Essential Living Fund (ELF)
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Localisation and Social Security: a Review
Localisation and Social Security: A Review A study by the Social Security Advisory Committee Occasional Paper No. 14 May 2015 Localisation and Social Security: A Review About this report This project was conducted as part of the Social Security Advisory Committee’s (SSAC’s) Independent Work Programme, under which the Committee investigates pertinent issues relating to the operation of the benefits system. We would like to thank the individuals and organisations that provided their views on this issue, including at the SSAC stakeholder event in November 2014, and at a round-table event on localisation that took place the following month. We are also grateful for the assistance of Chris Tryhorn, who prepared the paper for us, and to officials from the Department for Work and Pensions who provided factual information. As ever, we are also grateful to our extensive stakeholder community for their active engagement with this project. However, the views expressed and recommendations reached in the paper are solely those of the Committee. 2 Localisation and Social Security: A Review Contents Foreword ......................................................................................................... 5 1. Introduction ............................................................................................................... 7-10 2. Localisation: recent reforms in social security ......................................11-18 Social Fund ...................................................................................11-13 Council Tax -
Grants and Loans
Information and support Grants and loans f you have Parkinson’s, you Disabled facilities grants might be worried about how If you have a disability and have to make big changes I to your home to help with your needs, for example you'll manage financially. If you by adding an extension, hoist, stair lift or downstairs can’t work, or if you need help bathroom and shower unit, you might qualify for with your day-to-day needs, this a grant from your local council. can lead to extra costs. But there If a grant is available, your council may arrange for is some financial support available, an occupational therapist to assess what adaptations you need. so it’s important to find out what help you’re entitled to. Disabled facilities grants are usually means-tested, so how much you get depends on your income and savings. To find out more about what’s available This information explains what in your area, check with your council or visit www. grants and loans may be available gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants to you to cover one-off costs or Access to Work help you if you're in financial need. The Department for Work and Pensions can pay part of the costs to help people access their workplace. What you get may be a single payment or a series of regular payments to meet ongoing costs. To qualify you must: y be over 16 years old y have a job based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and The information in this publication is correct as of April 2019, but is subject to change. -
1. Bereavement Allowance (Previously Widow's Pension) 2
DEATH AND BENEFITS There is a range of benefits available if someone close to you dies: 1. Bereavement Allowance (previously Widow's Pension) 2. Bereavement Payment 3. Child Benefit if a child or parent dies 4. Funeral Payments 5. Guardian’s Allowance 6. War Widow(er) Pension 7. Widowed Parent's Allowance 8. Your benefits, tax and pension after the death of a spouse All of these have different eligibility criteria and application processes and we have included information on all of these here, using information taken from the Direct.Gov website. If you have any further questions or need support, call an adviser here at DIAL on 01737 759500. 1. Bereavement Allowance (previously widow's pension) • Overview • What you'll get • Eligibility • How to claim • Further information OVERVIEW You might be able to claim Bereavement Allowance (previously known as Widow’s Pension) if you were widowed between 45 and State Pension age. And your husband, wife or civil partner died before 6 April 2017. You can get it for up to 52 weeks from the date your husband, wife or civil partner died. If your spouse or civil partner died on or after 6 April 2017 you may be eligible for Bereavement Support Payment instead. WHAT YOU'LL GET The amount you get depends on: • the overall level of your husband, wife or civil partner’s National Insurance contributions • your age at the time of their death. Your age at your husband, wife Maximum weekly rate or civil partner’s death 45 years old £36.59 46 years old £45.12 1q Death and Benefits / disAbility Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Ltd / April 2015 / Updated October 2020 1 47 years old £53.66 48 years old £62.19 49 years old £70.73 50 years old £79.27 51 years old £87.80 52 years old £96.34 53 years old £104.88 54 years old £113.41 55 years old to State Pension age £121.95 The benefit cap limits the amount of benefit that most people aged 16 to 64 can get. -
The Social Fund Commissioner's Annual Report
The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 1112 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 1112 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 Rt. Hon. Iain Duncan Smith MP Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Caxton House, Tothill Street London SW1H 9DA Dear Secretary of State I am pleased to present my third Annual Report to you since my appointment as the Social Fund Commissioner for Great Britain. I report on the achievements of my staff in the Independent Review Service during the year ending March 2012. The calls on our service to provide an independent review have remained high. We have continued to resolve cases quickly and effectively within challenging timescales; maintained high quality standards in our decisions through innovation and adapting our approach; and retained high levels of satisfaction on the part of customers and those acting for them. I was pleased to note that both Chairmen of the Administrative Justice and Tribunals Council and the Ombudsman Association have commented in very positive terms about the quality and accessibility of our service. Our primary responsibility is to ensure that we deliver a high quality service to a poor and vulnerable section of the community. We are conscious that we are also accountable to the taxpayer in terms of securing value for money. I am pleased to report that our unit cost per case during this past year was £74, a reduction from £86 during the previous year, which we achieved without any decline in the quality of our decision making or service to the public. -
Devolved Social Security Powers: Progress and Plans
SPICe Briefing Pàipear-ullachaidh SPICe Devolved social security powers: progress and plans Camilla Kidner This briefing provides an update on the devolution of certain aspects of social security, primarily following the Scotland Act 2016. By 2024 Social Security Scotland is expected to be delivering a range of social security provision including carer's and disability benefits. A separate briefing will provide further detail on individual benefits. This paper focuses on the timeline, delivery agencies and funding. 10 May 2019 SB 19-27 Devolved social security powers: progress and plans, SB 19-27 Contents Executive Summary _____________________________________________________3 Introduction ____________________________________________________________4 Social security timeline: 'safe and secure transfer' ____________________________6 Devolved social security: 2013 to 2019 ______________________________________7 Devolved social security: 2020 to 2024 ______________________________________7 Legislative process from devolution to delivery _______________________________8 Organisational structure of devolved social security ____________________________9 Social security programme_____________________________________________10 Funding devolved social security _________________________________________12 Baseline _____________________________________________________________12 Ongoing funding for disability and carer benefits and winter payments_____________12 Ongoing funding for other benefits_________________________________________13 Setting the -
The Scottish Welfare Fund and Changes to the DWP Discretionary Social Fund
The Scottish welfare fund and changes to the DWP discretionary social fund Updated April 2014 In April 2013, a number of changes were made to the discretionary social fund. These are summarised in the table below. Element of the Social Fund Replacement from April 2013 Community care grant Scottish welfare fund community care grant Crisis loan for living costs and items Scottish welfare fund crisis grant Crisis loan alignment payment (whilst Short-term advance of benefit waiting for first payment of benefit) Budgeting loan Budgeting advance (introduced only as claimants are transferred to universal credit) There have been no changes made to the payments that make up the regulated social fund. This includes payments such as Sure Start maternity grants, cold weather payments and funeral payments. The Scottish welfare fund The Scottish Government has introduced a single scheme across Scotland to replace community care grants and crisis loans. The Scottish welfare fund (SWF) is delivered by local authorities, with the Scottish Government producing national guidance on eligibility and allocating ring-fenced funds to each area. There are two types of grant, crisis grants and community care grants. The eligibility criteria are broadly similar to the former social fund, although crisis grants do not need to be repaid. The scheme is a temporary arrangement until 2015, by which point the Scottish Government intends to have introduced legislation to underpin a permanent statutory scheme. Who can apply? To be eligible to apply to the SWF, you must be 16 or over and accepted as having a low income by the local authority. -
Form SF500 Budgeting Loans from the Social Fund
Notes sheet Budgeting Loans from the Social Fund Please read these notes carefully. They explain the We cannot help with any other types of items or services. circumstances when a loan can be paid. Different circumstances Budgeting Loans have to be paid back but they are interest free. apply to payments of Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans. You can have one of three rates of Budgeting Loan. The amount depends on whether you If you think you may be eligible for either of these types of are single, a couple without children or qualifying young persons or a one or two parent payments, read the section on the other side of this page. family with children or qualifying young persons. You will need to fill in the right application form for the type of The amount of Budgeting Loan you can have also depends on whether you have any other payment you need. These are: budgeting loans from the Social Fund. The amount of any Budgeting Loan we may pay ● form SF300 for a Community Care Grant together with the amount you still owe the Social Fund cannot be more than £1,500. ● form SF500 for a Budgeting Loan ● form SF401 for a Crisis Loan Savings ● form SF100 (Sure Start) for a Sure Start Maternity Grant ● If you and your partner are aged under 60, savings of more than £1,000 may affect the ● form SF200 for a Funeral Payment amount of money you can get. You must fill in a separate form for each one. ● If you or your partner are aged 60 or over, savings of more than £2,000 may affect the amount of money you can get. -
Benefits Maze
April 2021 Benefits Maze A guide to claiming social security benefits and grants for older people in Scotland Who we are How we can help Age Scotland is the national charity for older We know that growing older doesn’t come with people. We work to improve the lives of everyone a manual. Later life can bring changes and over the age of 50 so that they can love later life. opportunities to your life and you may need to know about rights, organisations and services Our vision is a Scotland where everyone can love later life. which are unfamiliar to you. Our mission is to inspire, involve and empower older people in Scotland, and influence others, so that people can make the That’s why we provide free information and advice to help you most of later life. on a range of topics including benefits and entitlements, social care, legal issues such as Power of Attorney, housing and much Our three strategic aims are to: more. All of our guides are available to download for free from our website, or you can contact our helpline team to have Help older people to be as well as copies posted to you for free. they can be The Age Scotland helpline is a free, confidential phone service for older people, their carers and families in Scotland looking for information and advice. Promote a positive view of ageing and later life Later life can bring times when you just need someone to talk to. Our friendship line is part of our wider helpline and older people can call us for a chat. -
Community Care Grants – Example Cases
Orkney Islands Council Scottish Welfare Fund. Community Care Grants – example cases This guide provides some examples of possible Community Care Grant applications and whether the applicant may be eligible to receive a grant award or not. It does not cover all types of scenarios but should give you an example of the types of grants that people apply for and the type of decision that may be made. Please note that even if your circumstances may be the same as one of the examples it does not mean that the decision will be the same, as you may have slightly different needs or be considered as a different priority. It is aimed as a guide only. A Community Care Grant may be awarded To help people establish themselves in the community following a period of care where circumstances indicate that there is an identifiable risk of the person not being able to live independently without this help. • The person must have been in accommodation for 3 months or more where they received significant and substantial care, supervision or protection. For example hospital, care homes, hostels, prison or supported accommodation. • Example cases can be found at Annex 1 to this document. • To help people remain in the community rather than going into care where circumstances indicate that there is an identifiable risk of the person not being able to live independently without this help. • People most at risk of going into care may be those having difficulty dealing with life in the community, for example: dealing with personal and domestic tasks, needing basic household items, repairs to maintain or improve a home or help someone to move to provide care for someone. -
Spice Briefing
The Scottish Parliament and Scottish Parliament Infor mation C entre l ogos. SPICe Briefing Scotland Bill: Regulated Social Fund 08 December 2015 15/80 Camilla Kidner The Regulated Social Fund will be devolved to the Scottish Parliament under the Scotland Bill, currently progressing through Westminster. The Regulated Social Fund is made up of: Funeral Payments, Sure Start Maternity Grant, Cold Weather Payments and the Winter Fuel Payment. This briefing gives an overview of these benefits and the debate so far over their devolution. It also looks briefly at proposals to devolve other measures related to welfare foods and fuel poverty. The Scottish Government intends to publish a paper in the new year setting out its social security proposals. Should the SNP be successful at the Scottish Parliament election in May 2016, a Social Security Bill will be introduced in the first year of the next Scottish Parliament. CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .............................................................................................................................................. 3 BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................................................ 4 EXPENDITURE ........................................................................................................................................................ 4 WINTER FUEL PAYMENT .......................................................................................................................................... -
The Social Fund and Local Government
234 the Social Fund and local government January 2006 research LGA Foreword The Social Fund is probably the most researched contemporary area of social security policy, particularly in relation to the size of its budget. We make no apology for returning to it yet again for just as it is heavily researched, so it is heavily criticised. A series of administrative changes to it over the years since it was introduced in 1988 have not dispelled the major criticisms of it – its small budget, mysterious decision-making procedures, high refusal rates, and dependence on loans – criticisms which have come from all quarters, including politicians, benefit advisers, academics, the National Audit Office, the Auditor General, the Social Security Advisory Committee, the Social Fund Commissioner, the House of Commons Select Committee, local government, the voluntary sector, trades unions representing those administering the Fund, and, not least from benefit claimants themselves. Despite early political commitments to reform it thoroughly or even abolish it and replace it with a more acceptable way of providing cash help to claimants on the lowest incomes, the New Labour government has persisted with the Fund and these criticisms remain. This report was commissioned to explore one less well-researched area, the impact of the Social Fund on local government. The sometimes apocalyptic fears expressed by local government social workers and benefit advisers in the run-up to 1988 have not, in the event, been realised. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties of collecting systematic data, and the fact that applicants to the Social Fund whose applications are rejected rarely mention local government as an obvious source of financial help (Finch and Kemp 2004) it is clear that the Fund has negative effects on local government, most of all in the human and financial resources which are expended in supporting claimants whose legitimate claims for help have been rejected by the Social Fund, largely because of its capped budget and poor decision-making. -
Helping Those in Financial Hardship: the Running of the Social Fund
House of Commons Committee of Public Accounts Helping those in financial hardship: the running of the Social Fund Twelfth Report of Session 2005–06 Report, together with formal minutes, oral and written evidence Ordered by The House of Commons to be printed 24 October 2005 HC 601 Incorporating HC 282-i, Session 2004–05 Published on 15 November 2005 by authority of the House of Commons London: The Stationery Office Limited £10.00 The Committee of Public Accounts The Committee of Public Accounts is appointed by the House of Commons to examine “the accounts showing the appropriation of the sums granted by Parliament to meet the public expenditure, and of such other accounts laid before Parliament as the committee may think fit” (Standing Order No 148). Current membership Mr Edward Leigh MP (Conservative, Gainsborough) (Chairman) Mr Richard Bacon MP (Conservative, South Norfolk) Angela Browning MP (Conservative, Tiverton and Honiton) Mr Alistair Carmichael MP (Liberal Democrat, Orkney and Shetland) Mr Greg Clark MP (Conservative, Tunbridge Wells) Rt Hon David Curry MP (Conservative, Skipton and Ripon) Mr Ian Davidson MP (Labour, Glasgow South West) Helen Goodman MP (Labour, Bishop Auckland) Mr John Healey MP (Labour, Wentworth) Diana R Johnson MP (Labour, Hull North) Mr Sadiq Khan MP (Labour, Tooting) Sarah McCarthy-Fry MP (Labour, Portsmouth North) Jon Trickett MP (Labour, Hemsworth) Kitty Ussher MP (Labour, Burnley) Rt Hon Alan Williams MP (Labour, Swansea West) Mr Stephen Williams MP (Liberal Democrat, Bristol West) Powers Powers of the Committee of Public Accounts are set out in House of Commons Standing Orders, principally in SO No 148.