Published on:
20
March 2013
Significant changes to the welfare system are happening on 1st April as a result of the UK Welfare Reform Act 2012.
In Clackmannanshire it is very important that you know how these changes may affect you and your family.
One of these changes is the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) abolishing the discretionary social fund and transferring funding for Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans for living expenses to the Scottish Government.
The new arrangements for Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants will be a national scheme delivered locally through Clackmannanshire Council for the first time called the Scottish Welfare Fund (SWF).
The SWF is intended to provide a safety net in an emergency or disaster where there is an immediate threat to health and safety or to enable independent living or continued independent living in the community.
A grant can be awarded in case of crisis to meet expenses that have arisen as a result of an emergency or disaster in order to avoid serious damage or serious risk to the health or safety of the applicant or their family.
A grant can also be awarded in support of independent living to help people establish themselves in the community following a period of care where circumstances indicate that there is an identifiable risk of the person not being able to live independently without this help.
It is also there to help families facing exceptional pressures and who lack the resources to meet irregular costs to provide a safe and secure environment for their children and to help people to care for a prisoner or young offender on release on temporary licence.
Local provision of Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants will allow for a more holistic approach than was possible with national call centre provision, for example linking to services which may build capacity, such as offering budgeting or other money advice, or encouraging savings.
Community Care Grants also support specific Scottish Government polices such as care in the community, tackling child poverty and reducing homelessness. Crisis Grants do not fit the early intervention approach but have a role in preventing further harm, reducing the longer term impact on other services.
Council Leader Gary Womersley said: "We anticipate that likely users of the scheme will be disabled people, lone parents, unemployed people, older people, care leavers, homeless people, ex-offenders and carers."
Clackmannanshire Council has discretion on where to process applications and how they link the scheme to existing services although some guidance has been provided on good practice. The Council also has discretion over the type of support offered.
There is a standard application form to access the SWF, tailored to the needs of Clackmannanshire residents. Applications may be made by phone on 01259 450000, or by downloading a form from www.clacksweb.org.uk.
The Council will also provide assistance in completion of the forms at Lime Tree House, North Castle Street, Alloa. This face-to-face service will be by appointment only and appointments can be arranged by phone (on the number above) or by calling in-person. Please note that if calling in-person the Council will try to see you as soon as possible, but priority will be given to those people who have made pre-arranged appointments.
The Council will have the required access to DWP data to check information provided by applicants.
More information is available on ClacksWeb about the other changes that are happening within Welfare Reform.