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Changes to Benefits Workshop. Benefit. Introduction to Workshop. Many changes to benefits Some benefits are changing soon – Council Tax and Housing Benefit Guests from Department of Work and Pensions, Housing Associations, Council and Brokerage
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Benefit Introduction to Workshop • Many changes to benefits • Some benefits are changing soon – Council Tax and Housing Benefit • Guests from Department of Work and Pensions, Housing Associations, Council and Brokerage • Today – why benefits are changing, how they are changing, letters you will be receiving and what people should do
Introduction to Benefit Changes – Catherine Marshall • Why has the Government made these changes? • When are these changes happening?
Benefit What Changes are Happening Now • Council Tax • Housing Benefit
What Changes are Going to Happen? • Disability Living Allowance Ends • Personal Independence Payment Starts DLA PIP
When Will This Happen? • Everyone getting Disability Living Allowance will get a letter soon • It says things are changing, but you do not have to do anything yet.
When Will This Happen? • New Claims to PIP – from June 2013 • Existing Claims to DLA - from October 2013 - if you become 16, renew your claim or report a change • Everyone else – from October 2015
What is Universal Credit? • It will replace some benefits • Why is this being done? • Who will it effect? • Benefit Cap UC
When Will This Happen? • New Claims – from October 2013 • Existing Claims for some benefits - when things change in your life • If you would be better off – 2014 • Everyone else – 2015 - 2017
How will DWP help? • Information to people who help and support you • Help you directly if you need it
What do you need to do? • Open your letters • Ask for help from someone who can be trusted • If something changes in your life, check if you need to do something about your benefits
Changes to Council Tax – Jayne Carpenter • What has happened with Council Tax in previous years • What is going to happen this year?
Benefit Changes to Housing Benefits – Jayne Carpenter • What has happened with Housing Benefits in previous years • What is going to happen this year?
Letter about Changes to Council Tax - Jayne Carpenter • Council Tax letter from Council • Who is getting this letter • What does it say? • What should you do?
Benefit Letter about Changes to Housing Benefit Housing Associations • Housing Benefit letter from Housing Association • Who is getting this letter? • What does it say? • What should you do?
Benefit Letter about Changes to Housing Benefit Jayne Carpenter • Housing Benefit letter from Council • Who is getting this letter • What does it say? • What should you do?
What do you do if you get one of these letters? • Do not ignore it • Ask for help from someone who can be trusted
Where can you get this help? • Council – Jayne Carpenter • Housing Associations – Housing Association representatives • Bromley Mencap – Annette Elliment
Benefit What other letters will be sent out? What they are about • Council Tax letters from the Council – Jayne Carpenter • Housing Benefits letter from the Council – Jayne Carpenter • Housing Benefits letter from Housing Associations – Housing Association Reps
What help is there for people affected by the changes? • Council – Jayne Carpenter and Colin Lusted • Housing Associations – Housing Association Reps
Group Work • What do you think about the appearance of the letter? • Is it easy to understand what it is about? • Can you find the information about what you need to do? • What could be done to make the letter easier to understand?
Feedback • What was good about the letters? • What was bad about the letters? • What could be done to make the letters easier to understand?
What can the Partnership Board and Reps do next? • Agree some actions