1. Business Planning 2011
Benefit changes

2. Benefit Changes Housing Benefit Employment and Support Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Universal Credit

3. Benefit changes Housing Benefit Changes to local housing allowance
Restricting payments on property size
Payment to single people under 35

4. Effect on people in private rented accommodation in Richmond
Housing Benefit
Effect on people in private rented accommodation in Richmond
Due to changes in the Local Housing Allowance
491 households will have to find up to an extra £20pw
472 households between £20pw and £50pw
205 households between £50pw and £100pw
85 households over £100pw

5. Employment and Support Allowance
Replaces sickness and disability related benefits (except DLA and AA)
Introduced for new claims from October 2008
Existing claims being moved onto ESA from April 2011 to 2014.

6. Employment and Support Allowance
New claims
Only 32% of claims succeed
9% placed in the Support Group
Existing claims moved from Incapacity Benefit, Income Support or Severed Disablement Benefit
68% placed on ESA, (30% in Support Group)

7. Employment and Support Allowance
New, stricter Work Capability Assessment
Some claimants will have to go through Work Programmes
From April 2012 entitlement to contribution based ESA will cease after 12 months.

8. Disability Living Allowance
Still going through parliament
April 2013 – DLA to be replaced by Personal Independence Payments
Expected to make 20% savings
No indefinite entitlements therefore regular reviews
Face to face assessments

9. Universal Credit
Part of the welfare Reform Bill – still going through parliament
Due to start in October 2013
Will replace means tested Jobseekers & ESA, Income Support, Housing cost, working tax credits, child tax credits.
Will be paid monthly

10. Universal Credit Will be based on previous months income
Will use a ‘real time’ IT system that employers will access and input earnings details
75% of claims on line
There is likely to be 2.5m households who will be better off m will be worse off
There will be protective transitional arrangements.

11. Other important changes
Social Housing landlords will be allowed to increase rent to 80% of local average private rent.
Crisis loans no longer available for items of furniture and capped to 60% of benefit.
Responsibility for Social Fund passed to Local Authority but no ring fencing of money.

12. Other important changes
Removal of Legal Aid for benefits cases
Ability to recover ‘official error’ overpayments
Changes to Council Tax Benefits
Child Benefit removed for high earning households
New pensions/payment for care proposals