February Policy Round-Up

Welcome to the Homeless Link Monthly Policy Round-up for February 2012. This month we are focussing on welfare reform, with a more in-depth look at some of the areas that Homeless Link is working on currently.

CONTENTS
Welfare Reform: Why and How
DWP ‘Quick Survey’ on eligible service charges for common rooms
Exempt supported accommodation
Shared Accommodation Rate
Direct payments to supported housing clients/definition of vulnerability
After the Bill – Mapping impacts and regulations

Welfare Reform: Why and How

The primary aims of our work around welfare reform have been to ensure the welfare system prevents homelessness, supports recovery from homelessness and does not disadvantage vulnerable people. Among the issues we have worked on in the last year are the exempt accommodation review, multiple housing benefit changes, the shared accommodation rate, the work programme, the benefit cap, and conditionality and sanctions.

Central to our welfare reform work is using evidence from members to show the current and potential impact of policies to MPs, Lords, and government officials. We do some of this work directly as Homeless Link, and some in partnership with other organisations, particularly through the Welfare Reform Consortium.

Contact: Alice Evans

DWP ‘Quick Survey’ on eligible service charges for common rooms

In late January the DWP released a General Information Bulletin which asked for information to gauge the potential impact of a proposed change in housing benefit legislation. The proposed change would make the utilities and housekeeping of rooms of common use an ineligible service charge for a wide range of housing types.

It was clear that this change would have an enormous impact on services and with a huge amount of support from members we submitted this evidenced response to the DWP. We asked for a full formal consultation, a thorough impact assessment, and that any change in legislation supports current local practice. We also met with senior officials at the DWP and highlighted the level of concern expressed by members at this potential change to legislation; our sense was that they were unprepared for the potential impact of this change. We will be closely tracking the progress of this issue and maintaining pressure on the DWP on behalf of members.

Contact: Kathleen Caper

Exempt supported accommodation

This consultation closed in October and the DWP received over 400 responses and are now in the process of coding the key themes. A summary will then go to the Minister and they will then convene a new working group. Homeless Link will be invited to be on this, which is good news. It is probable that the DWP won’t publish the summary of the responses received. In our recent meeting with officials the need to have a system which worked with Universal Credit was re-emphasised.

See our response to the consultation.

Contact: Kathleen Caper

Shared Accommodation Rate

The age extension and related exemptions to the Shared Accommodation Rate came into effect on 1 January. Among a number of concerns Homeless Link members have raised queries about proving eligibility for an exemption where hostels have closed or changed hands. We have sought feedback and at this time it remains that it is up to the local authority to decide what proof is acceptable. Discretionary housing payments could be an option.

We are working on a summary of the initial impact of the age extension to the SAR – please send us your experiences in relation to individuals, including those newly affected by the age extension and the under-25s, and the impact on services.

Homeless Link continues to seek broader change on the SAR to ensure that housing benefit rules are applied fairly and do not adversely impact on people with experience of homelessness.

See our SAR Q&A if you need info on SAR, the age extension and exemptions.

Contact: Kathleen Caper

Direct payments to supported housing clients/definition of vulnerability

The DWP is still looking at the definition of vulnerability that will need to go across Universal Credit and are working up models. Supported housing isn’t covered by the demonstration projects, so we are tracking how the DWP plans on working with these claimants. Homeless Link sits on an ‘exceptions and support’ working group at the DWP so will be influencing through this group.

Contact: Alice Evans

After the Bill – Mapping Impacts and Regulations

It is likely the Welfare Reform Bill will get Royal Assent just before Easter and then the regulations to accompany it need to be drawn up. The relevant housing ones will probably be out April/May for consultation, and then some of the other ones will follow a bit later. This will be an extremely important phase and we intend to be heavily involved in this part of the process.

Homeless Link is planning how we can map and gather evidence of the experience of clients and services of the changes to the welfare system.

Contact: Alice Evans