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Work and welfare reform impacts in the South West

Work and welfare reform impacts in the South West . Survey of 200 working age social housing tenants . WORK . 80% of tenants not confident in their ability to find and hold down work . 52% households with ill health or disability . 57% of households out of work .

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Work and welfare reform impacts in the South West

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  1. Workand welfare reform impacts in the South West Survey of 200 working age social housing tenants

  2. WORK 80% of tenants not confident in their ability to find and hold down work 52% households with ill health or disability 57% of households out of work Work does not reliably cover costs 83% of working households rely on benefits

  3. WELFAREREFORM Worry Universal Credit will disrupt budgets and cause arrears Monthly, direct and bundled payments 67% do not feel well informed Bedroom tax most significant financial impact on households so far

  4. FINANCIAL MANGEMENT Split between households just managing and households really struggling • Cutting back on food • Cutting back on household goods and utilities • Selling belongings • Depleting savings • Borrowing money • Resort to family Making ends meet  Sustainable?

  5. LOOKINGAHEAD • Round 2 of our survey begins April 2014 • Ten case studies on work and welfare reform • Next report due Autumn 2014

  6. Survey of 16 Housing Associations (Regional) • 16 Associations, one small one large in each region • October-November 2013

  7. Major changes dealing with wider challenges • Very active planning round welfare reform • Wider efficiency and structural changes • Reviewing: • Operations – much more front line IT; split of arrears/money advice teams • Policies – restrictions and finance checks for new lets; stricter enforcement of arrears; increased focus on energy efficiency • “Housing plus” – more work around jobsearch/ apprentices/ community support/ supporting foodbanks • Overall more contact with tenants previously “unseen”

  8. Views of impact • Lots of financial contingency planning • Financial impact contained so far for associations • BUT clear tenants increasingly vulnerable • Uncertainty about medium term – admin/delivery/unresolved policy • Development programme cumulative risks • Committed to work/WR agenda; but frustrated by DWP/timetable • Working hard to make new system work • BUT not being deployed to best advantage

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