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Autumn/Winter 2010 Bright Training Programme

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 Changes to Housing Benefit will not take effect until April 2011

The government has confirmed that none of its proposed changes to housing benefit will take effect until April 2011.

Speaking in a debate on housing benefit in Westminster Hall, the Minister of State for Pensions, Steve Webb, told MPs -

'Nothing happens this autumn; nothing will change until next April. We have to put regulations through the Social Security Advisory Committee, so there will be a process of consultation on the regulations. The regulations will be laid before parliament in October or November. There will then be a further six months before anything changes.... those are the changes that will go through secondary legislation. Some of the longer-term changes will require primary legislation, so there will be a further process of scrutiny and consultation.'

In addition, Mr Webb confirmed that, on 23 July 2010, the government will publish a comprehensive impact assessment on the proposed changes, including the impact on groups at a national level, broad rental market areas, bedroom category, the availability of accommodation by broad rental market area, the households affected by caps by local authority and by government office region, the households affected by moving to the 30th percentile and the distribution of local housing allowance and housing benefit award by case load and by housing benefit award intervals.

Only a quarter of those eligible for child maintenance receive payment in full

The DWP has published new research that highlights that in 2007/2008 only 28% of the eligible child maintenance population had a positive maintenance outcome, wherein some maintenance was received, and of those 25% received maintenance in full, whilst the remaining 3% received some but not all.

The research, undertaken prior to the formation of the Child Maintenance and Enforcement Commission, was designed to inform the development of sustainable fit-for-purpose measurements of effective child maintenance arrangements in the future.

Amongst the other key findings in the research were that -

·         the most common form of arrangement was a private one, with 43% arranged in this way, whilst Child Support Agency (CSA) assessments accounted for 39%.

·         CSA assessments were more common among parents with care who worked less than 16 hours per week (48%), compared to those that worked more than 16 hours (33%).

·         for those without an arrangement the most common explanation was that the parent with care did not want any contact with the non-resident parent (33%).

·         33% of children had contact with their non-resident parent at least once a week, whilst 32% had no contact at all.

·         children in lone parent families saw their non-resident parent on a more regular basis than re-partnered couple families (35% on a weekly basis compared to 18%), although the proportions that never saw their non-resident parent were similar (32% against 30% respectively).

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More than 250,000 pension credit claimants to benefit from new Energy Rebate Scheme

More than 250,000 pension credit claimants are expected to benefit from the new Energy Rebate Scheme, the government has said.

With 'payments' - in the form of a one-off £80 rebate on eligible households' electricity bills - due to commence later this month, Steve Webb, Minister of State for Pensions, said today -

'This cash will help thousands of pensioners get help with their fuel bills who might otherwise be struggling to make ends meet. As many rebates as possible will be awarded automatically, however this will not apply in all cases. If anyone gets a letter from us asking them to call our Helpline they should ring straight away to make sure they don't miss out.' 

NB - pensioners are eligible if, on 26 March 2010, all of the following applied to them, or their partner -

·         they were aged 70 or over;

·         they were receiving the guarantee credit element of pension credit but not the savings credit element; and

·         they were responsible for the electricity account where they live and were not receiving a social or discounted tariff on their electricity bill.

For more information see today's DWP press release Up to £20 million off fuel bills for poor pensioners as energy rebate scheme gets underway.

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Understanding the needs of people with mental health conditions or learning disabilities when claiming benefits

The DWP has published new research that presents the findings of a literature review commissioned to understand the needs, preferences and experiences of people with mental health conditions and learning disabilities when accessing benefits, specifically disability living allowance and attendance allowance.

Amongst the main findings of the research were that individuals with mental health conditions or learning disabilities, particularly those with more severe medical conditions and those of older age, are more liable than the general population to experience social exclusion, and this can present significant barriers to acquiring information and advice about eligibility for benefits and accessing support to make a claim, including -

·         people with learning disabilities often have limited friendship groups and may have limited contact with family – two of the channels through which many people hear about DLA and AA;

·         conditions such as dementia frequently go undiagnosed, possibly making it less likely that the person will become aware of their potential eligibility for benefits; and

·         the social stigma can discourage people from seeking help when they suspect something may be wrong, which may delay diagnosis and intervention.

Whilst the research highlights evidence that using advocates is effective in reducing barriers faced by vulnerable people, it acknowledges that provision remains patchy both from a geographical perspective and from the perspective of meeting the needs of particular groups. For example, one piece of research found ‘serious gaps’ in provision for African and Caribbean men who have a mental health condition.

 Use of relative as interpreter at tribunal hearing

Background

The claimant had opted for an oral hearing of her appeal but a first hearing was postponed and a second hearing adjourned through no fault of her own.  At the third hearing, the official interpreter failed to show up and the claimant's son, who had come with her, expressed his willingness to act as interpreter. However the tribunal rejected his offer and gave the claimant the choice of either returning on another occasion or agreeing to a paper hearing. 

With the claimant having opted for a paper hearing, at which her appeal was unsuccessful, she then appealed to the Upper Tribunal.

Issue before the Upper Tribunal

Whether the tribunal was correct to insist that only an official interpreter could be used at the hearing

Reasons for decision

... each case must be considered on its merits and there is certainly no rule which requires a tribunal to adjourn for an official interpreter, and a tribunal could be criticised for adjourning if there is a relative or friend willing and able to undertake the task’.

'In a case such as this, both basic fairness and efficient case management required the tribunal at the very least to ascertain whether it could proceed with the son as interpreter. Instead, the tribunal was inflexible. The appellant was forced to choose between even longer delay, on the one hand, and non-participation in her appeal on the other. She was faced with ‘Hobson’s Choice’, that is to say, no choice at all.' 

The decision of the tribunal was set aside and remitted for rehearing by a new  tribunal.

 Big Lottery Fund share of good cause money will be reduced to 40 per cent in September

Arts, sports and heritage organisations will together get 60 per cent of lottery money, Department for Culture, Media and Sport confirms

The voluntary and community sector’s share of lottery ‘good cause’ money will be reduced from 50 per cent to 40 per cent in September, the government has confirmed.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport’s structural reform plan, published yesterday, says plans to allocate 60 per cent of lottery 'good cause' money to arts, sports and heritage organisations, and 40 per cent to the Big Lottery Fund, will be enacted by a statutory instrument in September.

Arts, sports and heritage organisations currently have a combined 50 per cent share of the funding. Some of this funding is given to charities.

The structural reform plan also says the government will tell the Big Lottery Fund by September that it must stop funding "politicised projects", and will ask all lottery distributors to reduce their administrative costs to 5 per cent of their total income. The government will agree cost-cutting plans by December, the document says.

A consultation on the proposal to award 60 per cent of ‘good cause’ money to sports, arts and heritage groups is open until 21 August. But a DCMS spokesman said the sector was supportive of the move and it was "highly likely" to go ahead. He said the change would give an extra £50m each a year to those groups.

Asked about the 5 per cent administration target, Peter Wanless, chief executive of the Big Lottery Fund, said: "We are in discussions with the department about the issues and implications that follow from that. Obviously there’s a risk that it could lead to us allocating fewer, bigger grants."

On the changes to the projects that the BLF could fund, he said: "There have been occasions on which a strong improvement to society was achieved through funding going down the statutory route."

DWP launches informal online consultation on implementation of Work Programme

The DWP has launched an informal consultation on the implementation of the new Work Programme, designed to enable external suppliers to propose and discuss ideas.

Introducing the new consultation, the DWP said -

'The government has announced plans for radical reform of the welfare to work system and the implementation of The Work Programme. The Work Programme will be an integrated package of support providing personalised help for people who find themselves out of work based on need rather than benefit claimed. 

We have received numerous suggestions and comments about The Work Programme from our external suppliers. To enable suppliers to propose and discuss ideas on specific areas of The Work Programme, we have introduced this facility.'

The consultation has two themes -

·         the first theme invites comments on capital raising and payment models and is available for comment until 30 July 2010; and

·         the second theme invites comments on efficiencies, customers and implementation and will be available for comments from 2 August 2010 to the 13 August 2010.

 The Work Programme: Your Thoughts - comment online  is available from the DWP website

Government announces details of reduction in child trust fund from August 2010

The Treasury has announced that it has laid draft regulations before parliament which would reduce government contributions into child trust funds from August 2010.

Financial Secretary to the Treasury, Mark Hoban, states -

'These regulations would reduce Government contributions into child trust funds at birth, and stop Government contributions at age seven, due from August 2010. They would also stop disability payments into child trust funds due from 6 April 2011, but the funding allocated to make disability payments in future years will be redirected to provide additional respite breaks.'

The statement goes on to say that the government will separately introduce a Bill to stop all government contributions to child trust funds at birth due from January 2011.

Benefits claim forms - DWP have provided claim forms online for the benefits, allowances, pensions and other payments listed below.  Each link takes you to the information you need before you claim. Please read this information before filling in any forms. Each form also comes with notes that help you fill it in - http://www.dwp.gov.uk/publications/claim-forms/

Tax credits forms and help sheets - All the forms are in Portable Document Format (PDF) - http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcredits/forms-and-leaflets/forms.htm

ACAS: aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations, including issues such as tackling bullying.  To read further about this organisation click here  

Equal Works: function over 8 themes which are Facilitating Access, Ethnic Minorities, Business Creation, Social Economy, Lifelong learning and inclusive working practices, Adaptability to work, Gender Equality, Asylum Seekers.  To find out more click here 

RISE: is a membership organisation, open to anyone with an interest in Social Enterprise in South West England.  For further information click here  

Alliance for Sector Skills Council: This website has been produced to help employers and Sector Skills Councils address the practical issues in implementing good equality and diversity practice in the workplace.  It contains useful information on basic facts, good practice, and various other resources.  To read further click here 

Avon and Bristol Law Centre: Discrimination advice line for people who want advice about problems of discrimination in accessing goods, services, facilities and housing. Advice is given on discrimination problems relating to disability, gender, sexual orientation, faith/belief and race. This line is open between 10.00 and 12.00 every Tuesday. Contact the discrimination advice line here: 0117 9167704.  To find out more click here  

Advice Support Volunteer

North Bristol Advice Centre are currently hoping to recruit volunteers to work alongside the advice workers to help people apply for payments from Charities for household items, holidays etc. and to help with completion of claim forms such as Housing and Council Tax Benefit and Disability Living Allowance.  You need no previous experience as you will receive full training and support.  If you can spare 6 hours a week and would like to gain some useful skills and experience as well as making a difference in your community please contact us.

How to apply: Ring 0117 9515751

Organisation North Bristol Advice Centre
Contact: Anne Doughty or Carol Sage
Phone: 0117 9515751 
Email: Team@northbristoladvice.org.uk 
Web: http://www.northbristoladvice.org.uk

Close Date: 20 Aug 2010 - 17:00 

Black Young Carers Development Officer

£21,519 + benefits 35 hours per week Central Bristol

We require a highly motivated individual with experience of working with Black and Minority Ethnic Communities to support young carers throughout Bristol.

With relevant experience of the needs of Black Young Carers, you will have excellent communication and organisational skills. You will also be able to establish strong relationships with young people and the ability to develop good working relationships with community groups and agencies.

A flexible approach, along with a full driving licence and access to vehicle, are essential due to the nature of the post.

BCP aims to be an equal opportunities employer.
This post is conditional to an enhanced Criminal Records Bureau check and is covered by Section 5 2D of the Race Relations Act 1976.
Charity Number: 1084980. Company number: 4139337.

How to apply: For further information or a recruitment pack, please contact 0117 314 46 68 or email: admin@bristolblackcarers.org.uk

Organisation Bristol Black Carers
Contact: Sam Lane
Phone: 0117 314 4668 
Email: admin@bristolblackcarers.org.uk 
Web: http://www.bristolblackcarers.org.uk

Close Date: 31 Aug 2010 - 23:59