Welfare Rights Advice in Welfare Rights Advice in Difficult TimesDifficult Times

Neath Port Talbot Welfare Rights Neath Port Talbot Welfare Rights UnitUnit

Why Welfare Rights??Why Welfare Rights??

““can’t the DWP be relied on to can’t the DWP be relied on to ensure that everyone gets the ensure that everyone gets the money they are entitled to?”money they are entitled to?”

““Is this an appropriate service Is this an appropriate service for the Local Authority to be for the Local Authority to be offering?”offering?”

Why Welfare Rights??Why Welfare Rights??

In these difficult times it is not In these difficult times it is not enough to show that a Welfare enough to show that a Welfare Rights Unit has an extremely Rights Unit has an extremely beneficial effect on local people.beneficial effect on local people.

It is a question of proving your It is a question of proving your worth to the Council as well!worth to the Council as well!

Welfare Rights Unit roleWelfare Rights Unit role

Independent advice and Independent advice and advocacy role – increasingly advocacy role – increasingly important due to remote call important due to remote call centres in DWPcentres in DWP

Holistic income maximisation Holistic income maximisation service including 1service including 1stst and Upper and Upper Tier appeal representation and Tier appeal representation and debt advicedebt advice

CLS Quality MarkCLS Quality Mark

Second Tier WorkSecond Tier Work

Provide comprehensive training Provide comprehensive training to strategic staff of the Authority to strategic staff of the Authority and partner organisations.and partner organisations.

Ensure that up to date Ensure that up to date information is disseminated to information is disseminated to appropriate people. appropriate people.

Preventative work that enables Preventative work that enables the LA to make savings eg. the LA to make savings eg. Reducing rent arrears.Reducing rent arrears.

Strategically targeted workStrategically targeted work

Work strategically to the specific Work strategically to the specific aims of the LA and WAG. aims of the LA and WAG.

This can result in savings to the This can result in savings to the LA as well as extra income for LA as well as extra income for families eg. Sheltered families eg. Sheltered housing/extra care housing/extra care accommodation, Warm Wales, accommodation, Warm Wales, Communities First.Communities First.

Not a Statutory Service?Not a Statutory Service?

The LA does have some duties to The LA does have some duties to give benefit/financial advice to give benefit/financial advice to service usersservice users

Chronically Sick and Disabled Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons Act 1970 – contains a duty Persons Act 1970 – contains a duty to provide information to clientsto provide information to clients

LA Social Services Act 1970 – WAG LA Social Services Act 1970 – WAG fairer charging guidance requires LA fairer charging guidance requires LA to ensure benefit advice available to ensure benefit advice available from staff.from staff.

Not a Statutory Service?Not a Statutory Service?

Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 – Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 – a duty to help care leavers including a duty to help care leavers including appropriate benefits adviceappropriate benefits advice

Courts consider whether benefits Courts consider whether benefits advice has been offered to tenants advice has been offered to tenants facing repossessionfacing repossession

WAG have indicated a strong policy WAG have indicated a strong policy intention on action for child poverty intention on action for child poverty to include financial advice.to include financial advice.

Welfare Rights ServiceWelfare Rights Service

Strategically a Welfare Rights Strategically a Welfare Rights income maximisation service can income maximisation service can have a big impact on some of the have a big impact on some of the LA’s aims eg. Health, Social Care LA’s aims eg. Health, Social Care and Wellbeing strategy, Children and and Wellbeing strategy, Children and Young Person’s plan, WAG Young Person’s plan, WAG proposals on child poverty and proposals on child poverty and Communities FirstCommunities First

Also more local schemes such as Also more local schemes such as extra care, domiciliary care, Adult extra care, domiciliary care, Adult Family Placement. Family Placement.

Income GenerationIncome Generation

One of the main objectives of the One of the main objectives of the Welfare Rights UnitWelfare Rights Unit

Benefits not only the individual but Benefits not only the individual but the wider communitythe wider community

Multiplier effect in the local Multiplier effect in the local community – subject of economic community – subject of economic research in the past.research in the past.

Every £1 million raised in benefits Every £1 million raised in benefits supports a certain number of jobs in supports a certain number of jobs in local small businesses.local small businesses.

Income GenerationIncome Generation

Extra benefits gained for Extra benefits gained for domiciliary care service users is domiciliary care service users is likely to lead to extra income for likely to lead to extra income for LALA

Adult Family Placement and Adult Family Placement and Independent Living Fund also Independent Living Fund also show how changes in benefits show how changes in benefits received can save money on received can save money on services provided by LA.services provided by LA.

Low Take Up of BenefitsLow Take Up of Benefits

Welfare Rights work is a good Welfare Rights work is a good way to transfer money from way to transfer money from Central Government to local Central Government to local areas.areas.

A Welfare Rights worker will A Welfare Rights worker will cost LA around £35,000 but will cost LA around £35,000 but will raise benefits to the level of raise benefits to the level of approximately £400,000. approximately £400,000.

LA Budget SettlementLA Budget Settlement

This is favourably affected by the This is favourably affected by the numbers of people in receipt of numbers of people in receipt of certain benefits – eg. Income certain benefits – eg. Income Support, Pension Credit, Disability Support, Pension Credit, Disability Living Allowance.Living Allowance.

NPT has a particularly high NPT has a particularly high proportion of recipients of DLA – proportion of recipients of DLA – partly due to the work of the unit. partly due to the work of the unit. This should mean the LA will receive This should mean the LA will receive a more favourable settlement than a more favourable settlement than may otherwise have been the case.may otherwise have been the case.

NPT Welfare Rights UnitNPT Welfare Rights Unit

Benefits raised in excess of £4 Benefits raised in excess of £4 million in current financial year.million in current financial year.

Open case load of 1000 Open case load of 1000

January 2010 represented at 31 January 2010 represented at 31 appeal tribunalsappeal tribunals

NPT Welfare Rights UnitNPT Welfare Rights Unit

Training – over the years we have Training – over the years we have developed and promoted our training developed and promoted our training programme to external agenciesprogramme to external agencies

Places are either available on our Places are either available on our own training programme or we tailor own training programme or we tailor make courses which can be make courses which can be delivered in house to a variety of delivered in house to a variety of agenciesagencies

These are mainly other LA’s with no These are mainly other LA’s with no Welfare Rights provision or Welfare Rights provision or supported housing providers.supported housing providers.

Training and NVQ’sTraining and NVQ’s

A new departure for the Welfare A new departure for the Welfare Rights UnitRights Unit

Now able to offer the NVQ in Now able to offer the NVQ in Advice and Guidance at Levels Advice and Guidance at Levels 2, 3 & 4 to both internal and 2, 3 & 4 to both internal and external candidates. external candidates.

Consultancy roleConsultancy role

We have developed good We have developed good partnership working partnership working arrangements with a number of arrangements with a number of voluntary sector agencies. voluntary sector agencies.

We provide support and We provide support and supervision for benefit workers supervision for benefit workers within these organisations. within these organisations.

Specific ProjectsSpecific Projects

Communities First Welfare Rights Communities First Welfare Rights Project – a recent successful bid to Project – a recent successful bid to the Outcomes Fund was made with the Outcomes Fund was made with the support of Communities First the support of Communities First Central Support Team and all the Central Support Team and all the Communities First Partnerships. Bid Communities First Partnerships. Bid was for 2 Welfare Rights/Debt was for 2 Welfare Rights/Debt Advisers, 1 trainee Welfare Rights Advisers, 1 trainee Welfare Rights Officer and 0.5 Admin post – Welfare Officer and 0.5 Admin post – Welfare Rights Unit to provide match funding Rights Unit to provide match funding in kind via supervision etc.in kind via supervision etc.

Scottish Power Energy People Trust

• Scottish Power Energy People Trust funds not-for-profit groups that help people whose lives are affected by fuel poverty

• Funded by Scottish Power and voluntary donations from independant suporters

• Types of funding granted – Income maximisation, Crisis funding, Energy efficiency

• Decisions to award funding are decided by a board of trustees

Application Form• Application form asks for information on your –

– Organisation Objectives– Project Title and description– Target group helped and why– Timetable & Milestones– Geographic Area– Amount of funding being requested– Total project costs– How remainder of project will be funded– Description of how grant funding will be used– Expected number of vulnerable people/households helped– Period of time funding will be used

Fuelling kids – Project Description

• To raise awareness and maximise benefit income amongst families most at risk of fuel poverty

• To work in partnership with schools and Communities First areas to ensure maximum take-up of free school meals, alongside benefit checks and advice on energy efficiency, social tariffs and debt

• Being present at school events such as parents evenings, parent/teacher association events, school fetes, sports days etc to promote help available

• To take on case work in Welfare Benefits (up to appeal representation) and debt

Fuelling Kids

• Project was awarded £72,000 over 2 years• The project was launched in May 2009• Stats

– Current cases opened – 171– Closed cases – 66– Pending - 105

Amount raised so far - £244,526.70Projected amount on pending cases - £389,019.75

Average of £3704.00 per case

Macmillan Welfare Rights Macmillan Welfare Rights OfficerOfficer 1 full time Welfare Rights Officer and part 1 full time Welfare Rights Officer and part

time admin support.time admin support. Works in partnership with Macmillan, NPT Works in partnership with Macmillan, NPT

and local Cancer Support Centre - Y and local Cancer Support Centre - Y Rhosyn.Rhosyn.

Launch of the post was in March 2009 at Y Launch of the post was in March 2009 at Y Rhosyn and has been publicised in the Rhosyn and has been publicised in the press and via posters at hospitals.press and via posters at hospitals.

Three Year ProjectThree Year Project initially with the initially with the expectation that it would attract further expectation that it would attract further funding from partner organisations!!!funding from partner organisations!!!

Macmillan research shows that those with Macmillan research shows that those with a cancer diagnosis experience financial a cancer diagnosis experience financial difficulties very quickly.difficulties very quickly.

Runs surgeries in Y Rhosyn as well as Runs surgeries in Y Rhosyn as well as home visits as required to those with a home visits as required to those with a diagnosis of cancer.diagnosis of cancer.

Referrals are taken from a range of Referrals are taken from a range of professionals namely Specialist Nurses, professionals namely Specialist Nurses, District Nurses, Y Rhosyn and from District Nurses, Y Rhosyn and from members of the publicmembers of the public

Assist with benefit claims and debt advice.Assist with benefit claims and debt advice. As a Macmillan Welfare Rights Officer able As a Macmillan Welfare Rights Officer able

to access their grants and also assist in to access their grants and also assist in accessing other charitable organisations for accessing other charitable organisations for grants.grants.

Macmillan UpdateMacmillan Update

To date have assisted 137 clients to To date have assisted 137 clients to access over £490,000 in benefits.access over £490,000 in benefits.

82 Macmillan Grants have been submitted 82 Macmillan Grants have been submitted and only 4 have been unsuccessful.and only 4 have been unsuccessful.

Total monies raised through Macmillan Total monies raised through Macmillan Grants is £29,240 and this has been for a Grants is £29,240 and this has been for a range of items such as help with heating range of items such as help with heating costs, clothing, bedding and specialist costs, clothing, bedding and specialist items such as recliner chairs and beds.items such as recliner chairs and beds.

What next?What next?

CLACs/CLANs – dead duck?? CLACs/CLANs – dead duck?? What about new contracts?What about new contracts?

Quality Marks – what are they Quality Marks – what are they worth?worth?

Training for staff – NVQ’s/ NOSTraining for staff – NVQ’s/ NOS Development issues – where do Development issues – where do

we see the futurewe see the future

Any other ideas!Any other ideas!

If anybody has any other ideas If anybody has any other ideas of how to promote Welfare of how to promote Welfare Rights services and fund their Rights services and fund their future – future –

please share it with us!please share it with us!