DWP Update
Argyll and Bute Council · 1 February 2023
Back to Mid Argyll, Kintyre and the Islands Area Community Planning Group — 1 February 2023 and its agenda
Text extracted from the council's PDF. Layout and reading order may differ from the original.
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DWP Partner Update January 2023 Count of customers – Universal Credit and Legacy benefits (Stats Xplore 19/01/23) Universal Credit – Number of People on UC by Age Group at December 2022 (all conditionality groups) Jobcentre Plus 18 – 24 25 – 39 40 – 49 50 – 59 60+ TOTAL Campbeltown 99 353 196 156 105 909 Dunoon 150 464 261 230 116 1221 Helensburgh 151 486 247 201 109 1194 Oban 197 732 398 313 187 1827 Rothesay 68 253 178 154 86 739 TOTAL 665 2288 1280 1054 603 5890 Universal Credit – Number of People on UC by Conditionality Group at December 2022 Jobcentre Plus C’town Dunoon H’burgh Oban Rothesay TOTAL Searching for work 172 304 202 377 168 1223 Working – with requirements 149 174 176 260 83 842 Working – no requirements 207 206 268 434 130 1245 No work related Requirements 341 463 485 608 288 2185 Planning for work 10 13 12 18 15 68 Preparing for work 31 74 65 117 61 384 TOTAL 910 1234 1208 1814 745 5911
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Jobseekers Allowance at May 2022 – Argyll & Bute Male 103 Female 44 Total 147 Employment & Support Allowance at May 2022 – Argyll & Bute Phase of claim Assessment phase 88 Work Related Activity Group 293 Support Group 2163 Total 2544 Income Support as at May 2022 – Argyll & Bute Statistical Group Lone Parent 43 Carer 104 Total 147 Update DWP is providing targeted support for customers over 50 years of age, with each District now having a 50+ Champion who is working with local sties. This will enable those aged 50 and over, through early and targeted employment, skills and employer-led support to stay in, progress or return to work and to build their future financial resilience and wellbeing. DWP continue to seek provision for its customers to support them in their employability journey. DWP has purchased Customer Service provision for 6 customers in the Campbeltown area and the customers who participated in this provision have gained a range of certification which will enhance their prospects of gaining employment in retail and hospitality sectors. The course included certified learning in Customer Service skills, Health & Safety at Work, Moving & Handling (Objects), Emergency First Aid and REHIS as well as mock interviews.
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DWP purchased provision for 50 customers in West Scotland District which can be accessed by customers across Argyll & Bute and following the success of this support, further provision has been purchased. The aim of this provision is to progress customers who are reporting a health customer on their customer journey. The provision will support them to recognise and overcome barriers and to adjust their mindset, acknowledge their health conditions and gain an understanding of how to manage their movement towards work. This provision will run from 6/2/22 to 22/4/23. Autumn Statement The Chancellor delivered his Autumn Statement in November which included a targated package of support for the most vulnerable. The full Autumn Statement is available to read on GOV.UK along with supporting documents including a Cost of Living factsheet The package included: Benefit Uprating – The Government is protecting the most vulnerable in society by increasing benefits in line with inflation by 10.1%. Working age families will see their benefit payments rise from April 2023. The Government is also providing support this winter for people who need help now, including money off energy bills and Cost of Living Payments. Pensions Uprating – Pensioners in Great Britain will benefit from a 10.1% increase to their State Pension in April 2023 under the triple lock. This is worth over £870 next year on average. A full basic State Pension will increase from £141.85 to £156.20 per week, and the new State Pension will increase from £151.85 to £203.85. The Government will also protect 1.4 million of the poorest pensioner households from rising prices by increasing Pension Credit by 10.1% in April 2023. New Cost of Living Payments – UK households on means-tested benefits will receive an additional Cost of Living Payment of £900 in 2023-24. These will be made in more than one instalment. People across the UK on non-mean tested benefits will receive a further £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment in 2023-24 to help with the additional costs they face. This is in addition to the Cost of Living Payment for households on means-tested benefits and pensioner households, if eligible. Pensioner households across the UK will receive an additional £300 Pensioner Cost of Living Payment in 2023-24 to help with bills. This is in addition to means-tested and disability payments (if eligible) recognising that many pensioners are disproportionately impacted by higher energy costs and unable to increase their income through work. Exact payment windows will be announced closer to the time, but are spread across a longer period to ensure a consistent support offering throughout the year. They will be broadly as follows:
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£301 – First Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2023 £150 – Disability Payment – during Summer 2023 £300 – Second Cost of Livig Payment – during Autumn2023 £300 – Pensioner Payment – during Winter 2023/24 £299 – Third Cost of Living Payment – during Spring 2024 Guidance on getting extra payment to help with the cost of living if you’re entitled to certain benefits or tax credits has been updated to include a link to information about Cost of Living Payments during 2023 and 2024. https://www.gov.uk/guidance/cost-of-living-payment Benefit Cap rise – In April 2023 the Government will also increase the benefit cap in line with inflation by 10.1% The benefit cap will rise from £23,000 to £25,323 for families in Greater London and from £20,000 to £22,020 for families nationally. Lower caps for single households without children will rise from £15,410 to £16,967 in Greater London and from £13,400 to £14,753 nationally. Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) – delay in managed move to Universal Credit - The Government has also had to make challenging decisions to deliver on fiscal sustainability while protecting support for those who need it most. As part of this, the Chancellor announced a delay in the moving of ESA claimants not in receipt of Child Tax Credit into UC until April 2028, this provides a welfare saving of £1 billion by 2027-28, as overall UC is more generous that the benefits it replaces. Completing the move to UC over a longer time frame moves these increased costs to a later date. Recoverable Hardship Payments From 19/12/22 claimants will be able to ask DWP to review a previous request to stop (waive) Recoverable Hardship Payment (RHP) repayments made between 1/1/14 and 11/1/21. Recoverable Hardship Payments provide money to claimants who have seen their benefits reduced by sanctions or a fraud penalty. Claimants have to apply for them with evidence of need, and each request is reviewed individually. Hardship payments must be repaid by the claimant. However, claimants can request for the recovery of these payments to be waived, and must provide further evidence to show that paying back the money is either unaffordable or would affect their or their family’s health or wellbeing.
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And exercise has already started to look at previous waiver requests that took place prior to 11/1/21. A guidance page on GOV.UK explains the process and asks claimants to share evidence if they feel their RHP should be waived. Applications can only be considered if a request was made to waive the RHP between 1/1/14 and 11/1/21 and was refused at the time. With the evidence, Debt Management will check the claimant’s circumstances to see if they would have qualified. Automatic Enrolment – employer workplace pension duties Automatic enrolment is a continuous responsibility for all employers, from ensuring they maintain pensions contributions to completing re-enrolment. The Pensions Regulator (TPR) provides information for employers to help them prevent errors. We ask for your support in driving awareness of employers’ ongoing automatic enrolment duties. Further details on signing up to receive updates from The Pensions Regulator can be found on the TPR website. Reversal of National Insurance increase The reversal of April 2022’s 1.25% rise in National Insurance took effect across the UK from 6/11/22. Most employees will start to receive this tax cut directly through payroll between November 2022 and February 2023. Added to July’s increase in National Insurance thresholds, almost 30 million people will be £500 better off on average this year. It takes effects in all part of the UK and means working people will keep more of the money they earn. Funding for health and social care services will be maintained at the same level as if the levy were in place. Made with Care campaign highlights opportunities for careers in care The “Made with Care” campaign has returned for a second year and highlights the wide range of opportunities available to build a career in care and help others to live happy, healthy, fulfilling lives. Running until March 2023, campaign advertising will appear to millions across video-on-demand platforms such as ITV Hub, Sky Go and All 4 as well as radio and digital audio channels such as Spotify and social media and digital channels like Facebook and Instagram to direct jobseekers to www.adultsocialcare.co.uk People will be able to find everything the need to research a career in adult social care and, crucially, search and apply for adult social care jobs near them, with support to perfect their CV and advice on interviews.
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Minimum Wage Increases The National Living Wage will rise to £10.42 from 1/4/23, an increase of 92p or 9.7%. The Low Pay Commission’s recommendations ensure the NLW continues on track to reach the Government’s target of two-thirds of median earnings by 2024. The recommendations were unanimously agreed by Commissioners and accepted fully by the Government. Large minimum wage increases help protect low-paid workers’ living standards - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Employers who have signed up to the Disbability Confident scheme This document lists employers who have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme, and their status (committed, employer or leader). Employers that have signed up to the Disability Confident scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) The Disability Confident scheme aims to help employers make the most of the opportunities provided by employing disabled people. It is voluntary and has been developed by employers and disabled people’s representatives. The Disability Confident scheme has 3 levels that have been designed to support employers on their Disability Confident journey. Employers must complete each level before moving on to the next, it is free to sign up and use the guidance How to sign up to the Disability Confident employer scheme - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) Winter Fuel Payment 11.6 million Winter Fuel and Cost of Living Payments have been made to pensioners across the UK so far this winter. Pensioners who haven’t received their payment by 13/1/23 should contact the Winter Fuel Payment Centre online or by telephone Up to £600 winter help paid to over 11.5 million pensioners - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) This video about Winter Fuel Payments can also be shared https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AaPoW5_nzKg