Welfare Rights Service Training Welfare Rights in Children

Welfare Rights Service Training Welfare Rights in Children & Young Peoples Service Julie Burton Natalie Rigby 28 October 2020 NAWRA June 2010 1

• Julie Burton Principal Welfare Rights Officer – julie. burton@durham. gov. uk • Natalie Rigby Welfare Rights Officer – natalie. rigby@durham. gov. uk 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 2

Provision across CYPS • Young Peoples Service • Children in Need Teams – both funded by 3 year SLA with CYPS • Learning Disabilities Transitions Team – funded via Commissioning 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 3

Young Peoples Service § Children (Leaving Care) Act 2000 § Implemented 1 st October 2001 § Imposes new financial and support responsibilities on Local Authorities for 16 &17 year olds who have been “looked after” for 3 months or more § The Act gives particular emphasis on education, training and employment for care leavers up to age 21 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 4

§ CLC Act states that under no circumstances should the personal allowance and accommodation costs paid by the local authority fall below the level of state benefits for 16 and 17 year olds § Welfare Rights now provide a Welfare Rights Service for the Young People’s Service 2 full time Welfare Rights Officers £ 12 k contribution to PWRO post 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 5

Purpose of current SLA § To provide benefits advice in the context of the Children Leaving Care Act 2000 to service users to ensure income maximisation § To identify potential income and savings to Children’s Services as a result of income maximisation and standardising local authority payments § To advise on policy matters 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 6

The Young Peoples Service • The Young People’s Service has been set up to provide a services for young people aged 16 to 21 (24 if in education) who are either: Looked after Preparing to leave care or Recently left care 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 7

YPS • The service helps young people prepare for the future by giving them help with: • Young Peoples Service Workers • Connexions Advisors • Teenagers to Work • Supported Lodgings • Nurse • Welfare Rights Officers 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 8

Benefits and Savings to the LA LA is responsible for financial support to care leavers. Savings can be made by: • Ensure claims are made at appropriate time • Take up of Education Maintenance Allowance • Offset setting up home costs with Social Fund Community Care Grant • Benefit maximisation for young people in residential care 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 9

Pre WR involvement • Ad hoc payments for young people • Some payments discretionary and dependant on worker • No record of what was paid and why • No procedures in place 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 10

Now • Standardised payments in line with benefit rates • 16 & 17 year olds access benefits where exempt • Financial procedures for care leavers • Direct involvement from WRO in planning • Ongoing review of procedures to reflect policy and regulation changes 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 11

Monies Raised 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 12

Current issues • Consultation Planning Transition to Adulthood for Looked After Children • Apprenticeships – low pay • G v Southwark • Financial capability of care leavers • Unaccompanied minors 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 13

Welfare Rights within YPS • Our team is split into the North and South of the team • We work intensively with young people who are care leavers aged 16 -21(24 in education) • Enables us to create strong working relationship with most of our cases • Also with 16 -18 year old Children In Need cases 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 14

How do we work? • We offer home visits, form filling, representation, advice around any type of change in circumstance • We work very closely with YPAs and SWs • We offer in house training to the workers on benefit issues • Lots of crisis intervention on behalf of our young clients

Types of work • Initial visit at 16 - assessment and introduction to our team • Liase with DWP and Council depts • Assist with phone calls or paper claims at 18 when claiming benefits • Crisis work such as sanctions, appeals and • Attend planning meetings and feedback on benefit issues

Particular benefit issues • Change of income when care leavers turn 18 • Problems with benefit sections- implicit consent and authority forms • Proof of identity and supporting evidence around making claims • Some young people not advising on changes-only making contact at crisis point • Public perception of Care Leavers • LHA direct payments to young people • ESA-very difficult for young people to qualify with mild/moderate issues 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 17

Children in Need • Purpose is to reduce s 17 payments and deal with issues around Child Benefit • Initial 6 month pilot in one district office • Extended to cover the whole county • In last 2 quarters of 2009 -2010 raised £ 224, 196. 42 28 October 2020 NAWRA June 2010 18

Transitions Team • Half a post to maximise income for young people with Learning Disabilities • Work closely with schools and attend year 11 reviews • Raised £ 149, 021. 83 (2009 -2010) 28 October 2020 NAWRA June 2010 19

Contact details Julie Burton, Principal Welfare Rights Officer Welfare Rights Team Social Inclusion Service, Adults Wellbeing and Health Durham County Council Aycliffe Young People's Centre, Main Block, 1 York Road, Newton Aycliffe, County Durham DL 5 6 JB Direct Dial: 01325 372783 durham. gov. uk 28 October 2020 Introduction to Benefits 20