Discretionary Local Support Scheme: Eligibility Criteria

Transcription

1 Discretionary Local Support Scheme: Eligibility Criteria From 1 April 2013 central government has abolished the discretionary Social Fund and transferred elements of the funding for a new provision of Local Support to local authorities. The change has been made as part of government s programme of welfare reform. The funding for Local Support is intended to provide financial support for vulnerable people but the council has a wide discretion as to how support should be provided and the eligibility criteria for receiving support. For the first year of the new provision, 1 April 2013 to 31 March 2014, the council is proposing eligibility criteria that are broadly based on the Social Fund. Claims and payments will be carefully monitored during the first year of administering Local Support and the information will be used to potentially develop and amend the eligibility criteria that will apply from 1 April The eligibility criteria for 2013/14 also exclude Universal Credit as a qualifying benefit for Local Support. This is because the council does not anticipate there being any households receiving Universal Credit that will be in need of Local Support before 1 April The eligibility criteria for 2014/15 will be amended to include Universal Credit as a qualifying benefit in certain circumstances. The eligibility criteria are broken down into three separate categories to reflect the type of support the council envisages will be needed. The three categories are: Tenants moving into accommodation who need financial support to meet expenses connected with the move. Families facing exceptional hardship or experiencing crisis. Financial support for vulnerable adults to meet an immediate short-term need. Applicants where the eligibility criteria are not met will normally be refused for that reason. Decision notices refusing an award of Local Support will advise the applicant to contact the Department for Work and Pensions to enquire about the availability of a Budgeting Loan or Short Term Advance. Cases where the eligibility criteria are met will normally qualify for Local Support and the level of support provided will be decided based on the merits of each individual case. The only exception occurs when the limited funds available for Local Support are exhausted. Once the council has used all of the funding available for Local Support in 2013/14, save in the most exceptional circumstances all applications will be refused regardless of whether eligibility criteria are met. However, expenditure on successful applications for Local Support will be carefully monitored from April 2013 onwards to guard against this happening. If there is serious risk of the available funds being exhausted before March 2014, an urgent review of the eligibility criteria will be instigated. There is a right to request a review of decisions on Local Support and the review process is set out as part of the eligibility criteria.

2 Financial support to meet expenses connected with moving into new accommodation or returning home after temporary absence. 1. The person making the application is either: a) moving into new rented accommodation located within the City of Westminster; or b) moving to new accommodation secured with assistance from the council s Housing Options Service or a Westminster commissioned PRS scheme; or c) a client receiving Adult Social Care returning home after a period spent in hospital or residential care; and 2. The person making the application, or their partner, is entitled to at least one of the following benefits: income-related Employment and Support Allowance Housing Benefit. Essential white goods, furniture, bedding, carpeting and curtains; Rent in advance or deposit but only if the person is ineligible to apply for a discretionary housing payment; Costs associated with returning home after a period of temporary absence in hospital or residential care; Furniture removals. Applications must be supported by a written statement or from the council s Housing Options Service, or an officer from the rough sleeping team, or an officer from the council s Children s or Adult Social Care service. The written statement (or ) supporting the application must outline why financial assistance connected with changing address or returning home is needed and explain how provision of Local Support will assist. Organisations the council has contracted to work with clients who may meet this criteria can also provide supporting statements. given to the supporting statement. With one exception, the decision on Local Support carries the right to request a reasons why the council s decision is wrong. A review must be requested within 14 outcome of the review within 14 days of the date the review request was received.

3 The exception where there is no right of review is a decision to refuse Local Support Families facing exceptional hardship or experiencing crisis 1. The person making the application either resides in Westminster or is living in temporary accommodation located outside the borough that the council has provided; and 2. Child benefit is in payment for at least one child or young person living in the household; and 3. An award of Local Support is necessary to prevent serious risk to the health and safety of the applicant or a member of their household; and 4. The person making the application, or their partner, is in receipt of at least one of the following benefits: income-related Employment and Support Allowance. Replacement of essential white goods or furniture; Costs associated with family breakdown including fleeing domestic violence; Costs associated with caring for a disabled child; Losses of essential items resulting from fire, flood or similar disaster; Children s clothing and footwear; Food; Fuel including energy supply reconnection charges; Repair of a heating system except where the cost is the responsibility of a third party such as the landlord. given to the serious risk to health and safety that an award of Local Support will prevent. Once the council has made an award of Local Support, a further application from the same family within 12 months of the previous award will only be considered if it is supported by a statement from an officer from Children s Services or Housing Options Service or a partner organisation that undertake work under the Common Assessment Framework (CAF). The supporting statement (or ) must outline why the family is experiencing hardship or crisis and explain how provision of Local Support will assist. This condition is to prevent a family making repeat requests for Local Support without first seeking assistance on avoiding reliance on Local Support.

4 With one exception, the decision on Local Support carries the right to request a reasons why the council s decision is wrong. A review must be requested within 7 outcome of the review within 3 days of the date the review request was received. The exception where there is no right of review is a decision to refuse Local Support Support for vulnerable adults in immediate short-term need 1. The person making the application either: a) resides in Westminster; or b) is a care leaver living in an out of borough placement; or c) is living in temporary accommodation the council has provided which is located outside the borough; and 2. An award of Local Support is necessary to prevent serious risk to the health and safety of the applicant or their partner; and 3. The applicant, or their partner, is in receipt of at least one of the following benefits: income-related Employment and Support Allowance; and 4. One of the following conditions are met: the applicant or their partner is aged 65 and over; or the applicant or their partner qualifies for Disability Living Allowance; or the applicant or their partner qualifies for Personal Independence Payments; or the applicant is a care leaver; or the applicant or their partner is a client of Adult Social Care. Replacement of essential white goods or furniture; Clothes and bedding; Fuel supply reconnection charges; Repair of a heating system except where the cost is the responsibility of a third party such as the landlord.

5 given to the serious risk to health and safety that an award of Local Support will prevent. Once the council has made an award of Local Support to an individual, a further application from the same individual or their partner within 12 months of the previous award will only be considered if it is supported by a statement from an officer from Adult Social Care, the Leaving Care Team or partner organisation contracted to deliver relevant advice or services on the council s behalf. This condition is to prevent the same individual making repeat requests for Local Support without first seeking assistance on avoiding reliance on Local Support. With one exception, the decision on Local Support carries the right to request a reasons why the council s decision is wrong. A review must be requested within 7 outcome of the review within 3 days of the date the review request was received. The exception where there is no right of review is a decision to refuse Local Support