1 Welfare Reform… Alan Franco

Tameside Numbers How many claimants of DWP working age benefits are there in Tameside? Unemployed + sick+ lone parents+ carers = 28,210 How many claimants in Tameside are receiving benefits as a result of producing a sick note from their doctor stating that they are not fit to work? How many claimants of Disability Living Allowance are there in Tameside? 15,510 (all ages) (0-17 1,440, ,830, 65+ 4,230) 2

More Tameside numbers There are 29,985 families with 50,735 children in Tameside – How many of these families receive Child Tax Credits as a boost to their income every month? 24,800 families with 42,550 children = 83% 3

Changes that have an impact as from April 2011… Help with mortgage interest (October 2010) Annual uprating of benefits linked to CPI not RPI Child Benefit frozen Tax Credits (more detail later) Migration from Incapacity Benefit to ESA Restrictions on crisis loans Local Housing Allowance linked to lowest 30% of rents Extra bedroom for disabled claimants Non-dependant deductions 4

Non-Dependant deductions April 2010April 2011 Aged 25 or over and on IS/JSA(IB), or aged 18 or over and not in remunerative work In receipt of main phase (IR) In receipt of Pension Credit Nil Not in receipt of main phase (IR) rate Nil Aged 18 or over and in remunerative work -gross income less than £ gross income not less than £ but less than £ gross income not less than £ but less than £ gross income not less than £ but less than £ gross income not less than £ but less than £ gross income not less than £

LHA rates compared No. of bedroomsFebruary 11 LHA rateApril 11 LHA rate Shared room rate£58.25£ Bedroom£92.31£ Bedroom£106.15£ Bedroom£126.92£ Bedroom£167.31£ Bedroom£196.15£ Tameside and Glossop Area Majority of Ashton, Mossley and Denton plus all of Stalybridge, Dukinfield, Audenshaw, Longdendale, and Hyde. Claimants can no longer keep £15 excess

Tax Credits Help with child care costs reduced from 80% to 70% Upper income limit reduced from £50,000 to £40,000 Baby element abolished In year rises in income that are ignored – limit reduced from £25,000 to £10,000 Withdrawal rate increases from 39% to 41% 7

Government plans … Housing Benefit shared accommodation rate Size criteria for working age claimants receiving HB in the social rented sector Time limiting ESA Disability Living Allowance replaced by PIP Universal Credit Localisation of community care grants Localisation of crisis loans More sanctions for non-compliance with Jobseeking requirements Benefits capped at £500 pw 8

Need more info? 9