Agenda item

Purpose of Report

To provide the Joint Committee with an update regarding the national and local position of welfare reform, with a specific focus on Universal Credit.

Decision

That the report be noted.

Alternative Reasons Considered and Rejected

None.

Reason for Decision

The report provided the Joint Committee with an update on Universal Credit, including the national and local position regarding Universal Credit together with shared service preparations for roll-out to full service, migration of customers in receipt of legacy benefits and the potential impact of migration to City of Lincoln and North Kesteven rent arrears.

It was reported that the Welfare Reform and Project Officer had been working with City of Lincoln Council and North Kesteven District Council Housing colleagues to monitor the impact Universal Credit claims were currently having on rent collection. Data showed that of the 183 City of Lincoln tenants in receipt of Universal Credit, as of 30 April 2018, 101 of them had an increase in their arrears totalling £41,327. Details relating to North Kesteven would be forwarded to members of the Joint Committee in due course.

The report included information on the Universal Credit Support Team, which sought to undertake the following:

·         provide assisted digital support for customers wishing to make a claim;

·         help customers maintain their Universal Credit claim by providing assistance in a variety of means;

·         provide personal budgeting support.

The Support Team was also responsible for the training of Benefits Officers in Universal Credit and ceasing of relevant Housing Benefit claims, processing Council Tax Support, allocating overpayments to the correct recovery method, as well as several briefings for other departments, as well as external partners including the Department for Work and Pensions.

A dashboard of statistical information from the Universal Credit Support Team was appended to the report, which provided key information relating to team outputs as well as regional and national updates.

An number of other welfare reforms introduced from April 2018 were set out in the report and included:

·         support for mortgage interest payments;

·         employer childcare vouchers no longer available to new claimants;

·         self-employed National Insurance contributions change.

Progress with the shared service’s high-level Welfare Reform Strategy Action Plan and Universal Credit Preparation Plan was to be monitored by the Joint Committee on a quarterly basis, with updates on both plans attached to the report at Appendix 3.

As part of introducing the report, the Head of the Revenues and Benefits Shared Service explained that the picture in relation to the rollout of Universal Credit was constantly changing, with the team working hard to try and implement what was required. An example was given of full migration scheduled for 2022 which had now been pushed back to 2023.

It was noted that 30% of West Lindsey postcodes would be allocated to the Lincoln Jobcentre as well as some from East Lindsey, and members were reminded that the service was having to work within Jobcentre boundaries rather than local government boundaries. It was emphasised, however, that the shared service would receive funding to support these.

The Head of the Shared Service praised officers of the service for the exemplary way in which they had responded to the complexities of implementing Universal Credit, particularly their willingness to be flexible and go into different roles. Councillor Rosanne Kirk, Portfolio Holder for Reducing Inequality at the City of Lincoln Council, had recently visited the Universal Credit Support Team and commended the team for the work it was undertaking. She was reassured during her visit by the advice that was being given to people, with officers having to deal with very difficult case work and complex issues. It was noted that other local authorities had visited this team and had been impressed with what it was doing.