Agenda item

Mark Perlic, Principle Welfare Rights Officer gave an update on progress of the implementation of recommendations resulting from the Welfare Reform – Unclaimed Benefits scrutiny review which had been undertaken in 2014-15. He reported that a working group had identified problems posed by welfare reform for residents, local organisations, businesses and the City of Wolverhampton Council.

The Principle Welfare Rights Officer highlighted that a number of issues were identified in relation to Universal Credit, concerning the communication of correct information to residents and housing providers.  He reported that the Welfare Rights Service provided training for a range of local organisations including Age UK, Citizens Advice Bureau and YMCA. To date, these had been attended by 681 people.

The Principle Welfare Rights Officer also advised that the Specialist Support Team and Communications Team were working in partnership to provide online information and signposting and to anticipate the implications of providing an online directory.  He advised that this directory had two phases.  The first was identifying advice-giving organisations in the City.  The second was identifying what assistance these could provide following the introduction of Universal Credit.

The Board thanked the Principle Welfare Rights Officer for his presentation of the report and Cllr Potter for chairing the review.

A discussion took place between Councillors about the directory which highlighted the following:

•         The full implementation of the online directory would be a difficult process as it required hard to reach groups, such as those with a disability or pensioners, to have access to the internet.

•         It would be an important resource for residents who had been refused or lost benefits or who were appealing against a decision.

•         There was uncertainty about its impact on other services, the budget and allocating resources.

•         The potential impact of this change on food banks should payments be missed.

•         The referral of residents to credit unions and responsible lenders would be inaccessible to those who were not on the electoral register.

The Principle Welfare Rights Officer advised that the directory was almost in a position to be launched ready for the arrival of Universal Credit in Wolverhampton during early February 2016 and could be used to signpost both individuals and local organisations to the appropriate help. He was aware of the issue of appeals and dispute cases but reported that work was being done to target hard to reach groups. He referred to work being undertaken by a body of law students at the University in the area of disability benefits, which resulted in an additional £450,000 in benefits being granted to those with disabilities.

Cllr Batemen enquired about the figures in 3.4 of the report, which stated that 36% of residents in Wolverhampton had no internet access. In response to a question from Cllr Potter, the Principle Welfare Rights Officer responded that there had been ward by ward mapping on this which he agreed to circulate.

The Managing Director reported that the board for Welfare Reform - Unclaimed Benefits had been working on this and had been liaising with the customer service team.  He advised that the overall strategy aimed to increase the number of people using the web, to release telephones and have employees with the right expertise available to visit residents from hard to reach groups.  He commented that the Council had adopted a ‘digital by design’ approach rather than ‘digital by default’, however, communities, families and the voluntary sector needed to be utilised to support people without access to the internet.

Councillors discussed recommendation 8 regarding Job Seekers Allowance sanctions and it was agreed that the statistics were concerning and an equality analysis of those who had sanctions applied to them should be undertaken.

In response to a question from Cllr Potter, the Principle Welfare Rights Officer explained that in relation to people directly paying rent – this was already the case for the private sector and was now being extended to the social housing sector.

The Chair raised a concern about the monthly arrears.  He advised that as this policy develops, accessibility to computers should be increased through possible liaison with schools.

Resolved:

1.      That progress made to implement recommendations from the Review of Welfare Reform – Unclaimed Benefits which concluded in January 2015 was noted.

2.      That the board receive an update of the Tracking and Monitoring of the Welfare Reform – Unclaimed Benefits Scrutiny Review in six months’ time.

3.      That the Group Manager – Democracy circulate a ward by ward break down of accessibility to computers in Wolverhampton.