Issue - meetings

Background:

This report presented an overview of the changing nature of discretionary housing payments and sought approval of an updated discretionary housing payment policy. From April 2013, although the national funding has increased, Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) could only be awarded to those in receipt of Housing Benefit or Universal Credit Housing Element (UCHE).  This meant that DHP could no longer be awarded as a top up to any shortfall between the council tax liability and the award of local council tax reduction.

Early indications were that certain groups such as foster families, carers and the disabled may be affected more by the welfare reforms than by other groups, but this did not necessarily mean that they were any worse off overall than any other groups. As such, some form of financial assessment of the customer’s circumstances would give assurance that the funds were being targeted at those most in need. The Department for Work and Pensions had issued draft guidance on the DHP scheme in 2012, which recognised the role of local authorities in assisting customers affected by the Welfare Reforms from April 2013. The Council’s existing policy had been amended to reflect these changes as set out in Appendix 1 to the report.

A Diversity Impact Assessment screening form had been carried out as set out in Appendix 2 to the report. The findings of this indicated the revised policy did not need a full Diversity Impact Assessment.

Reasons:

The Government’s welfare reform policy will see the biggest changes to the welfare system for over 60 years. Some recipients of benefit may be affected    by one change, whilst others may be affected by multiple changes.

Discretionary Housing Payments are a means of protecting our most vulnerable customers from the effects of these changes, and as such it is imperative that the DHP policy is amended to reflect latest developments.