Agenda item

To update the Joint Committee on Universal Credit and progress with the Shared Service’s Welfare Reform Strategy Action Plan.

Decision

(1)       That the update provided in relation to Universal Credit be noted.

(2)       That progress with the Welfare Reform Strategy Action Plan and Universal Preparation Plans be noted.

(3)       That an update report be submitted to the next meeting of the Joint Committee.

None.

Universal Credit in Lincoln and North Kesteven had been under the ‘Live’ Universal Credit scheme since 30 November 2015 and take up within the areas was still relatively low, mainly due to the specific client group identified for this first phase. It was noted that a recent announcement by the Department for Work and Pensions had set out a revised rollout schedule running to 2020 rather than 2021, with Lincoln Jobcentre moving to ‘Full Service’ Universal Credit from 7 March 2018 and Sleaford Jobcentre now moving to ‘Full Service’ in November 2018. The differences between ‘Live’ and ‘Full Service’ were outlined in paragraph 3.6 of the report.

The table in paragraph 3.2 of the report identified the number of customers for each authority since the ‘Live’ began on 30 November 2015 for each month. Work had commenced to determine how many of these customers had housing costs and were Council tenants, which would form part of the Universal Credit preparation plan detailed at Appendix 2 of the report.

The Joint Committee received an explanation as to the transition between the ‘Full Service’ Universal Credit system, which meant reverting to the housing benefit system for a period of four months prior to the commencement of the ‘Full Service’ system. Members acknowledged the complications this would have for customers as well as staff and it was noted that implantation of the ‘Full Service’ system would impact the wider service and not solely the Benefits Team.

Details relating to Welfare Reform from April 2017 were set out in the report and included the following key areas:

·         restrictions on amounts for children and qualifying young persons;

·         under-occupation (spare room subsidy);

·         employment support allowance – removal of work-related activity group;

·         bereavement support payment;

·         30 hours free childcare;

·         Welfare Reform Strategy Action Plan.

It was reported that a member briefing on Welfare Reform would be held at the City Lincoln Council on 17 January 2018, with a date for a similar briefing for North Kesteven District Council to be confirmed in due course.

The Head of Shared Revenues and Benefits provided an update on the key aspects of the Autumn Statement relevant to welfare reform and Universal Credit, further to which the following points were noted:

·         it would be easier for people to gain an advance for their Universal Credit payments;

·         people would be paid for the first seven days, meaning that people would no longer be required to wait for their payment to be effective. This would increase the cost of the scheme;

·         in commencing a Universal Credit new claim, a person’s housing benefit would continue to be paid for the first two weeks. It was hoped that this would be reflected in the grant funding received by each respective authority;

·         it would be easier for Universal Credit payments to be made direct to landlords.

The Head of the Shared Service added, by way of reassurance, that officers at both the City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council worked very closely with colleagues at the Job Centre, with co-location at City Hall being a very important part of this. Information was being shared on an almost daily basis and the relationship between the authorities and the Jobcentre was very positive. It was noted that the Universal Credit system may look very different by the time rollout for Sleaford Jobcentre commenced in November 2018.

A question was asked as to whether a change in housing benefit for rented properties not adhering to certain energy efficiency ratings would impact people living in mobile homes. The Head of the Shared Service agreed to investigate this matter.

Members asked whether any feedback had been received from South Kesteven District Council, whose Grantham based Job Centre had commenced ‘Full Service’ Universal Credit on 18 October 2017. Feedback to date had been that the Council had received lots more cases than it had anticipated.