8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/welfare-benefits-shared-lives-workshop-1 1/21
Welfare benefits and
Shared Lives
Donna Bounden
Funding and benefits managerShared Lives South West
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/welfare-benefits-shared-lives-workshop-1 2/21
Outline of workshop
Discuss the current welfare benefit topics ofinterest or concern to Shared Livesschemes.
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/welfare-benefits-shared-lives-workshop-1 3/21
Current topics
1. Can carers claim benefits whilst providingshared lives services?
2. Welfare benefit reform bill – future changes to
benefits3. Housing benefit v Local Housing Allowance
4. Appointee ship
5. Carer credits for National Insurancecontributions
6. Shared lives and Council tax discounts
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1. Carers claiming benefits
• Can carers claim benefits for themselves and for other family members. (this excludes the service users - normally) whilst providing shared lives services this may include :
• Housing benefit /Local Housing Allowance• Carers allowance
• Employment Support Allowance/Incapacity benefit
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credits• Pension Credit
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1. Carers claiming benefits
• NAAPS has sought clarification from the DWP inthese areas but no clear guidance has emergedto answer all the queries in depth.
• Not sure whether these issues will be resolved in
the short term, but some may come clearer inthe future under the Welfare Reform Bill?
• Difficult as benefits consider personalcircumstances, however it maybe possible
clearer definitions.
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2. Welfare Benefit Reform Bill
On 16 February 2011 the Welfare Bill wasintroduced to Parliament. The bill introducesa wide range of reforms to make the benefits
and tax credits system fairer and simpler by: – creating the right incentives to get more people
into work by ensuring work always pays
– protecting the most vulnerable in our society – delivering fairness to those claiming benefit and
to the tax payer.
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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2. Welfare Benefit Reform Bill
The main elements of the Bill are: – the introduction of Universal Credit to provide a single streamlined
benefit that will ensure work always pays – a stronger approach to reducing fraud and error with tougher penalties
for the most serious offences – a new claimant commitment showing clearly what is expected of
claimants while giving protection to those with the greatest needs – reforms to Disability Living Allowance, through the introduction of the
Personal Independence Payment to meet the needs of disabled peopletoday (commencing 2012/13)
– creating a fairer approach to Housing Benefit to bring stability to themarket and improve incentives to work (Already in progress)
–driving out abuse of the Social Fund system by giving greater power tolocal authorities
– reforming Employment and Support Allowance to make the benefit fairerand to ensure that help goes to those with the greatest need (already inprogress)
– changes to support a new system of child support which puts theinterest of the child first
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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2. Welfare Benefit Reform Bill
• Areas of concern:-
– Revision of Disability Living Allowance
– Migration of majority of claimants ontoEmployment Support Allowance
– Reduction of housing benefit payments
– Getting service users into work
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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3. Housing benefit v Local HousingAllowance
• Local housing allowance effectivelyreplaced Housing benefit from April 2008.
• Local housing allowance only contributesto accommodation costs.
• Housing benefit covers bothaccommodation and food and utilities.
• Caution: many housing benefit offices getconfused about which is which!
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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3. Housing benefit v Local HousingAllowance
• Things to consider
– Shared Lives package pricing
– Setting prices for food and utilities?
– Disability Living Allowance entitlement
– Possible exemptions (care leavers under 22)
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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4. Appointeeship
What is an appointee ?
“ a person elected to deal with the financial,aspects of some one’s live as they are unable todeal with their own affairs.”
This is quite closed definition in the sense asappointeeship can cover more wide ranging topics
such as decision making wellbeing and health careand other matters in varying degrees.
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4. Appointeeship
Who can be an appointee?
– family members
– local authorities
– solicitors
– friends/carers
– corporate bodies
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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4. Appointee ship
There are various types of Appointee ship and thisoften causes confusion. Examples are:-
• Power of Attorney
• Deputyship• Court of protection appointee• Welfare benefit appointee (corporate appointee)
The powers the appointee will hold will dependingon how the appointee has been elected.
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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4. Appointeeship
• As a rule of thumb I would say that aShared Lives Scheme or Shared LivesCarer would only cover the aspect of the
finances of the person as the issues canbe very complex and time consuming.
• Linked to Mental Capacity Act.
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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4. Appointee ship
Welfare benefit appointeeship:-
• How do you decide if some one needs anappointee?
• If within a scheme who should take on thisrole, the carer or the scheme?
• Accountability of the appointee and of thescheme.
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5. National Insurance Credits as aSL Carer
• Carer’s credits have been available since
06.04.10
• Qualifying criteria for the carer: “ provide
care for one or more disabled person(s)for a total of 20 hours or more each week,where they do not receive CARERS
ALLOWANCE”
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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5. National Insurance Credits as aSL Carer
• Carer’s credits have been available since
06.04.10
• Qualifying criteria for the carer: “ provide
care for one or more disabled person(s)for a total of 20 hours or more each week,where they do not receive CARERS
ALLOWANCE”
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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5. National Insurance Credits as aSL Carer
Two qualifying routes: EITHER• through the disabled person being entitled to
Mid rate or HR Disability Living Allowance,Attendance Allowance at either rate or Constant
Attendance Allowance.OR• Certification route – if not in receipt of applicable
benefits – a certificate completed by a
appropriate health or social care professional.See www.direct.gov.uk/carers for more
information.
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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6. Shared Lives and Council Tax
• Discounts could be applicable, howeverthese are dependent on the number ofoccupants in the house as a whole as
some occupants can be disregarded.Possible disregards could be:- – Being a carer
– Severe Mental Impairment
– Service user living in an annexe
– Adaptations to property
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/welfare-benefits-shared-lives-workshop-1 20/21
Welfare benefits and Shared Lives
• Useful websites – www.direct.gov.uk
www.entitledto.com
• Useful book Welfare benefits & taxcredit handbook(CPAG)
• Useful resource Local Welfare Rightsoffice/CAB
8/3/2019 Welfare Benefits Shared Lives Workshop 1
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Welfare benefits and Shared Lives
Any questions or queries?
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