Welfare Reform What it means for people with

Welfare Reform What it means for people with disabilities Mark Willis, CPAG in Scotland

Susie October 2011 • Age 30, learning disability and epilepsy • Incapacity Benefit • Doing permitted work of 15 hours a week in supported employment, earning £ 91. 20 a week • Lives alone in private rented one-bedroom flat, (£ 90 a week rent) • Gets Disability Living Allowance (DLA) at the low rate for mobility (£ 19. 55 a week) • Gets housing benefit and council tax benefit

Housing benefit January 2012 • Young individuals under 35 no longer eligible for HB for one-bedroom property in private sector • Amount restricted to room in shared accommodation • Susie must pay additional £ 25 a week towards her rent • Apply for Discretionary Housing Payment? • Move to cheaper accommodation or look for room in shared house – suitable? • Apply for housing association property?

Employment & Support Allowance (ESA) March 2012 • Must complete 21 page questionnaire • Called to attend medical with ATOS healthcare professional • Found not to have limited capability for work – incapacity benefit stops • Appeal? - needs advice, representation & medical evidence from GP • Claim ESA pending appeal? – need new medical certificate from GP • Effect on HB/CTB

Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) June 2012 • Loses ESA appeal • Can claim income-related JSA to top up income • Must sign on as available for and actively seeking full-time work • Disability Employment Adviser / Work Programme support • May be sanctioned for failing to apply for jobs / failing to take up employment • Loses 100% of JSA after £ 20 disregard

Working tax credit (WTC) October 2012 • Increase hours to more than 16 hours a week, claim WTC as a disabled worker • Starts to receive approx. £ 90 a week • Must complete annual declaration of income, check award notice, report errors/changes • Investigation into hours/disability – risk of overpayment • Effect on HB/CTB

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) June 2013 • • • Must complete questionnaire and attend medical Not entitled to PIP – DLA stops Appeal? Loses working tax credit Loses disability premium in HB/CTB Only income is wages of £ 99. 04 a week, of which must pay £ 43 towards rent and council tax • Lost approx. £ 150 a week since October 2011

Universal credit October 2013 • Simpler? – claim one benefit instead of HB/ESA/JSA/WTC • Claim online – needs support • Must look for more work – up to 35 hours @ minimum wage • Earnings disregard approx £ 30 a week earnings as a single person • 65% withdrawal rate • One single payment of £ 393 per month – needs budgeting support

Universal credit November 2013 • • Condition deteriorates Reassessed as having limited capability for work Additional £ 26. 75 payable Higher earnings disregard approx £ 40 a week as a disabled person • Payment increases to approx. £ 547 per month • Not as much as under permitted work rules in system

More Information • • www. cpag. org. uk E-bulletins Guide to universal credit Welfare Rights Bulletin CPAG in Scotland Advice Line for Advisers 0141 552 0552 Or email advice@cpagscotland. org. uk