THE STORY OF THE MINIMUM INCOME SCHEME REPORT An 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, who What 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