1. Welfare Reform The Impact Joanne Barker Welfare Rights Service

2. Some of the changes Employment and Support Allowance Personal Independence Payment Council Tax reduction Under-occupancy penalty Abolition of crisis loans and CCG’s Benefit Cap

3. Some of the changes 7 day waiting period Universal Credit roll out Increase in conditionality and sanctions Increase in State Pension Age 1% benefit uprating Tax Credits reduction

4. Employment & Support Allowance Delays in medical assessments Time limiting of contribution-based ESA for those in WRAG Payments stopped if medical appointment missed Payments stop during mandatory reconsideration People transferred from ICB on to contribution based ESA often missing out on top-up of income-related ESA Administration issues

5. Personal Independence Payment Intention was to reduce spending by £1.5 billion once migration from DLA complete Can currently take up to 12 months to get a decision on a PIP claim Limited venues for medicals Much tougher criteria on physical disabilities Lower rate care gone, and high rate mobility at risk UK resident for 2 out of last 3 years

6. Council Tax Reduction Working age claimants now paying Council Tax (except in Lancaster) even though they are in receipt of a means-tested benefit DHP budgets can’t help everyone Court costs and bailiffs costs add to the problem

7. Under-occupancy Penalty Affects working age tenants in social rented property One spare bedroom = 14% reduction Two or more spare bedrooms = 25% reduction

8. The reality Single claimant on JSA/ESA of £72.40 per week, paying Council Tax of £3.26 per week, and rent of £10.50 per week (1 spare bedroom as children left home) leaving £58.64 for fuel, food, travel etc. £13.76 per week that previously would not have been payable, 19% of their income

9. Some statistics ESA – impact on 1.25 million households – average loss of £3500 per year for those affected PIP – impact on 0.5 million households – average loss of £3000 per year Under-occupancy charge – impact on 660,000 households – average loss of £740 per year CTR – impact on 2.4 million households – average loss of £140 per year

10. How can we help? Ensure full benefit check done, nothing missed Ensure they engage with any services that are appropriate For clients with disabilities, evidence can help Encourage clients not to bury their heads, and to try to help themselves