver the service. Local Authorities will have the flexibility to design new locally based support to meet local needs in the best way that they see fit.”

  34. Universal Credit • National roll out from October 2013 for new claimants • A single benefit to top up income of working age people ( whether in or out of work) • From April 2014 all existing claimants start to be transferred to UC • All to be transferred by 2017

  35. Universal Credit features A single benefit to “top-up” income for people of working age Can be claimed whether working or not as long as claimant is working age. Claimants and partners must sign a “claimant commitment”

  36. Universal Credit Will replace: • Income Support • Income Based JSA • Income Based ESA • Child Tax Credit • Working Tax Credit • Housing Benefit DWP is now calling these “Legacy Benefits”

  37. UC - Eligibility • Aged 18 or over (some exceptions) • Resident in Great Britain • Not in Education • Savings and Capital not more than £16,000. • Income not too high

  38. Income rules • Capital limit £16000 • Minimum assumed income for self-employed • Generous earnings disregards: • more of earnings are disregarded if housing costs are low or if there is a disability • Only 65% of earnings after the disregard are taken into account (incentive to work)

  39. Work Related Conditions • Most people will have to show that they are taking steps to prepare themselves for work Those exempt from work preparation: • Those in Support Group of ESA • Those with a child under the age of 1 • Those already earning the equivalent of a full time job • Those who are the victim of recent domestic violence

  40. How does it work? Universal Credit includes set amounts for: • Claimant and partner • Children • Housing costs • Additional needs (e.g. disability/carer) • Childcare costs (for working claimants) If income is less than the total of the amounts calculated for the above, then Universal Credit is payable Transitional protection for existing claimants upon migration No changes to capital limits.

  41. Universal CreditStandard Allowances Set allowances are given for: • A standard rate for a single person or a couple • An amount for each child • An amount for each disabled child (2 rates) • An amount for a sick or disabled adult (2 rates) - limited capability for work - limited capability for work related activity • An amount for housing costs • An amount if claimant or partner is a carer • An amount for a carer • An amount for childcare costs The total of all appropriate allowances = claimants potential maximum benefit.

  42. Disability elements – problems? Disability elements dependent on client receiving ESA (adults) or DLA (children); WRAG or DLA low/mid for children £28.15 SG or DLA high for children £77 No enhanced disability premium No severe disability premium Cannot get carer premium and disability premium together

  43. Income • If no income or capital, claimant will receive maximum benefit (total of all applicable allowances). Income deducted from maximum benefit • Earned income (less disregard) • Income from an occupational pension is deducted. • Income from contributory benefits – C-ESA, C-JSA, Incapacity Benefit, SSP, SMP etc • Assumed income from savings

  44. Earnings Disregards Minimum and maximum amounts of earnings disregards Clients not receiving any housing costs in UC will have the maximum disregard applied Clients receiving housing costs in UC will have the maximum disregard reduced by 1.5x the amount of their housing costs No-one will get less than the minimum earnings disregard

  45. Earnings Disregards Min Max Single person No children £13.46 £ 13.46 Couple no children £36.92 £57.69 Lone Parent £43.46+ £173.08 Disabled Person £40.00 £134.62

  46. Claimant Commitment Signed commitment outlining the steps people must take when in receipt of the benefit. Applies to partners as well claimant. Lists work related requirements whilst receiving UC Sanctions for failure to comply

  47. Claimant Commitment 4 Work related Requirements: • Work Focused Interview • Work Preparation • Work Search • Work Availability

  48. Exemption from Commitment No work-related requirements • People in support group • Child under 1 • Carers • Earning over 35 x NMW • Recent victims of domestic violence

  49. Sanctions If conditions of claimant commitment not met: • UC can be reduced • Period of sanction can vary from 4 weeks to 3 years • UC will be reduced by the amount of the adult standard allowance Can apply for a hardship payment

  50. Claiming Administered and paid MONTHLY by DWP Payments to claimant Claims made and managed online Couples claim jointly Extra components within UC in respect of ‘passported’ benefits

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