Welfare Reforms Update Maxine Stavrianakos - Unit Manager, Income Management

Background to Welfare Reforms Biggest Change to Welfare Reforms in 60 years - make work pay - simplify benefits system 30+ changes to Welfare Benefits Impact on Sheffield £173m p.a.

SCC Housing Stock 26,933 of Sheffield’s 40,379 (66.7%) tenants are receiving either full or partial HB (Full 51%) 2012/3 - Annual Debit £159,717,824 - HB £91,885,338

Under-occupancy Implemented from 1 st April Currently affects 4,401 SCC tenants - 85% (3,740) affected by 1 bed losing average £10.22p.w. - 15% (671) affected by 2 bed+ losing average £18.84p.w As at end of Jul tenants paid nothing (10.52%) - 2,425 tenants paid part (55.10%) - 1,513 paid all (34.38%) (640 due to discretionary housing payment)

Discretionary Housing Payments (dhps) Budget of £995k + £153k Criteria - Must prove hardship - In repeat applications looking at what tenants have done to remedy situation - DLA: Mobility element disregarded Care element included 4 weeks for award For SCC tenants Council Housing Services have - applied for 1,820 first time awards as at end of Aug.13 resulting in £261,030 paid onto tenants rent a/c - applied for 597 second awards resulting in £6,578 paid onto tenants rent accounts

Benefits Cap Benefit Cap - £350pw single person - £500pw family - 86 SCC tenants affected - Implemented in Sheffield from Joint visits with DWP

Additional Challenges DLA to PIP Council Tax Economic Climate - Sanctions - 0 hours contracts

Universal Credit All working age benefits paid monthly in arrears First claimants in Sheffield From Oct 13 First tenants in Sheffield from April 13 Mass migration expected Summer 16 Based on pilots expected arrears increase - £28m by 17/18 Potential increase in legal action

Mitigation - support to affected tenants Visiting all affected customers from October 2012 Carried out 8,280 visits and seen 2,706 households - Advising re changes - Advice on rehousing - Money and Debt Advice - Referrals for Employment Support - Support to open bank/credit union accounts - Advice on taking a lodger - Access to the Internet - Completion of a Discretionary Housing Payment (dhp) In addition advice to tenants in arrears

Mitigation - support to affected tenants Communications – internal and external Work with local partners Increased financial inclusion work Links to worklessness Credit Union budgeting accounts (SCUBA) Hardship Fund Man and a Van CAB Debt Advice Workers No legal action if tenant engaging & done everything possible