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April 18, 2023 NAWRA June 2010 1
Welfare Rights Service Training
Welfare Rights
in
Children & Young Peoples ServiceJulie Burton
Natalie Rigby
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 2
• Julie Burton Principal Welfare Rights Officer– [email protected]
• Natalie Rigby Welfare Rights Officer– [email protected]
Provision across CYPS
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 3
•Young Peoples Service
•Children in Need Teams
– both funded by 3 year SLA with CYPS
•Learning Disabilities Transitions Team
– funded via Commissioning
Young Peoples Service
Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 Implemented 1st October 2001 Imposes new financial and support responsibilities on
Local Authorities for 16 &17 year olds who have been “looked after” for 3 months or more
The Act gives particular emphasis on education, training and employment for care leavers up to age 21
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 4
CLC Act states that under no circumstances should the personal allowance and accommodation costs paid by the local authority fall below the level of state benefits for 16 and 17 year olds
Welfare Rights now provide a Welfare Rights Service for the Young People’s Service
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 5
2 full time Welfare Rights Officers
£12k contribution to PWRO post
Purpose of current SLA
To provide benefits advice in the context of the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 to service users to ensure income maximisation
To identify potential income and savings to Children’s Services as a result of income maximisation and standardising local authority payments
To advise on policy matters
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 6
The Young Peoples Service• The Young People’s Service has been set up to provide a services for young people aged 16 to 21 (24 if in education) who are either:
Looked after
Preparing to leave care or
Recently left care
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 7
YPS• The service helps young people prepare for the future by
giving them help with:
• Young Peoples Service Workers
• Connexions Advisors
• Teenagers to Work
• Supported Lodgings
• Nurse
• Welfare Rights Officers
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 8
Benefits and Savings to the LA
• Ensure claims are made at appropriate time• Take up of Education Maintenance Allowance• Offset setting up home costs with Social Fund
Community Care Grant• Benefit maximisation for young people in residential care
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 9
LA is responsible for financial support to care leavers. Savings can be made by:
Pre WR involvement
• Ad hoc payments for young people• Some payments discretionary and dependant on
worker• No record of what was paid and why• No procedures in place
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 10
Now
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 11
• Standardised payments in line with benefit rates
• 16 & 17 year olds access benefits where exempt
• Financial procedures for care leavers
• Direct involvement from WRO in planning
• Ongoing review of procedures to reflect policy and regulation changes
Monies Raised
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 12
CLC Monies Raised 2009 -10 £437,269.77
£896.80 Adoption Allowance £2,124.40 Child Benefit £10,164.00 Child Tax Credit
£14,913.38 Council Tax Benefit £1,124.81 CT Disability Reduction £136.00 CT Status Discount£24,708.90 DLA Care £7,982.75 DLA Mob £429.20 Discretionary Housing Payment
£2,190.00 EMA £32,194.10 ESA Cont-based £20,983.18 ESA Income-related
£1,330.00 HIP Grant £150,359.72 Housing Benefit £58,060.51 Income Support£36,026.55 JSA (Income-based) £48,534.00 LHA £3,000.00 Mat Grant (Sure Start)
£1,050.00 SF BL £5,506.00 SF CCG £893.55 SF CL£14,661.92 Working Tax Credit
Current issues
• Consultation Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children
• Apprenticeships – low pay• G v Southwark• Financial capability of care leavers• Unaccompanied minors
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 13
Welfare Rights within YPS
• Our team is split into the North and South of the team
• We work intensively with young people who are care leavers aged 16-21(24 in education)
• Enables us to create strong working relationship with most of our cases
• Also with 16-18 year old Children In Need cases
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 14
How do we work?
• We offer home visits, form filling, representation, advice around any type of change in circumstance
• We work very closely with YPAs and SWs• We offer in house training to the workers on
benefit issues• Lots of crisis intervention on behalf of our young
clients
Types of work
• Initial visit at 16- assessment and introduction to our team
• Liase with DWP and Council depts • Assist with phone calls or paper claims at 18
when claiming benefits• Crisis work such as sanctions, appeals and• Attend planning meetings and feedback on
benefit issues
Particular benefit issues
• Change of income when care leavers turn 18• Problems with benefit sections- implicit consent and
authority forms• Proof of identity and supporting evidence around making
claims• Some young people not advising on changes-only
making contact at crisis point• Public perception of Care Leavers• LHA direct payments to young people• ESA-very difficult for young people to qualify with
mild/moderate issues
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 17
Children in Need
• Purpose is to reduce s17 payments and deal with issues around Child Benefit
• Initial 6 month pilot in one district office
• Extended to cover the whole county
• In last 2 quarters of 2009 -2010 raised £224,196.42
April 18, 2023 NAWRA June 2010 18
Transitions Team
• Half a post to maximise income for young people with Learning Disabilities
• Work closely with schools and attend year 11 reviews
• Raised £149,021.83 (2009 -2010)
April 18, 2023 NAWRA June 2010 19
Contact details
Julie Burton, Principal Welfare Rights Officer
Welfare Rights Team
Social Inclusion Service, Adults Wellbeing and Health Durham County Council
Aycliffe Young People's Centre, Main Block, 1 York Road, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL5 6JB
Direct Dial: 01325 372783
April 18, 2023 Introduction to Benefits 20
