Social Issues in the UK Health and Wealth Inequalities National Qualifications

Over the next several periods we will… Identify how poverty is tackled in the UK Identify what central government, the Scottish government, councils, voluntary groups and private companies do to tackle poverty in the UK Understand the arguments over whether these organisations do too much or too little to tackle poverty

Success Criteria I will be able to identify the different aspects of the benefits system in Britain today I will be able to identify what different organisations are doing to tackle poverty I will be able to reach a judgement as to whether or not the benefits system is too harsh or too generous

Tackling Poverty Lesson Starter In what ways does the government help to tackle poverty? Write as many ways as you can think of.

Amount the UK government spent on benefits in the tax year from … Tackling Poverty

What benefits do you think this was spent on? Why? Rank the following benefits in order with the most spent first. 1.Job Seeker’s Allowance 2.Pensions 3.Incapacity Benefit 4.Housing Benefit 5.Disability Living allowance Tackling Poverty

Total spent on benefits in Highest spend on pensions JSA (the brew or the dole) is quite low

n_12bc1n#ukgs302http:// n_12bc1n#ukgs302 – Government spending figures

Should there be a benefits system?

YESNO A democratic society should look after the poorest and weakest in society Having no benefit system would lead to an increase in crime as poor people need to get money somehow Some people deserve help – the disabled, lone parents, unemployed etc. Anyone can face difficulties such as becoming unemployed or developing a health problem and so they should be entitled to help The government should be responsible for creating jobs and helping people get jobs Children should not suffer because of their parents’ mistakes The system creates equality Why should people that work have to pay for people that don’t? Why should people have to pay for drug addicts, alcoholics etc. to get benefits when they choose to become addicts? People on benefits are “laughing at” people who go to work People should take responsibility for their own actions – not look to the government for everything The system costs too much - taxes would be better spent on other things like improving education and healthcare People cheat the benefit system by working and claiming benefits The benefits system encourages people to be lazy

Tackling Poverty

You need to know about what is happening to tackle poverty. This is the responsibility of: 1.Central Government (London) 2.The Scottish Parliament 3.Local Authorities (Councils) 4.Voluntary Sector 5.Private Sector

1.Central Government 1.The Jobcentre 2.Jobseekers Allowance (JSA) 3.Income Support 4.Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) (Formerly Incapacity Benefit) 5.Disability Living Allowance (DLA) 6.Cold Weather Payment 7.Winter Fuel Payment 8.Sure Start Maternity Grant 9.Community Care Grant 10.Social Fund 11.Tax Credits 12.Minimum Wage

ICT Period Take a note of the website above

Tackling poverty; Central Government

1.The Jobcentre This helps people who are out of work to find work Also helps people to claim benefits Unemployed people can use this service to arrange mock interviews, look at job vacancies and meet with special job advisors

2.Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) This is the main benefit for people who are out of work Must be looking for work or working under 16 hours per week and be over 18 To keep getting JSA you must go to a Jobcentre office every two weeks to show how you’ve been searching for a job. This is known as ‘signing on’.

3.Income Support This is extra money to help people on a low income and people working less than 16 hours per week It is for people who don’t have to sign on as being unemployed

4.Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) This is financial help to people who are unable to work because of illness or disability Aims to help people into work Evidence suggests people who work are in better health

5.Disability Living Allowance (DLA) For people who have severe difficulty walking, need help getting around or need to be looked after

6.Cold Weather Payment Money towards heating costs during very cold weather Available to people on income support, JSA, ESA or Pension Credit Payment of £25 for each 7 day period of very cold weather between 1 November and 31 March.

7.Winter Fuel Payment An extra payment to help older people with the cost of heating bills Amount paid depends on a person’s circumstances Payments range from £100 to £300

KU Question Explain, in detail, what the UK central government does to tackle poverty. 8 marks Point – e.g. Jobcentre Plus Explain – explain what this is Example – explain further, e.g. what does this provide?

Homework… Take similar notes to the ones you have just taken on the following: 8.Sure Start Maternity Grant 9.Community Care Grant 10.Social Fund 11.Tax Credits Use internet sites, especially: /en/index.htm

Tackling Poverty

2.The Scottish Parliament 1.Aims of Scottish Parliament 2.Scotland's Regeneration Strategy 3.Universal Home Insulation Scheme (UHIS) 4.Scottish Child Poverty Strategy

1.Aims of Scottish Parliament Aims to target all areas to do with poverty – not just income Works to improve health, housing, educational attainment, employability and access to services Solidarity Target – “To increase overall income and the proportion of income earned by the lowest three deciles as a group by 2017”

1.Aims of Scottish Parliament Aims to simplify benefits End the so-called “benefit trap” Free childcare Tackle fuel poverty Improve social housing Increase opportunities for apprenticeships

1.Aims of Scottish Parliament More Choices more Chances Targets young people between 16 and 19 Aim is to get them back into education, employment or training

2.Scotland’s Regeneration Strategy Scotland's Regeneration Strategy sets out a £175 million programme of investment to support the country's most disadvantaged communities, transforming the prospects of the people who live there.

3.Universal Home Insulation Scheme This is interest free loans for more expensive insulation measures including boiler replacement to improve energy efficiency. £12.5 million which was invested by the Scottish Government in September 2011.

4.Scottish Child Poverty Strategy Aim is to reduce child poverty by maximising household resources and improving children’s life chances

KU Practice Explain, in detail, what the Scottish Parliament is doing to tackle poverty in Scotland? 6 marks

Tackling Poverty

3.Local Authorities 1.Housing and Council Tax Benefit 2.Affordable Warmth Dividend (Glasgow)

1.Housing and Council Tax Benefit This is help towards paying rent and council tax and is available to people on low incomes

2.Affordable Warmth Dividend This is a scheme operated by Glasgow City Council to assist residents of the city who are 80 years of age and older with additional costs associated with winter. £100 affordable warmth dividend is part of efforts to wipe out fuel poverty in Glasgow

Tackling Poverty

4.Voluntary Sector 1.Child Poverty Action Group 2.Shelter 3.Save the Children

1.Child Poverty Action Group 1 in 4 children in Scotland live in some kind of poverty CPAG seeks to raise awareness of and tackle child poverty in Scotland CPAG offer advice to families and produce publications For example, CPAG helps families claim certain benefits such as tax credits

2.Shelter This is a charity which tackles homelessness and poor housing Shelter gives advice, information and campaigns for political change They lobby the government and encourage them to do more and change policies to assist the homeless and those in poor housing

3.Save the Children This is a charity which works to influence government policy regarding child poverty Work with MSPs to discuss potential policies and campaign to end child poverty For example, STC believe all children should be entitled to free school meals and that childcare should be paid for by the government

Tackling Poverty

5.Private Sector 1.Job Creation 2.Public Private Partnerships

1.Job Creation Scottish Entrepreneur Tom Hunter set up the Hunter Foundation in 1998 Invested £35 million to encourage Scots to be entrepreneurs Positive Destinations – scheme where grants are given to companies to be used to help young people in terms of education, employment or training

2.Public Private Partnerships Private companies build state of the art hospitals and schools which councils can’t afford to build These ensure that people have access to good quality healthcare and education which in the long run will tackle some forms of poverty

KU Practice Explain, in detail, what the voluntary and private sectors are doing to tackle poverty in the UK? 8 marks

Tackling Poverty

Attracting Jobs to the UK 1.Scottish Development International 2.Skills Development Scotland 3.Minimum Wage

1.Scottish Development International This is a Scottish Government funded organisation which encourages businesses to set up in Scotland, creating jobs for Scottish people The organisation has had millions of pounds invested in it, creating thousands of jobs ut-sdi/who-we-are.aspx

2.Skills Development Scotland This is a Scottish Government jobs agency which tries to boost employment in Scotland In charge of various initiatives aimed at boosting employment For example, the “Big Plus” campaign to improve reading, writing and number skills amongst adults The aim is that this will prepare adults better for employment

2.Skills Development Scotland All provides the “Get Ready for Work” initiative This is a scheme which aims to help people move in to work, further training or college (ending in 2014) Help is given with interviews, application forms, CVs etc… Eligible are those aged who are not at school, college, employed or in training.

2.Skills Development Scotland Also provides “Modern Apprenticeships” for those aged over 16 Offer of a job and training which could lead to a career Available across a wide range of industries and enable people to work without having to study full-time

2.Skills Development Scotland Also provides the “Training for Work” initiative which ends in 2014 This provides training support for people over 18 who are unemployed and actively looking for work The programme allows people to undertake vocational training which leads to employment

3.Minimum Wage This is the minimum amount per hour that workers in the UK are entitled to be paid It is set by the UK Government

KU Practice What training and education initiatives are available for raising employment levels in Scotland? 8 marks

The cost of providing benefits for people out of work has risen constantly over the last several decades.

Cost of benefits

The New Benefit System From the end of April, the current benefit system will be gradually replaced by a new benefit called UNIVERSAL CREDIT It will replace: Income support Jobseeker's allowance (JSA) Employment support allowance (ESA) Housing benefit Child tax credit Working tax credit

Impact? The government estimates 3.1 million households will be entitled to more benefits as a result of universal credit. 2.8 million households will be entitled to less, but will receive a top-up payment to protect them from a drop in income. New claimants will receive the lower payment. Across all households, ministers say there will be an average gain of £16 per month.

The transition to Universal Credit will take place in three phases over four years, between 2013 and From 29 April 2013, it will be trialled in Ashton-under-Lyne, Tameside, Greater Manchester, before rolling out to Oldham, Wigan and Warrington in July. The government says the new scheme will mean people are better off in work than on benefits.

Homework

Success Criteria I will be able to identify the different aspects of the benefits system in Britain today I will be able to identify what different organisations are doing to tackle poverty I will be able to reach a judgement as to whether or not the benefits system is too harsh or too generous

UK Welfare Attitudes og/2013/jan/08/uk-benefit-welfare- spending# - attitudes survey by The Guardianhttp:// og/2013/jan/08/uk-benefit-welfare- spending#