Welfare Benefit Reform Councils response Karen Lucas Head

Welfare Benefit Reform Council’s response. Karen Lucas Head of Housing Needs

Setting priorities Councillor input through Employment and Poverty Reduction Board Coordinating activity through the Welfare Benefits Working Group. Council support the achievement of five key outcomes: • Reduce overcrowding / under-occupancy • Protect the vulnerable • Reduce disruption to families • Reduce costs to the Council in the longer term • Move a person / family towards a more sustainable future

Welfare reform and housing • Social housing under-occupation HB penalty – bedroom tax • General out of work benefit cap: £ 350 / £ 500 – the cap.

Council’s policy response – the cap • Benefit check and income maximisation. • Support to find work • Lead agency will be focal point for arriving at agreement and ensuring it is delivered. Support will be provided to fulfil the agreement. • Criteria for assisting households to remain in London have been agreed • If agreement is not successful then the usual policies will apply.

Council’s practical response – the cap • Local Housing Allowance team - set up last year specifically to address the LHA changes – will start visiting people affected. • Households in temporary accommodation being contacted by the Private Housing Partnerships team • Data sharing with Children’s service to identify vulnerable families. • Referrals being made to the IMAX team • Referrals to JCP

Council’s policy response – bedroom tax • Incentives offered to those prepared to move and willing to work with the council to find a solution – MX, transfer, rent guarantee. • Using Discretionary Housing Payment to ‘buy people time’. • Rent collection - sending out a message that the council was softening its approach to collection of rent could have a negative impact on collection rates, and ultimately reduce income to the council.

Council’s practical response – the bedroom tax • All affected households written to. • First MX event held. • Visiting by the Income Team with follow up visits from Housing Mobility Team where needed. • Data sharing protocol with housing associations agreed. • Set up new mobility scheme to facilitate out of borough moves.

Thank you – any questions Karen Lucas Karen. lucas@islington. gov. uk