Scottish Welfare FundFor Decision Makers

What We’re Covering

Day 1• Background• Who can get a grant– Eligibility– Qualifying conditions– Priority– Budget

Day 2• Making decisions– Putting it into practice– Decision making stages– Gathering and dealing

with evidence– Making decisions– Communicating

decisions

• Reviews

Aims Of The Course

• To know who is eligible for a grant, who qualifies and how to prioritise applications

• To understand the stages of decision making• To be aware of good practice in gathering

information and evaluating evidence• To be aware of other types of support

Welfare Reform

Community care grant REPLACED by Scottish Welfare Fund April 2013

Crisis loan – alignment payment

REPLACED by DWP short-term advance from April 2013

Crisis loan – other REPLACED by Scottish Welfare Fund April 2013

Budgeting loan Available until universal credit fully rolled outThose on UC get budgeting advance instead

Developing the Scottish Welfare Fund

Addresses similar needs to previous provision

What’s the difference?

►No loans ►Not just cash grants

– goods too►Local delivery but

national guidance ►Delivered by Local

Government ►Linking to other

support – it’s holistic

Delivery by Local Government

Benefits• You already support

vulnerable people• So there can be better

outcomes for users• National infrastructure in

place• Reliable delivery in a tight

timescale• Some concerns but

delivering interim scheme

Opportunities/Challenges

PLUS• Closer link to needs

of users• holistic support and

early intervention• Improved delivery

• making best of local opportunities and meeting local needs

MINUS• Balancing supply and

demand at a time of change in benefits system and few job opportunities

• Tight timetable in high profile area of great importance to vulnerable people

Scottish Welfare Fund – Two Purposes

provide a safety net in an emergency when there is an immediate threat to health or safety

Crisis Grant

enable independent living or continued independent living, preventing the need for institutional care

Community Care Grant

To offer grants or in kind support in order to

I’m Fatima. I’ve got 3 sons and have just separated from my

husband.

• We had to move quickly. The youngest are sharing a bed, we haven’t got enough bedding and the boys haven’t got the things they need for school

• I pay rent of £150 a week. I claimed housing benefit but they’ve only given me £137 a week.

• My sister is doing her best to help us out but that can’t go on for ever

Who Can Get a Grant

Stage 1 Are they eligibleRepeat applications/ exclusions/ qualifying benefit

Stage 2 Do they qualifyDo personal/ family circumstances meet the criteria in guidance

Stage 3 Are they a priorityHigh, medium or low given nature, extent, severity and urgency of need, vulnerability

Stage 4 Is there money in the budget

Stage 1 Eligibility

• Identity check/ home address• Repeat applications• Exclusions• Qualifying benefit

HOLISTIC If grant refused at this stage, what other help or support can you offer?

CCG Stage 1 EligibilityRepeat Applications

• Not if previous award (or refusal) in last 28 days for same items or services

EXCEPTION Relevant change of circumstances

CCG Stage 1 EligibilityExclusions

Excluded living arrangements

• Care home resident• Hospital in-patient • In prison or release on

temporary licence unless plans to discharge/ release within 8 wks,

• Member of religious order fully maintained

Other• Savings and capital• Excluded needs eg, for

education, TV, phone, debts, holidays

• Benefit sanctions

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CCG Stage 1 EligibilityQualifying Benefits

Applicants aged 16 or over and getting

• Income support• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance• Income-related employment and support allowance• Pension credit • Payment on account of one of these

EXCEPTION Likely to get benefit when they leave care

Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityRepeat Applications

• Maximum 3 awards in rolling 12 month period

• Must allow claim and make decision – but only up to this stage

• Discretion to allow more awards in exceptional circumstances where applicant can show no fault on their part

• Not if previous award (or refusal) in last 28 days for same items or services

EXCEPTION relevant change of circumstances

Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityExclusions

• Benefit claim in progress• Other resources• Excluded needs eg, for

education, TV, phone, debts, holidays

• Benefit sanctions

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Crisis Grant Stage 1 EligibilityQualifying Benefits

Applicants aged 16 or over and getting

• Income support• Income-based jobseeker’s allowance• Income-related employment and support allowance• Pension credit • Payment on account of one of these

EXCEPTION No other means of support and grant will help avoid serious risk or damage to health or safety

CCG Stage 2 Qualifying Conditions

CCGs are to help• Someone moving out of residential care into the

community• Someone stay in the community rather than have to

go into care• Someone set up home after an unsettled way of life• Families under exceptional pressures• Someone care for a prisoner or young offender on

release

CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsMoving Out Of Residential

Care/Establishing in the CommunityThe accommodation• Must have been in

accommodation where received ‘significant and substantial care, supervision or protection’ – eg hospital, care home,

prison

The risk• Must be a risk of person

not being able to live independently without the grant

CCG Stage 2 Qualifying conditionsAt Risk Of Going Into Care

• Must be a risk that won’t be able to continue to live independently without the grant

• Consider how immediate the likelihood of having to go into care is, and whether the item or service requested would prevent this happening

CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsSetting Up Home After Unsettled Way Of Life

• Must be getting help as part of a planned resettlement programme

• Eg, after being homeless, or after staying in a hostel

CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsFamilies Under Exceptional Pressures• Exceptional pressures =

eg. disabled/ ill child, relationship breakdown, housing problems

• Applicants must be without resources to provide safe and secure environment for their children

Family = someone with a dependent child, including someone heavily pregnant

CCG Stage 2 Qualifying ConditionsCaring For A Prisoner On Release

• Must be someone staying with applicant on temporary licence from prison or youth detention centre

• Normally to help with their living expenses

Crisis Grant Stage 2 Qualifying Conditions

Immediate short-term living expenses needed because of an emergency

• ‘Emergency’ = unforeseen circumstance of pressing need which needs immediate action

• Eg, losing money or having money stolen, having had to leave home suddenly

Items or living expenses needed because of a disaster

• ‘Disaster’ = event of great or sudden misfortune, usually causing damage to, destruction or loss of, possessions or property

• Eg, serious flood or fire

Travelling Expenses

• No separate criterion

• Award in connection with crisis or

• In support of independent living

• Standard rate public transport

Recap Community Care Grant

Eligibility• ID/home address• Repeat applications– 28 day rule

• Exclusions– Excluded living

arrangements– Excluded items/ needs– Capital limit– Benefit sanctions

• Qualifying benefit

Qualifying conditions• Moving out of care• Staying in community• Setting up home after

unsettled way of life• Families under

exceptional pressure• Caring for prisoner on

release

Recap Crisis Grant

Eligibility• ID/home address• Repeat applications

– 3 per 12 months– 28 day rule

• Exclusions– Benefit claim pending– Other resources– Excluded items/ needs eg

phone– Benefit sanctions

• Qualifying benefit

Qualifying conditions• Immediate living

expenses because of emergency

• Items or living expenses because of disaster

Stage 3 Assessing Priority

High Medium Low

Need ImmediateSevere

Less immediateLess severe

Not time critical

Vulnerability High Moderate Some resilience

Consequences of no grant to health/ wellbeing

Significantly adverse

Moderately adverse

No identifiable effect

Effect of grant ImmediateSubstantial

Noticeable Minor

Stage 4 Budget

• From time to time, new decision on whether budget can meet high, medium or low priority applications

• Consider affordability• Decide based on date application received

(not date decided)

What Level of GrantCrisis grants• How much is needed• Maximum amounts– 60% income support

personal allowance for adult + full allowance for each child

– 30% if not liable for rent, mortgage (but not homeless)

• No minimum amount• Valuation assessment

CCG• Discretion to set

minimum (eg, £30)• Amount discretionary –

should be enough to meet the need

• List of items and costs available to check

• Can award goods instead of cash

• Valuation assessment

Other Support for ApplicantsYour local authority• Discretionary housing

payments• Benefit check• Social work financial

support (section 12 or 22 for families/ section 27 prisoner release)

• Housing options• School meals/ clothing

Direct referral• DWP • Save the Children – Eat,

Sleep, Learn Play• Family Fund• Other local authority• CAB

Other Support for ApplicantsOther local support• CAB• Money advice• Financial capability• Food bank• Furniture recycling• Women’s aid• Shelter• Carer’s centre• Fuel efficiency• Employability

Scottish Welfare FundFor Decision Makers

Day 2

What We’re Covering

Day 1• Background• Who can get a grant– Eligibility– Qualifying conditions– Priority– Budget

Day 2• Making decisions– Putting it into practice– Decision making stages– Gathering and dealing

with evidence– Making decisions– Communicating

decisions

• Reviews

Making an Application

How• Face to face• By phone • Online • By downloading and

posting a form

Which of these does your local authority provide?

Who• By applicant – with or

without support eg, CAB

• By appointee• By someone else – eg,

family, CAB (get consent)

Suggested Decision Making Process

1. Evidence

2. Facts

3. Decision

•Check application•What are the issues eg,

–Crisis grant or CCG–What item or expense requested–What potential criteria

•From this decide what facts needed•Look at evidence in hand•If not enough, gather more•Weigh evidence

•From evidence establish facts

•Make decision based on facts•Record decision (and facts/evidence)•Communicate decision

Which Facts Are Relevant

• Check application• What are the issues• What potential criteria might apply

Gathering Evidence

• Do you have enough evidence already• What other evidence do you need• What potential sources are there• What method will you use to get the evidence

(phone, writing, interview, home visit)• Think how to phrase your questions

Weighing Evidence

• Some evidence has greater weight

• Balance of probability• Some issues– Inconsistencies– Mental ill health– Corroboration– Previous applications– Late evidence

Communicating the Decision

• Time limits– Crisis grants as soon as possible

2 days maximum– CCGs 15 working days

• Method– By phone for crisis grant if

possible– Always follow up in writing and

include standard information • Advise on other support– Eg, debt advice, benefit check

Recording and Monitoring

• Decision should be clearly recorded

• Must include summary of relevant facts and evidence

• Was guidance followed?

• Documents kept for 6 years

Reviews

I’ve been offered a loaded store card instead of cash and I’m NOT happy. I’m able to go round the shops and pick out my own cooker.

What can I do about it?

I’m Mike. I applied for a

community care grant.

Grounds for Review

• Disagree with decision on eligibility eg• Whether on qualifying benefit• Whether repeat application

• Disagree with priority level• Disagree with support provided eg• Award too low• Item/ supervised spend instead of cash

• Not enough information gathered• Disagree about evidence

Not Grounds For Review

• Disagree with set level of priority for budget eg if only high priority applications get award

• Unhappy with how they were treated during application process

Refer to Local Authority usual complaints procedure

Applications For Review• Time limit to apply – 20 working days from

original decision • Should apply in writing – explain reason – give date of decision– include an explanation if there has been a change

of circumstances since the application– signed by applicant (or consent for other to act)

First Tier Reviews

• Crisis Grant Reviewsshould be carried out as soon as possible, and within 2 working days

Carried out by a different decision maker, not involved in original decision

• Community Care Grant Reviews should be carried out within 15 working days

Notify applicants in writing, or by phone ASAP if urgent

If applicant not happy can ask for second tier review

For More Information

• Scottish Welfare Fund Guidance• Decision Makers Guide• Improvement Service