The story of the Minimum Income scheme report
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Transcript of The story of the Minimum Income scheme report
THE STORY OF THE MINIMUM INCOME SCHEME REPORTAn Analysis of Minimum Income Schemes conducted by EAPN for the Irish Minimum Income Network
Audry Deane, October 2014
What I will cover in this talk
And I will try very hard not to duplicate what other speakers are going to shsare with you......
But wull attemtpt to offer you a glimpse of the insights, ideas, energy and commitment I
Why the report, what it is about Changes to MIS Key themes Key challenges and next steps
What the report is all about
What I found along the way....
Varying levels of knowledge on how widespread meanstesting is.....
SWA widely understood as the scheme of last resort
When, why, what, whoWhat schemes we are not talking
about:Social Insurance Payments, Universal Payments
What schemes we are talking about: Jobseekers Allowance, Supplementary Welfare
Allowance, One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Farm/Fish Assist, Carers Allowance - schemes aimed at people of working age
What themes we concentrated on: Adequacy, coverage and take up
Snapshot view of relevant stats...
Homelessness growing
Food Poverty
Lone parents
Health inequalities
Early School Leavers
Poverty Deprivation Unemployment, Youth
unemployment /NEETS, ESL Jobless households
Changes to MIS & secondary benefits
Cost of Education Allowance cut then abolished....
Back to School Footwear & Clothing payment halved for under 12 yr olds
Rent Supplement changes......
Cuts to JSA for young people began in Budget 09, and by Budget 14 max rate was €100 for those up to 24 yrs
Drastic changes to One Parent Family Payment, changes in eligibility, earning disregards,
Christmas Bonus abolished
Adequacy, coverage & take up of MIS
Those affected by the HRC and people within the Direct Provision system are not covered.....
Qualified Adults.....
MIS payment levels remain below poverty lines, SWA still remains €2 below the basic social welfare payment
VPSJ research shows the cost of an MESL rose more than the CPI putting it ahead of inflation and in the majority of cases does not provide an adequate income
Most felt that the high number of schemes covered most circumstances
Administrative barriers , access issues, varying practices in different settings
What is wrong with MIS
Secondary benefits can become poverty & unemployment traps for some
Different mean tests for lone parents for Back to School Clothing & Footwear Allowance than couples
HAP now in pilot
Contingency and complexity of schemes Number of means tests for different
schemes Volume of demand, issues of
appropriate activation, skills & training mismatching, DES & SOLAS collaboration
Need for cultural change to permeate to all levels and schemes
Need for better data sharing between departments, DSP, DES/SOLAS, LAs
What needs to change in MIS
Glass screens not part of the Minister for Social Protection’s vision for service
Adequacy debate is critical
More simplicity, transparency & fairness
Avoid means testing or standardise - central unit ?
Agree definition of adequacy which creates safe floor below which various groups will not fall
Improve quality of service provision Evaluate reasons for so many
schemes