Discretionary Housing Payments Presentation by Moira Coupar Fiona

Discretionary Housing Payments Presentation by Moira Coupar, Fiona Mackay and Gillian Ritchie Transactions Team Fiona. mackay@edinburgh. gov. uk

What are Discretionary Housing Payments? • Limited fund provided by Scottish Government • Estimated budget for 2018/19 is £ 6. 025 M. This includes £ 2. 018 for non under occupation cases and a potential £ 4 M for under occupation • Aim to assist those facing hardship where shortfall in their rent or looking to move to a more affordable property

What are Discretionary Housing Payments? § If your Housing Benefit doesn’t cover all of your rent and you are having difficulty paying the shortfall, you may be able to get a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) to help.

Who can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment? • A DHP can help, for example if you: • are seeking more affordable accommodation. DHP can help with deposits, rent in advance and removal costs. • are affected by the introduction of the benefit cap and are seeking employment • have been affected by previous Housing Benefit changes such as the extension of the Local Housing Allowance shared room rate to under 35 s • have higher living costs because you are sick or disabled.

What are Discretionary Housing Payments? • The award of a DHP is a discretionary decision and there is no statutory right to a payment. Each application will be treated strictly on its own merits. • There is a limited amount of money available to the Council to provide this help. Due to this, any payment made is likely to be for a short period of time only.

Some figures about DHP • As of 31 st March 2018 , the Council’s DHP end of year financial position was: Total Fund for 2017/18 £ 4, 836, 647* Net Paid to Date £ 5, 031, 204. 53 Committed pending related benefit process £ 45, 161. 58 Number of DHP applications 7147 Average number of days to process a DHP claim 9 Refusal rate 9. 6%

How to apply for DHP • An Application form is required and can be found at www. edinburgh. gov. uk under Welfare Reform or by emailing dhp@edinburgh. gov. uk or calling 0131 608 1111 • When completing ensure that all expenses are listed • Exception to above is where under occupancy applies as Scottish Government fully mitigate this therefore applicant can request in any form and no income/expenditure required If assisting a customer to apply for DHP for under occupancy then the request must come from the customer. e. g. A Housing Officer should record on House Rents that they have spoken to customer and they want to apply for DHP and note this on case report to Benefits Team, unless there is a mandate a request cannot be made on behalf of the customer •

What other assistance is available ? • Full Benefit Health Checks with Advice Shop to ensure all benefits are being claimed correctly. Contact 0131 200 2360 • Speak to Housing Officers if unable to meet rent shortfall • www. edinburgh. gov. /info. 20009/housing for advice and support

School Grants Team Ø Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) Ø Early Years Childcare Ø Free School Meals and Assistance with Schoolwear

Education Maintenance Allowance EMA Ø What is Education Maintenance Allowance? Ø EMA is a payment provided by the Scottish Government which provides financial assistance to young people from low-income households who are attending non-advanced education in school , college, community or voluntary provision or those who are home educated. Ø Payments are £ 30 a week which is payable fortnightly. This is paid in blocks of two weeks in arrears during term time and is paid directly into the bank account of the young person.

Education Maintenance Allowance EMA Ø Who Can Apply? Ø 16 -19 year olds. (This may be extended to age 20 years old) who are attending non-advanced education in school , college, community or voluntary provision or those who are home educated. Øhousehold annual income must be less than £ 24, 421 for households with one dependent child or £ 26, 884 for households with more than one dependent child. Dependent children are all those up to age 25 providing they are in full time education and training.

Education Maintenance Allowance EMA ØOrdinarily resident in Scotland, UK or EEA for three years immediately before the start of the course. ØThe young person should be on a full time non-advanced course. ØLooked after young people or care leavers automatically qualify and only need to provide a letter from their social worker. For more information on how to apply visit the council’s website where you can download an application form: http: //www. edinburgh. gov. uk/ema Email school. grants@edinburgh. gov. uk Telephone: 0131 469 3033

Early Years Ø Find Early Learning and childcare Ø The City of Edinburgh Early Years Team provide 600 hours of funded early learning and childcare to all three and four year olds and to eligible two year olds. We provide this through our own Ø Ø nursery classes nursery schools early years centres and under fives and nurseries we work in partnership with, known as partner provider nurseries.

Early Years Early learning and childcare for eligible twos Ø Some two year olds can get up to 600 hours of early learning and childcare in council-run nurseries during the school year. These are called Eligible Two’s.

Early Years Early learning and childcare for eligible twos Qualifying Criteria Ø You may qualify if you get one or more of these benefits: Ø Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-based Employment Support Allowance , Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance, State Pension Ø Child Tax Credits, but not Working Tax Credit, and your income is below £ 16, 105 Ø both maximum Child Tax Credits and maximum Working Tax Credit and your income is below £ 6, 420 Ø support under the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 Ø Universal Credits

Early Years Ø Universal Credits Ø or if your child is looked after by a local authority Ø under a kinship care order Ø living with a parent-appointed guardian Ø From 2020 the Scottish Government have committed to an increase the number of free childcare hours to 1140 for all three and four year olds and vulnerable two year olds.

Early Years Nursery places for three and four year olds Ø Early learning and childcare for three and four year olds Ø All children can get a funded part-time place at a council nursery, or funding towards a place at a private one, starting the term after their third birthday. For more information about Eligible two’s and nursery places for three and four year olds please visit: Early Years at: www. edinburgh. gov. uk/earlyyears where you can download an application form. • • • or Email Early years Email: earlyyears@edinburgh. gov. uk Tel: 0131 529 2103

Free School Meals and Assistance with Schoolwear Ø Free school meals (FSM) and Assistance with Schoolwear is available to children who attend a primary or secondary school managed by the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) and their parent/carer is in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits:

Free School Meals and Assistance with Schoolwear, School Clothing Grants: Ø The clothing grant rate for the 2017/18 academic year is £ 43 for primary aged children and £ 50 for secondary. Parents who qualify and have applied for a clothing grant will receive a payment directly into their bank account. Ø The Clothing Grant rate award for the 18/19 academic year is currently under review however it has been agreed that there will be a single rate for primary & secondary pupils Ø Only one clothing grant can be awarded each school year.

Free School Meals and Assistance with Schooolwear How to apply: Ø You can download an application form from the Council website at: • www. edinburgh. gov. uk/schoolgrants Ø or collect an application form from your child’s school. Ø You can also contact the School Grants Team by Email: school. grants@edinburgh. gov. uk

Free School Meals and Assistance with Schoolwear Ø The eligibility criteria for FSM for 18/19 year will be set by Scottish Government in April /May 2018. It has been agreed that the same criteria will be used for eligibility to Clothing Grants.

Scottish Welfare Fund What is the Scottish Welfare Fund? • The Scottish Welfare Fund provides a safety net for vulnerable people on low incomes through the provision of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants. • This was devolved to the Scottish Government in 2013 and replaced the old Social Fund that the DWP administered. • Crisis Grants are in place to help people cope with an unexpected expense and/or a disaster.

Scottish Welfare Fund What is the Scottish Welfare Fund ? • Financial support can be provided to offer help with emergency living costs; food, fuel, nappies. Grants are not loans and do not have to be paid back. • Community Care grants are in place to help vulnerable people set up home, or continue to live independently within their community. • There must be a severe and immediate need and you would face significant adverse consequences if you were not awarded a grant. • • There are fund qualifying conditions in place that you must meet in order to be awarded a grant.

• • • Scottish Welfare Fund Who Can Apply ? In order to be eligible to apply you should be: 16 years old or over Living within Edinburgh You do not need to be claiming benefits to be eligible. In order to qualify for a Crisis Grant you should be experiencing a disaster or an emergency. You should have no money and no items to live i. e. Food, gas, electricity etc. • In order to qualify for a Community Care Grant you should satisfy one of the 5 qualifying criteria.

Scottish Welfare Fund Who Can Apply • If you are awarded a Crisis Grant you will receive money to purchase the items you require. The payment is sent by text and can be redeemed as a Pay. Point vendor. Alternatively, Cash collection can be arranged to be collected from a local Council office. • You can apply for food, nappies, fuel, travel costs, emergency accommodation costs etc. In regards to a Community Care Grant you can receive household goods such as white goods, sofas, beds etc. These items are provided new and are delivered and installed by a company contracted by the SWF. We also help with home removals and have a dedicated company who fulfil this need. Cash awards for items such as clothing, stair gates and redecoration costs can also be awarded. • • •

Scottish Welfare Fund 2017/18 Spend Figures • Crisis Grant 2017/18 spend: £ 677, 346. 15 • Crisis Grant 2018/19 budget: £ 573, 986. 75 • Community Care Grant 2017/18 spend: £ 1, 647. 991. 01 • Community Care Grant 2018/19 budget: £ 1, 721, 960. 25

Scottish Welfare Fund 2017/18 Spend Figures • If you wish to apply for a Crisis Grant you can call 0131 5299 or apply online via: http: //www. edinburgh. gov. uk/info/20239/scottish_welf are_fund/520/scottish_welfare_fund/3 • If you wish to apply for a Community Care Grant you should apply online via: http: //www. edinburgh. gov. uk/info/20239/scottish_welf are_fund/520/scottish_welfare_fund/2 • Our opening hours are Monday – Thursday 10 am – 4: 45 pm & Friday 10 am – 3: 40 pm • Alternatively, please email welfarefundteam@edinburgh. gov. uk for any queries

Council Tax Reduction You Can Claim Council Tax Reduction if you: • have savings of less than £ 16, 000 • are responsible for paying the Council Tax bill • have a low income from benefits or work, including self employment. • However you may still get a Council Tax reduction if your savings are more than £ 16, 000 and you or your partner get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit. • You can apply for a reduction at the same time as you claim for housing benefit.

Council Tax Reduction and Universal Credit Ø If you are making a new claim for Universal Credit you will also be required to make a separate claim for council tax reduction. This is not included the Universal Credit Claim process.

How to apply for Council Tax Reduction • Making our decision We will include the income and savings of you and your partner when we process your claim. We may also take into account the income of any non dependants living with you. If you are entitled to a Council Tax reduction, we will apply it to your Council Tax account. This will usually be from the Monday after we receive your claim. We will send you a new demand notice showing how much to pay. You can claim online at : www. edinburgh. gov. uk/counciltax

Personal Budgeting Service • Are you finding you don’t have enough money or benefit problems are affecting your payment of rent? • The City of Edinburgh Council’s Personal Budgeting Service is available for all recipients of Universal Credit whether you are in or out of work, whether your landlord is City of Edinburgh Council, other social landlords or private landlords. We can provide advice and assistance including:

Personal Budgeting Service • Understanding the key Universal Credit financial changes • Housing Costs as part of your Universal Credit • Extra help to pay rent - Discretionary Housing Payments • How to work out monthly income and outgoings

Personal Budgeting Service • Managing your money, changes to your household budget and other expenses e. g. fuel costs • How to complete a budgeting plan • How to get a bank a/c • Understanding priority bills • How to cut back on non essentials • Where to get more help • We can also help you access referrals for advice regarding, fuel/energy, debt, and other support advice.

Personal Budgeting Service How to make a referral for Personal Budgeting if you are in receipt of Universal Credit: • Email: Universal. Credit. Customer. Hub@edinburgh. gov. uk • Speak to your Universal Credit Work Coach at your jobcentre to arrange an appointment.