Everyday Equality practical equality rights in welfare benefits
Everyday Equality practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice 18 th January 2019
In small places close to home “Where, after all, do universal human rights begin? In small places, close to home - so close and so small that they cannot be seen on any maps of the world. Yet they are the world of the individual person; the neighborhood he lives in; the school or college he attends; the factory, farm, or office where he works. Such are the places where every man, woman, and child seeks equal justice, equal opportunity, equal dignity without discrimination. Unless these rights have meaning there, they have little meaning anywhere. Without concerted citizen action to uphold them close to home, we shall look in vain for progress in the larger world. ”
Everyday Equality: practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice • EHRC Access to Justice fund • a short project Jan to May 18 • a small team at EDF • new online handbook: practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice • launched May 18
The problems we wanted to address • equality impacts of welfare reform • difficulties in accessing legal aid • discrimination advice gap
Difficulties accessing legal aid LASPO changes to legal aid in 2012/3 Legal aid advice for discrimination cases can only be accessed via the Legal Aid Agency’s telephone gateway If a caller makes it through the gateway, phone advice is given by specialist law firms, who can refer for face to face advice
Difficulties accessing legal aid Since 2015 the number of discrimination cases referred to specialist lawyers for advice has decreased: • 3, 558 in 2014 / 2015 • 2, 608 in 2016 / 2017 CLA operator service has dealt with over 18, 000 discrimination cases since 2013: • 16 people referred for face-to-face advice between 2013 / 2016 • 0 (zero) people referred for face-to-face advice in 2016 / 2017
What is the discrimination advice gap? Legal Problem & Resolution Survey 13% of people with civil or admin problems reported they had experienced discrimination Citizens Advice clients 11% said their problem was also about discrimination
Everyday Equality: the problems we wanted to address there are rights in the Equality Act which could be used to help solve problems in welfare benefits there are rights in the Equality Act which are under used many welfare benefits advisers don’t feel confident in using equality rights in everyday advice work
The discrimination advice gap • The Equality Act imposes a positive anticipatory duty, on public authorities like DWP, to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people • Around half of clients seeking advice on welfare benefits say they are disabled or have a long term health condition • Many clients with disabled / long term health profile seeking benefits advice are not given advice about the reasonable adjustments duty
www. edf. org. uk/Practical. Equality
Practical Equality Rights A practical guide to help: • Identify discrimination • Solve problems • Take action • Get further help • Show impact • Deliver discrimination advice
Practical Equality Rights Our online handbook is for • problem-noticers • information providers • welfare benefits advisers • advice managers
Practical Equality Rights Emphasis on practical action use Equality Act rights to tackle • sanctions • unfair claimant commitments • problems with assessments • digital processes
Practical Equality Rights • Access to justice • Rule of law: use it • Collaboration • Peer to peer support • Advice + policy • Strategic perspective
Practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice Is it discrimination? • How identifying discrimination can help solve welfare benefits problems • Tips, tricks and short cuts for identifying discrimination • Frequently asked questions and answers • Case studies • Posters • A quick guide
Practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice Solve problems • How using discrimination rights can help solve welfare benefits problems • Practical tools for using discrimination rights • A to Z of equality • Frequently asked questions + answers • Case studies
Practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice Take action • Practical tools for using discrimination rights – template letters • A to Z of equality • Frequently asked questions + answers • Case studies
Practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice Get further help • A to Z directory of equality resources • Posters • Case studies
Practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice Deliver and manage discrimination advice For managers: • An eight part guide to managing discrimination advice • A guide to showing the equality impacts of welfare rights advice
Practical equality rights in welfare benefits advice Our online handbook includes: • a get started section • comprehensive A to Z of equality rights • ‘Is it discrimination’ and ‘solving problems’ sections – tips, guidance and checklists • directory of equality resources • eight case studies (with example and template letters) • four information posters • guidance on managing discrimination advice delivery • introductory guide to using EHRC measurement framework to show impact of welfare benefits advice
Practical Equality Rights: the handbook www. edf. org. uk/Practical. Equality
Everyday Equality: the handbook www. edf. org. uk/Practical. Equality
Practical Equality Rights: the handbook www. edf. org. uk/Practical. Equality
Practical Equality Rights Thank you! We would like to thank the Equality and Human Rights Commission who funded this project through their grants programme.
EDF: Equality and Diversity Forum A national network of equality and human rights organisations in England Wales • A research network for equality • Influencing policy and practice • Strategic communications on equality and capacity building projects • Members include Age UK, Disability Rights UK, Scope, Stonewall, Gires, Runnymede Trust, TUC, Amnesty, Law Centres Network • Observer organisations: Govt Depts, EHRC, other statutory bodies
- Slides: 25