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Local Welfare Provision

Local Welfare Provision. Provider Day Mon 25 th February 2013 Hamid Khan – Head of Housing Needs. Welfare Reform Act 2012. The discretionary aspects of the Social Fund operated by Department for Work & Pensions will cease on 31/03/13

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Local Welfare Provision

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  1. Local Welfare Provision Provider Day Mon 25th February 2013 Hamid Khan – Head of Housing Needs

  2. Welfare Reform Act 2012 • The discretionary aspects of the Social Fund operated by Department for Work & Pensions will cease on 31/03/13 • Councils will have the power to operate a local scheme to replace the Social Fund provisions. • Councils will have complete discretion about the type of scheme they operate. • The responsibilities being transferred replace two elements • Crisis Loans • Community Care Grants

  3. What will DWP continue to do ? • There are other elements of the Social Fund which will continue to remain the responsibility of the DWP, • Crisis Loan Alignments • Winter Fuel • Funeral Payments • Budgeting Loans • Maternity Grants. • These are all to be signposted back to DWP.

  4. The challenges we face… • Target help where it is most needed / useful. • Need to avoid abuse of the system • Assistance to promote choice and control. • Need to help people avoid future claims. • Holistic provision with advice, assistance and signposting.

  5. Our Scheme • We are implementing our Local Welfare Provision under the following headings • Emergency Provision replacing the Crisis Loan • Grant Provision replacing the Community Grant • All applications will be made via telephone in the first instance. Community Grant applicants will be required to come in for an interview if they meet criteria.

  6. Our Approach • We will be adopting a phased approach to the scheme. • This will allow us to • Be ready for launch on 1 April 2013 • Understand more fully the volumes and type of requests we are getting. • Understand the Customers we have and their requirements . • Have a solid base of customers to consult with going forward as we look to develop the scheme.

  7. Phase One – ‘Go Live’ for 1 April 2013 • Mirror the existing DWP provision with an added criteria that applicants must be resident in CBC. • Sign post applicants to correct services /support • Our Housing Options team will manage the process and issue the payments.

  8. Phase One – ‘Go Live’ for 1 April 2013 • Provide Food Bank vouchers where appropriate. • Provide payment into a bank account or pre loaded Payment cards for the provision of goods. Use of Post Office facility • Provide furniture and household goods via the use of pre paid cards and 3rd Party suppliers.

  9. Phase 2 • Robust review of the process and expenditure. • Review of criteria/scheme if deemed appropriate. • Consultation. • Full provision of goods and services in kind. • Transfer of operation to Customer Contact Centre. • Online applications for Community Grant

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