1

Protecting the Most Vulnerable

Karamjit Singh

NI Social Fund Commissioner

OSFC’s Experiences of Social Fund Customers in NI Report

Of the 225 cases examined by OSFC: 67.6% (46.4% in GB) involved working age

people experiencing multiple disadvantages as defined in the State of the Nation Report

39.1% (27% in GB) involved an adult with both mental and physical health problems

20.9% (19.8% in GB) involved somebody who had experienced a period of homelessness

35.1% (14.8% in GB) involved people with two or more of the following social disadvantages: learning difficulties; physical or mental health problems; homelessness; drug or alcohol problems; ex-offenders; children leaving care, or where there were ongoing custody issues

49.3% (14.6% in GB) had a Social Fund debt of more than £1,000. In 16.2% of these cases the Social Fund debt was in addition to other debts to third parties

Social Fund introduced in 1988 and comprises two parts; one regulated and one discretionary.

OSFC is concerned solely with the cash limited discretionary part, a scheme of payments consisting of grants; crisis loans and budgeting loans.

The Department for Social Development (DSD) is responsible for policy and legislation and its Social Security Agency (SSA) responsible for day-to-day operations.

OSFC is an independent statutory body that carries out the independent review service for the scheme.

The Application Process

Customer: makes an application to SSA in writing (or by telephone for Crisis Loans).

SSA decision maker: gathers any additional evidence & makes decision.

Dissatisfied customer: requests review in writing. SSA Reviewing Officer: gathers any additional

evidence & makes their Review Decision. Dissatisfied customer: writes directly to OSFC

and requests an independent review. Inspector in OSFC: gathers any additional

evidence and makes their decision.

Customer led reviewThe Inspector can: refer the case back to Review Officer to

correct a defect (<1% cases) proceed straight to decision if there are no

crucial gaps in evidence / natural justice issues (c. 30% of cases); or

Contact the customer to gather more information (c. 70% of cases).– In 70% of these cases customers provide

evidence by telephone.– Relatively few representatives involved

(15%).

7

Clearance times (working days)Time targets for Inspectors:

12 days for grants5 days for Budgeting Loans1 day for urgent Crisis loans

2013/14 Performance:6.7 days for a Grant1.3 days for a Budgeting Loanless than 1 day for urgent crisis loans

Independent reviews in 2013/14

1,641 cases registered with OSFC 78 requests from customers for

further independent reviews 5 complaints received 31% of decisions reviewed by

Inspectors were changed Unit cost per decision was £157.48

The GB Social Fund Scheme

Abolished in April 2013 Remaining casework completed by

July 2013 Funding provided to English local

government, Scottish and Welsh governments

No consistency

The GB Social Fund Scheme: 2012/13

48,368 decisions 78 staff Unit cost was £73 per decision (in 2009/10 it

was £154) 39.8% decisions changed 72% of respondents satisfied / very satisfied 2,552 complaints about decisions resulting

in 135 being changed (0.3%)

Critical Issues

Public confidence Timeliness Efficiency Quality

12

The Future

A Northern Ireland Discretionary Support Fund?