DOCSLIB.ORG

The Social Fund Commissioner's Annual Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
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. The Welfare Reform Act 2012 contains provisions to abolish the discretionary Social Fund and the office of the Social Fund Commissioner, bringing with it an end to the independent review process. I believe that the experience and insights gained from our casework, which span more than two decades, represent a valuable legacy from which key principles can be drawn to underpin successor arrangements. In my responses to consultations, which are summarised in this Annual Report, I have consistently made the point that an effective, independent grievance mechanism should be a necessary component of any new arrangements. The transition to new provision throughout the different parts of Great Britain needs to occur in as seamless a way as possible, because the types of need met by the discretionary Social Fund will not disappear. I would like to express my appreciation to staff at all levels. Our achievements throughout the year represent a highly commendable performance by them, during what has been a continuing period of uncertainty and diminishing staff resource. I will continue to work with your officials in order to provide my staff with support in relation to their personal futures. Throughout my time as Social Fund Commissioner, I have been encouraged by their constructive approach, positive attitude and hard work, in meeting challenges as they emerge. I am confident that we will continue to meet our commitments to customers and to taxpayers for our remaining time in operation. Yours sincerely, Karamjit Singh CBE, Social Fund Commissioner for Great Britain Contents Executive Summary 2 Legal and Organisational Structure 4 Performance 6 Quality and Standards 9 Issues Arising from Inspectors’ Casework 14 Our Relationships with Customers and Other Stakeholders 17 Accountability 21 Responses to Consultations 23 Appendices 27 Charts 1 IRS Workload 6 2 Review Outcomes 7 Tables 1 Completion Times of Inspectors’ Reviews 7 2 Cost of the Inspector’s Review from 2007/2008 to 2011/2012 8 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2010/2011 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 11 Executive Summary Performance • We received 2,792 complaints about Inspectors’ decisions, which represented • Our workload for 2011/2012 was 52,107. 5.4% of our workload. We changed the • Inspectors changed 36% of the decisions outcome of the Inspector‘s decision in they reviewed. 151 of these cases, which represented • These changed decisions resulted in 0.3% of our total workload. payments totalling £7,842,671 from the • We received 97 complaints about our £141 million budget for grants and payments service and upheld 49 of them, which totalling £619,953 from the £590 million represented 0.1% of our total workload. budget for loans. • Inspectors cleared 93.7% of urgent cases Our Relationship with Customers (for living expenses or other needs requiring and Other Stakeholders a very urgent decision) within 24 hours of receipt of the papers from Jobcentre Plus. • During the year our work with organisations and individuals that represent the interests • Inspectors cleared 99.2% of all other cases of our customers, and with Jobcentre Plus, within 21 working days of receipt of the focused even more closely on achieving the papers from Jobcentre Plus. maximum impact with our limited resources. • During 2011/2012, our unit cost was £74, I attended a series of meetings with the down from £86 for the previous year. • heads of third sector organisations and We calculate this to include all our direct others who have an active interest in the costs of staff, non-manpower and capital Social Fund and the independent grievance expenditure; and our indirect costs of model. At the invitation of the Administrative accommodation and related costs which Justice and Tribunals Council, I spoke at a are outsourced and paid for centrally by seminar on the subject of dispute resolution the Department for Work and Pensions. without hearings. I also chaired a workshop at the Ombudsman Association‘s Annual Quality and Standards Conference on the subject of maintaining • We continued to evaluate and refine our objectivity and avoiding case hardening. streamlined approach to conducting reviews, which involves producing concise, clear, Accountability easy-to-understand decision letters and As an organisation that is funded by making proactive use of the telephone in • public money, we recognise the need to order to make necessary enquiries. act in a manner that is transparent and • Reading individual cases is the primary accountable. During 2011/2012 we spent means by which we assess the standard a total of £3.098 million, from our direct of Inspectors’ decisions. During the year budget allocation of £3.766 million, which 2,535 decisions (constituting 4.9% of our represented a budgetary underspend of workload) were read by managers, Inspectors £0.668 million (18%). who have lead responsibility for quality assurance and myself. Case readers found that a high proportion of decisions (86.9%) met the quality standards we have set. 2 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 • Investment in development was lower than Responses to Consultations previously planned, due to the impending closure of our organisation. When combined • I responded to separate consultations by with our efficiency measures, this factor the Scottish and Welsh Governments about has contributed to the budgetary underspend. their successor arrangements, which will be established once the responsibility for Our staff accounted for 89% of our direct • community care grants and crisis loans budget expenditure. The economic backdrop for living expenses is devolved to them meant that we were also affected by in April 2013. government controls on recruitment. On 1 April 2011 we had 98.17 staff in post • At the invitation of the Communities and had planned to reduce staff numbers and Local Government Select Committee, to 94 by 31 March 2012. In fact, by the end I submitted written evidence to their inquiry of this reporting period, the numbers of into the implications of welfare reform. staff in post had reduced by 20% to 78.62 • My full responses to these consultations as a result of departures. can be viewed at www.irs-review.org.uk • I also responded to the Department for Work and Pensions consultation concerning mandatory consideration of revision before appeal. The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 The Social Fund Commissioner’s Annual Report 2011/2012 3 Legal and Organisational Structure The Social Fund The discretionary Social Fund is founded on a legal framework which derives from The discretionary Social Fund is a budget- primary legislation and also includes limited scheme, which provides for the Secretary of State’s directions and guidance. payment of community care grants and In reviewing a decision made in Jobcentre interest-free budgeting loans and crisis loans, Plus, the Inspector has a duty to correctly to help people on low incomes with costs interpret and apply the law and to take that are difficult to meet from their regular account of the guidance. income1. It was created in 19882 and is administered by Jobcentre Plus, which is part The review process requires the Inspector of the Department for Work and Pensions. to establish the facts of the case, which There is an initial tier of decision making in may involve asking the customer or his Jobcentre Plus, followed by two levels of representative for relevant information. review. The first review takes place within The Inspector then applies the law to the facts. Jobcentre Plus and the second is an external review, which is the subject of this report. Initially, the Inspector must decide whether the decision under review was reached The Social Fund Commissioner correctly and is reasonable in law. The Inspector will then look at the merits of The role of Social Fund Commissioner is a the case and will decide whether the statutory appointment. I was appointed by decision of Jobcentre Plus was right, the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. taking account of any new evidence and My statutory duties are set out in section 37 relevant changes in circumstance. Each of the Social Security Act 1998 and include: case is decided on its own merits.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • 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
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Housing and Heating Costs Contents
    Housing and heating costs Contents 3 If you pay rent 6 If you are about to rent a new home 8 Can I get help with rent I have to pay upfront? 8 If you pay a mortgage 11 If you pay council tax 12 How to claim 16 Changes in your life 18 Other questions you may have 20 Help with your heating costs 25 What about other help with heating costs? 3 If you pay rent What help can I get if I pay rent? If you are on a low income, whether you are working or not, you may be able to get the following help: • Housing Benefit to help towards your rent. • Council Tax Benefit to help towards your council tax (see page 11). You do not have to get any other benefits to get Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit. They are paid by your local council. You can also ask the council for extra help with housing costs. This extra help is called a ‘Discretionary Housing Payment’. The council will decide whether or not to pay you a Discretionary Housing Payment. What is Housing Benefit? Housing Benefit is tax-free money to help pay some of your rent if you are on a low income. It is paid by your council, whether you pay rent to: • a private landlord • a housing association, or • a hostel or guest house. If you are a council tenant, your benefit will be used by the council towards paying your rent. To contact your local council go to: www.gov.uk or see their entry in the phone book 4 Housing and heating costs Can I get Housing Benefit? You may be able to get Housing Benefit if you: • are on a low income • do not have much money saved, and • have to pay rent.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Fund 2019-2020
    Social Fund Account 2019-20 HC 573 £10.00 Social Fund Account 2019-20 Presented to Parliament pursuant to Section 167(4) of the Social Security Administration Act 1992 Ordered by the House of Commons to be printed on 30 June 2020 30 June 2020 HC 573 £10.00 Social Fund Account 2019-20 Contents Page Foreword 2 Statement of Accounting Ofcer’s responsibilities 6 The Social Fund Governance Statement 7 The Certifcate and Report of the Comptroller and Auditor General 10 Receipts and Payments Account 13 Statement of Balances 14 Notes to the Account 15 Annex – Accounts Direction given by HM Treasury 18 1 Social Fund Account 2019-20 Foreword Background information The Social Fund was established in 1987 and continues under section 167 of the Social Security Administration Act 1992. n Section 138(1) of the Social Security Contributions and Benefts Act (SSCBA) 1992 enables payments of prescribed amounts to be made out of the Social Fund to meet, in defned circumstances, maternity and funeral expenses. n Payments of Budgeting Loans are paid in accordance with directions given or guidance issued by the Secretary of State, under the Social Security Act 1998. n Section 138(2) of the SSCBA provides for payments to enable people who satisfy prescribed qualifying conditions to meet expenses for heating incurred or likely to be incurred during periods of cold weather. Regulations provide for payments from the Social Fund to be made to certain customers following a period of cold weather or when cold weather is forecast. n Winter Fuel Payments were introduced in 1997-98 and currently paid under Social Fund Winter Fuel Payments Regulations 2000, to provide automatic help to pensioner households to assist with fuel bills.
    [Show full text]
  • 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.
    [Show full text]
  • The Scottish Welfare Fund and Changes to the DWP Social Fund
    The Scottish welfare fund and changes to the DWP social fund This is one of a series of Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland factsheets giving guidance to advisers and those working with families in Scotland. Child Poverty Action Group promotes action for the prevention and relief of poverty among children and families with children. The Scottish welfare fund and changes to the DWP social fund Introduction In April 2013, a number of changes were made to the DWP discretionary social fund. These are summarised in the table below. Element of the Social Fund Replacement 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 waiting for Short-term advance of benefit first payment of benefit) Budgeting loan Budgeting advance (introduced only as claimants move to universal credit) This factsheet explains these changes. Future Changes There have been no changes made to the payments that make up the regulated social fund. This includes: • Sure Start maternity grants • funeral payments • cold weather payments • winter fuel payments However, it is planned that responsibility for the regulated social fund will be devolved to the Scottish Government, which will be able to change amounts or entitlement conditions. At the time of writing it is not clear exactly when this will happen. The following payments will remain the responsibility of the DWP: • budgeting loans • budgeting advances • short term benefit advances These payments are explained later in this factsheet. The Scottish welfare fund The Scottish welfare fund (SWF) is delivered by local authorities, with the Scottish Government allocating ring-fenced funds to each authority.
    [Show full text]
  • Social Security Advisory Committee
    503568_SS_Adv_22_cov_AW 30/10/09 11:42 Page 1 SOCIAL SECURITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE Twenty-second Report 2009 Social Security Advisory Committee internet: www.ssac.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] Crown Copyright 2009. Published for the Department for Work and Pensions on behalf of the Social Security Advisory Committee under licence from the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office. Application for reproduction should be made in writing to The Copyright Unit, Her Majesty’s Stationery Office, St Clements House, 2–16 Colegate, Norwich NR3 1BQ. First Published 2009 Social Security Advisory Committee TWENTY SECOND REPORT AUGUST 2008 – JulY 2009 Members Sir Richard Tilt (Chairman) Kwame Akuffo Les Allamby John Andrews (from April 2009) Simon Bartley Brigid Campbell Dr Angus Erskine Richard Exell (to June 2009) Alison Garnham Carolyn George (from April 2009) Professor Elaine Kempson Laurie Naumann (to November 2008) Professor Anthony Ogus (to October 2008) Maureen Reith (from January 2009) Pat Smail Professor Janet Walker Professor Robert Walker Secretariat Gill Saunders (Secretary) Dr Anna Bee (from October 2008) Dr Nicola Moss (from September 2008) Ethna Harnett Heather Gray (January 2009 to June 2009) Daniel Cross (from June 2009) Jamie Allen Natalie Harwood Address Social Security Advisory Committee North East Spur Level 3 The Adelphi 1-11 John Adam Street London WC2N 6HT Internet website: http://www.ssac.org.uk E-mail: [email protected] i © Crown copyright 2009 Applications for reproduction should be made to HMSO First published
    [Show full text]
  • Winter Fuel Payments Update
    BRIEFING PAPER CBP-6019, 5 November 2019 Winter Fuel Payments By Djuna Thurley, Rod McInnes, Steven Kennedy update Inside: 1. Introduction 2. Purpose of the Winter Fuel Payment 3. Eligibility 4. Winter Fuel Payment rates 5. Payment abroad 6. Early Winter Fuel payments for “off-gas grid” households 7. Criticisms of the Winter Fuel Payment 8. Options for reform www.parliament.uk/commons-library | intranet.parliament.uk/commons-library | [email protected] | @commonslibrary Number 6019, 5 November 2019 2 Contents Summary 3 1. Introduction 4 1.1 Overview 4 1.2 Statistics 5 1.3 Devolution 6 2. Purpose of the Winter Fuel Payment 7 3. Eligibility 8 4. Winter Fuel Payment rates 9 5. Payment abroad 12 5.1 Introduction of the ‘temperature link’ 13 6. Early Winter Fuel payments for “off-gas grid” households 16 7. Criticisms of the Winter Fuel Payment 18 8. Options for reform 26 8.1 Means-testing 26 8.2 Make the Winter Fuel Payment taxable 27 8.3 Withdraw from higher income pensioners 27 Cover page image copyright: Gas Flame by Thomas. Licensed under CC BY 2.0 / image cropped. 3 Winter Fuel Payments update Summary The Winter Fuel Payment is a tax-free annual payment to help older people pay their winter heating bills. Most payments are made automatically between November and December. Individuals usually get a Winter Fuel Payment automatically if they get the State Pension or certain other benefits. The “standard” rates are £200 per eligible household where the oldest person is under 80, and £300 for households containing a person aged 80 or over.
    [Show full text]
  • Information Guide 12: DWP Social Fund 1.8.2019 1
    WELFARE RIGHTS SERVICE DWP Social Fund Information Guide 12: For Residents and Advisers st www.wolverhampton.gov.uk 1 August 2019 Introduction When people are living on a low income or benefits, budgeting for large or unexpected items of expenditure can prove difficult. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides a number of different types of interest free loans and grants which are designed to help at times of specific need. This Information Guide explains what help is available. DWP Social Fund: ▪ Budgeting Loans ▪ Sure Start Maternity Grants ▪ Funeral Expenses Payments ▪ Short-term Advance Payments Universal Credit: ▪ Advance Payments ▪ Budgeting Loans It also provides information on Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments, the Family Fund (a charity that can provide financial assistance to families with a disabled child or young person) and the Local Welfare Assistance scheme which can provide ‘crisis loans’ and ‘local welfare assistance loans’ to people living in Wolverhampton. Information Guide 12: DWP Social Fund 1.8.2019 1 To qualify for a Budgeting Loan the claimant DWP Social Fund (and/or their partner) must have been receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’ (see page 3) for The Social Fund provides a range of interest at least six months (gaps of 28 days are free loans, grants and lump sum payments ignored) prior to the date of claim. which can be applied for by some benefit claimants. Under the Social Fund a person Any eligible Budgeting Loan amount will be can make an application for: reduced by the amount of savings the claimant (and/or their partner) has above £1,000 (£2,000 if the claimant or their partner is aged A.
    [Show full text]
  • Unfair and Underfunded
    Unfair and underfunded CAB evidence on what’s wrong with the Social Fund This report was written by Alan Barton, National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux October 2002 Contents 1. Summary and recommendations 1 2. Introduction 5 The need for change 5 What is the Social Fund for? 6 What does the Social Fund provide? 7 3. General problems with the Social Fund 9 Grants or loans? 9 Inadequate advice from social security staff 10 Is the budget adequate to meet need? 12 Is the Social Fund efficient and effective 14 Eligibility – the people who miss out 14 Alternative help- The Association of Charity Officers 17 4. Specific problems with the Social Fund 20 Community Care Grants 20 Budgeting Loans 23 Crisis Loans 27 Funeral Payments 33 5. Conclusion 39 Appendix: CABx that submitted evidence between January 1999 and July 2002 40 Unfair and underfunded Summary and recommendations 1. Summary and recommendations 1.1 The Social Fund exists to enable people on very low incomes to meet needs that they cannot afford from their normal benefit income. These needs include such things as the cost of clothes and other equipment for a new baby, beds and cookers for people setting up home after homelessness or mental illness, or the costs of replacing essential items destroyed in a fire. In this Evidence Report we draw attention to the manifest failings of the Social Fund to meet the needs of people on low incomes. These failings have left some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in society socially excluded and deprived of the necessities for a decent standard of life.
    [Show full text]