From Benefits to Work

1. From Benefits to Work Katy Pearson, Monica Bryce and Rob Harrod Priority Families Employment Advisors

2. Learning outcomes:- Benefits overview The impact of worklessness on families Working with Health Conditions Understanding the psychology of work Better off myth busting

3. Ice Breaker DWP Feedback from Employers; “A person living with a disability or health conditions often already have the resilience, adaptability, multi-tasking and complex problem solving skills that many jobs require” Many famous people live and work with a Health Condition. Use the sheets on the table to work out who has which condition.

4. Adele Gwen Stefani Harrison Ford Bill Gates Halle Berry Paula Abdul Kim Kardashian David Beckham Tom Cruise Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Fibromyalgia, Panic Attacks, Diabetes, Psoriasis, Depression, Asperger Syndrome, Dyslexia, ADHD.

5. Adele PanicAttacks Gwen Stefani ADHD Harrison Ford Depression Bill Gates Aspergers Syndrome Halle Berry Diabetes Paula Abdul Fibromyalgia Kim Kardashian Psoriasis David Beckham OCD Tom Cruise Dyslexia

6. Worklessness Damages Lives The following information taken from DWP Improving Lives, Helping Workless Families document - April 2017

7. Parental Worklessness and it’s impact on Children

8. Benefits overview

9. What help is available? There are a wide range of benefits :- The main ones are:- • Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) • Income Support (IS) • Universal Credit (UC)

10. Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA) May get JSA if the following apply: • Aged 18 or over (some exceptions for 16 or 17yr olds) • Not in full-time education • Available for and actively seeking work • Working on average less than 16 hours per week • Partner works for less than 24 hours a week on average • They don’t have an illness or disability which stops them from working

11. How to claim JSA Can usually claim JSA online: https://www.gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/how-to-claim

12. ESA (Employment and Support Allowance) • For people who have an illness, a health condition, or • a disability that means they find it difficult or impossible to work. • They must have a Work Capability Assessment to see to what extent their illness or disability affects their ability to work. • They will then be placed in one of 2 groups:- • Work-Related Activity Group (WRAG), where they will have regular interviews with an adviser. • Support Group (SG), where they don’t have interviews, but can still ask to see an adviser on a 1-2-1 basis.

13. ESA - Permitted Work • Permitted Work allows people on ESA to test their ability to work whilst remaining on benefits (with certain restrictions). • It’s permitted work if both the following apply: • They earn up to £120 a week • They work less than 16 hours a week • There’s no limit on how many weeks permitted work • can last for.

14. How to claim ESA The quickest way to apply for ESA is by phone A DWP Adviser will fill in a ESA1 Claim Form during the call Telephone: 0800 055 6688 https://www.gov.uk/employment-support-allowance

15. Income Support • Eligibility: • Must be aged between 16 and Pension Credit qualifying age. • All of the following must also apply: • No income or a low income and no more than £16,000 in savings • Not in full-time paid work (Can work less than 16 hours a week) • Not eligible for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance

16. Must also be at least one of the following: • Pregnant • a lone parent with a child under 5 • a carer • on maternity, paternity or parental leave • unable to work because of sickness or a disability • in full-time education (not university), aged between 16 and 20, and a parent • in full-time education (not university), aged between 16 and 20, and not living with a parent or someone acting as a parent • a refugee learning English • in custody or due to attend court or a tribunal • can still claim if sleeping rough or living in a hostel or care home

17. How to claim Income Support The quickest way to apply for Income Support is by phone For new benefit claims Telephone: 0800 055 6688 Can also apply by post by sending a claim form to their local Jobcentre Plus. https://www.gov.uk/income-support/how-to-claim

18. Universal Credit – overview Housing Benefit Income related Employment and Support Allowance Income based Jobseekers Allowance Universal Credit Child Tax Credit Working Tax Credits Income Support • One simple payment • Paid monthly • For people in and out of work • Use PAYE in real time information (RTI)

19. Others benefits you may come across • Working Tax Credits • Child Tax Credits • Child Benefit • Carers Allowance • Personal Independence Payments (PIP) • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) • Housing Benefit • Council Tax Reduction

20. Working Tax Credits To qualify must be aged from 16 to 24 and have a child or a qualifying disability or be aged 25 or over, with or without children Must also work a certain number of hours p/w

21. Working Tax Credits • How to Claim • A few questions need to be answered before a tax credits claim form can be ordered. This can be done by: • Using the online tool • Calling the Tax Credit Office on 0345 300 3900 • Telephone: https://www.gov.uk/claim-tax-credits

22. For further information • DWP benefit guides are available online on the gov.uk website and give detailed information about specific benefits. https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/entitlement

23. Benefit calculator Independent benefits calculators can help people to find out: • What benefits they could get • How to claim • How their benefits will be affected if they start work They can use the following:- • www.entitledto.co.uk

24. The Psychology of Work

25. The Psychology of Work

26. Exercise 1 Lets look at how being in and out of work can affect a families self esteem and motivation? • Group 1 . What are the reasons & barriers people give for not being able to move into work? • Group2 . How does being in work help you? • Group 3. What would the implications of unemployment be for you?

27. Barriers/Reasons people give not to go into work? • Mental Health/Anxiety • Family Issues • Childcare • Lack of Skills • Confidence/Self Esteem Issues • Homelessness • Generational Mindset • Cultural Reasons • Disabilities/Poor Health • Lack of Inspiration • Finances/Debt • Criminal Activity/Record • Better Off Not Working

28. How does being in work help you? • Self-confidence and Self-esteem • Central to individual’s identity, social role, and social status • Money – sense security • Ability to contribute positively to society • Social interaction • Holidays • Being a good role model to children • Treating family • Not having to sign on • Daily routine/activity

29. What would be the implications of unemployment to you? • Loss of self-confidence and self-esteem • Worthlessness • Limited money/cost of significant events • Debt • Impact social life/family life • Perception of negative image to children • No routine or structure to day • Refusal of tenancies • Feeling like a failure • Self-perception – thinking society sees you as scrounger • Attendance jobcentre • Demoralised – job/interview rejection

30. Research on the benefits of work • Strong evidence that work is generally good for physical, mental health and well-being • Work is central to an individual’s identity, social role and social status • Overall, the beneficial effects of work outweigh the risks of work and are greater than the harmful effects of long-term unemployment or prolonged sickness absence • The type of work and the work environment must be taken into account • When able, an individual with and without a health condition should be encouraged and supported to remain in or (re)-enter work as soon as possible. • (Wadell and Burton, 2006)

31. Exercise 2 • How will work affect your families? • Read and discuss the case studies on your tables, then • write on flip chart; • What are the barriers the family may present? • What support is available to overcome these barriers? • How do you think going to work would affect their weekly income/benefits?

32. Exercise 2 • Better off calculations: • Case Study 1 – Current income £398.20, could increase to £683.53 = £132.33 better off per week working 16 hours after childcare costs • Case Study 2 – Current income £430.50, could increase to £524.93 = £94.43 better off per week based on John working 16 hours • Case Study 3 – Current income £57.94, could increase to £191.17 = £133.23 better off per week based on Simon working 37 hours • You can use the online calculation facility with your families • by visiting www.entitledto.co.uk

33. Employment Outcomes • Priority Families work on Payment By Results (PBR) • If worklessness is a criteria, you NEED to evidence progress to work, prior to closing the case • If any member of the family goes into sustainable employment, this is a FULL outcome regardless of other criteria being met

34. Employment Outcomes Cont. • What is accepted as Progress to Work? • There is no definitive list, but examples can include; • Work Experience • Voluntary Work • Completion of Employability Training • Completion of Accredited Training • Voluntary Referral to Work Programme or Work Choice (DWP) • Engagement with Providers to source employment

35. TFEA SPOC’s – Nottingham City • Nottingham Central • Russell Elias (Castle) - russell.elias@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Becky Williamson (Byron) - rebecca.williamson@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Pauline Wilkes (Rufford) – pauline.wilkes@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Bulwell • Sue Pickering - sue.pickering1@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Kay Attenborough - kay.attenborough@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Loxley House • Clare Boyce - clare.boyce@dwp.gsi.gov.uk • Nicky Brindley – nicola.brindley@dwp.gsi.gov.uk

36. Final Words • We aren’t expecting you to know everything, just be aware and know who to contact/refer to for more information • Remember, employment can often be the key resolution to some families issues • Think about what you will do differently within your role to take forward the message that, ‘Work is good for you’

37. Any questions?

38. Priority Family Employment Advisor Contact Details • Nottingham North: Katy Pearson - 07771 837588 • Katy.pearson@nottinghamcity.gov.uk • Nottingham Central: Monica Bryce – 07920 155014 • Monica.bryce@nottinghamcity.gov.uk • Nottingham South: Rob Harrod – 07920 181547 • Rob.harrod@nottinghamcity.gov.uk