Challenges and Solutions in Welfare Reform: Insights from Kevin Higgins

Explore the journey of Kevin Higgins, Head of Policy Advice in NI, through the challenges and impacts of Coalition Government cuts, welfare reform mitigations, and future strategies to strengthen support. Gain valuable insights into addressing issues like the two-child cap, Universal Credit problems, and more.

• Welfare Reform
• Policy Advice
• Coalition Government
• Mitigations
• Universal Credit

rron Follow

Uploaded on Oct 07, 2024 | 0 Views

Download Presentation

Please find below an Image/Link to download the presentation.

The content on the website is provided AS IS for your information and personal use only. It may not be sold, licensed, or shared on other websites without obtaining consent from the author. Download presentation by click this link. If you encounter any issues during the download, it is possible that the publisher has removed the file from their server.

Presentation Transcript

1. The Struggle Is Real Kevin Higgins Head of Policy Advice NI 1

2. Background Background O Coalition Government: A Decade of Cuts Coalition Government: A Decade of Cuts O Two waves of cuts to benefits and tax credits Two waves of cuts to benefits and tax credits O Wave 1: Range of piecemeal cuts Wave 1: Range of piecemeal cuts O Wave 2: Wave 2: O Welfare Reform legislation Welfare Reform legislation O Welfare Reform & Work legislation Welfare Reform & Work legislation 2

3. Current Position Current Position O Welfare Reform Mitigations Working Group Welfare Reform Mitigations Working Group Evason Evason Report published January 2016 Report published January 2016 O # #CliffEdgeNI CliffEdgeNI March 2020 March 2020 O Extension of current mitigations beyond Extension of current mitigations beyond March 2020 March 2020 O Bedroom Tax Bedroom Tax O Benefit Cap Benefit Cap O DLA to PIP (Disabled & their Carers) DLA to PIP (Disabled & their Carers) O Additional advice services Additional advice services O Closing Loopholes Closing Loopholes 3

4. The Future The Future O Strengthening the mitigations Strengthening the mitigations package? package? O Mitigating the 2 child cap Mitigating the 2 child cap O Scotland approach Scotland approach O For example introducing a Baby Grant For example introducing a Baby Grant O Addressing other people most Addressing other people most impacted by welfare reform impacted by welfare reform O Improving UC Work allowances Improving UC Work allowances O Addressing Universal Credit problems Addressing Universal Credit problems 4

5. National National O UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty UN Special Rapporteur on extreme poverty (Phillip Alston) (Phillip Alston) O UC perverse and catastrophic 5 week wait UC perverse and catastrophic 5 week wait O UC advance loan renders people destitute UC advance loan renders people destitute O Former DWP Minister Stephen Former DWP Minister Stephen Crabb House of Commons last week House of Commons last week O 'The truth is to improve Universal Credit policy will 'The truth is to improve Universal Credit policy will require resource, Need to make the case with HM require resource, Need to make the case with HM Treasury Treasury O Will Quince MP, Work & Pensions Minister Will Quince MP, Work & Pensions Minister O My mind is full of ideas on how we can improve My mind is full of ideas on how we can improve Universal Credit, and if he would like to help me in Universal Credit, and if he would like to help me in persuading the Treasury to get behind those, I persuading the Treasury to get behind those, I would very much welcome that would very much welcome that Crabb MP in MP in 5

6. Regional Regional O Department for Communities Department for Communities O Safeguarding vulnerable people Safeguarding vulnerable people O Complaints process Complaints process O Letters Letters O UC Operational Issues UC Operational Issues O 2 2nd PIP Review O Discretionary Support scheme Discretionary Support scheme O Other Departments Other Departments O Availability of services Availability of services O Availability of medical evidence Availability of medical evidence O Access to Free School Meals Access to Free School Meals nd PIP Review 6

7. Local Local O Councils / Trusts / Schools Councils / Trusts / Schools O Promotion of services Promotion of services O Community & Voluntary Sector Community & Voluntary Sector O Availability of services Availability of services O Independent Advice Services Independent Advice Services O Advising, Supporting, Representing Advising, Supporting, Representing O Media Media 7

8. The importance of The importance of independent advice independent advice Barriers preventing people approaching Government agencies approaching Government agencies directly directly stigma, fear, trust stigma, fear, trust O Ability to challenge decisions Ability to challenge decisions helping people secure their rights at appeal people secure their rights at appeal and beyond and beyond O Offering a free, confidential quality Offering a free, confidential quality service based on dignity and respect service based on dignity and respect O Barriers preventing people helping 8

9. The importance of The importance of independent advice independent advice O Fermanagh & Omagh Advice Consortium Fermanagh & Omagh Advice Consortium O Community Advice Fermanagh Community Advice Fermanagh O Manager: Siobhan Peoples Manager: Siobhan Peoples O 028 6632 4334 028 6632 4334 O Omagh Independent Advice Services Omagh Independent Advice Services O Manager: Michael Roddy Manager: Michael Roddy O 028 8224 3252 028 8224 3252 O 2018/19 2018/19 O 35,580 enquiries 35,580 enquiries O 91% social security related 91% social security related O 746 Appeal Tribunals 746 Appeal Tribunals O 365 debt clients with 6.37m debts 365 debt clients with 6.37m debts 9

10. Additional Additional Evason Reform Advice Service Reform Advice Service Evason Welfare Welfare 10