1. Spring 2012 Issue 09
Highlights We are working with partners to ensure that
Read on for some useful information front line staff have an awareness of the new
about impacts of Welfare Reform; rule and are prepared for any additional calls
benefits changes since the last Bulletin; that they may receive as a result.
update on our new team plus some
dates for your diary. Time limiting Contributory Employment
and Support Allowance (ESA)
From April 2012, the first cohort of claimants
Some impacts of Welfare Reform
affected by this new rule will see their benefit
– a foreword change. For some it may be that they need
help to ensure they have claimed income
Benefit Cap related ESA. For other claimants; particularly
We understand that Department for Work those who are unable to claim income related
and Pensions (DWP) have been working ESA (because they have a partner who works
with Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs over 24 hours a week), it will be vital that they
(HMRC) to identify those people who may are encouraged to get a full benefit check.
be affected by the Benefit Cap – i.e. the This could ensure they get increased help
total benefit income limit which will be with Housing and Council Tax Benefit etc to
applied to certain claimants/households reflect the reduction in income.
from April 2013.
From 3rd May 2012, DWP proposes to Social Fund
write to all households likely to be affected. As many will be aware the Welfare Reform
A Helpline for claimants is being set up to Act contains provisions which provide for the
receive initial enquiries prompted by the transfer of specific parts of the social fund i.e.
letters and to offer support and information. Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants
from DWP to top tier local authorities, i.e.
County Councils. ECC are working on a plan,

2. looking at the legislation, potential impact, housing element for social housing will be
and exploring some options around paid directly to the claimant on a monthly
delivery. We will be in contact with basis.
stakeholders when we have more to From April 2013, LHA upratings will be linked
discuss. to Consumer Price Index (CPI) rather than
the Retail Price Index (RPI). Additionally
Welfare Reform - Working Group housing entitlements for those of working age
Given the complexity and volume of will reflect family size.
Welfare Reform changes, a group of
County Council officers from across all
directorates have formed a working group. Help with mortgage interest – extended to
Their task is to scope and analyse the January 2013
changes and identify the potential impact The temporary changes to support claimants
on residents. We have also been working entitled to help with mortgage interest have
closely with partners in District and been extended until January 2013. These
Borough councils to look at ways in which changes include reducing the waiting period
we can inform and support residents, staff to 13 weeks and increasing the eligible
and partners. mortgage capital limit to £200,000.
It is more important than ever for those Council Tax Benefit Localisation
affected by changes to their benefit to seek From April 2013 Council Tax Benefit will be
a benefit check – in case the cessation or administered by Local Authorities own
reduction of one benefit means they may schemes and with less central government
be entitled to another. funding.
If you have any enquiries about this, Cathy We had an informative presentation from Rob
Cunningham- Elliott can be contacted by Hawes from Chelmsford Borough Council on
email cathy.cunningham- this subject at our recent Essex Benefit
elliott@essex.gov.uk Network meeting. There is a ‘Pan-Essex’
working group including County, District and
Boroughs and Unitary Authorities. Together
they are working on the new scheme and
Benefits Updates beginning to model scenarios. The thinking is
there will be a similar overall approach with
Housing Benefit & Local Housing
individual variations. There will be a
Allowance – January 2012
consultation period as part of the planning
A reminder that Local Housing Allowance
process. If you have any questions about this,
(LHA) restrictions regarding the shared
Rob can be contacted by email
accommodation rate were extended to
robert.hawes@chelmsford.gov.uk
include single claimants under the age of
35 years. Transitional protection for
Employment and Support Allowance
existing claimants ended on 1st January
(ESA) - April 2012
2012.
As previously mentioned, Contributory ESA
Housing Benefit Payment Trials are
claimants who are in the Work Related
taking place from June 2012. Under
Activity Group (WRAG) will have their claim
Universal Credit, it is planned that the
limited to one year. If they have entitlement to

3. income-related ESA after this time they From 23rd April 2012, Jobseekers Allowance
can continue to claim, otherwise payments claimants (JSA) who have been victims of
will cease. For Incapacity Benefit claimants domestic violence can be treated as meeting
who migrate to ESA and who are placed in the Jobseekers conditions for an initial four
WRAG, the time starts from their date of week period. They will need to notify the
transfer. Secretary of State in the required way that
they have been threatened with, or subjected
The ‘In Youth’ version of Contributory ESA to domestic violence and the initial four week
is no longer available to new claimants. period is to provide time to do this.
Those existing claimants in the WRAG will
also have their claims limited to one year.
Please note that those claimants of Working Tax Credit – April 2012
Contributory ESA who are in the Support Couples with children now have to work at
Group (SG) are not subject to this least 24 hours per week between them, with
restriction. one partner working at least 16 hours in order
to claim Working Tax Credit. There are
From 1st May 2012, the 104 week ‘linking exceptions to this including if one partner is a
rule’ is being removed. Linking rules mean carer or the worker qualifies for the disability
that someone may be able to return to their element.
previous ESA award after a period of work.
A linking rule of 12 weeks will now apply. The ’50 plus’ element, which previously
applied to those aged 50 and over returning
It is planned that all Incapacity Benefit, to work following a benefit claim, has been
Income Support on the grounds of withdrawn. People over 50 can still claim
disability and Severe Disablement Working Tax Credits but would need to be
Allowance claims will have undergone the working at least 30 hours per week unless
migration to ESA by January 2013. Only they can access the 16 hours per week
those existing claimants of these benefits category by another route.
who are due to reach State Pension Age in
2014 will not go through the process. Child Tax Credit – April 2012
There has been a change in the income limits
From March 2014, there are changes for Child Tax Credit. Income limits may be
planned for the ESA Work Capability different for some individuals based on their
Assessment following the Harrington circumstances, for example if they have a
Review. disability. The following link will take you to
the HMRC website which gives more detail
Jobseekers Allowance about the change:
April 2012 sees the introduction of a 3 year http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/taxcreditsbudget/inde
Jobseekers Allowance youth contract for x.htm#1
those aged 18-24. It includes measures
such as work experience, weekly signing
cycles for claimants and incentives for The family element of Tax Credit is now
employers. withdrawn immediately after the Child
element is withdrawn.

4. Income Support – 21st May 2012
Tax credit claims and changes of For some time we have been aware of the
circumstances can now only be backdated proposals to change the Lone Parent
for one month instead of three months, eligibility criteria in respect of the age of the
giving less time to notify events like the youngest child. With effect from 21st May,
birth of a child. Lone Parents whose youngest child is aged 5
Another important change is that the ‘in or over will not be able to claim Income
year’ falls in income disregard will reduce Support via this route. They will be expected
to £2,500. Unless income falls by more to claim Jobseekers Allowance unless they
than this, Tax Credits will not be meet the criteria for Income Support in
recalculated. another way, for example as a carer for a
disabled person.
From April 2013, the disregard for ‘in year’
increases in income will reduce from From April 2014, it is proposed that remaining
₤10,000 to ₤5,000 cases of pre-tax credit Income Support and
income based Jobseekers Allowance which
It has been proposed that giro cheque have child additions will no longer exist.
payments for Tax Credits will only be for 4 Claimants may be eligible for other benefits.
weeks and will then cease until an account
has been provided. From October 2012 no State Pension Age
payments will be made unless an account State Pension age for women continues to
has been provided. adjust to equalise with mens. This also has
an effect on the age at which Pension Credit
and Winter Fuel Payments claims can be
made.
Child Benefit – 7th January 2013 In March 2015 State Pension age for men
The latest on Child Benefit is that a charge and women is set to increase to 66 and
will be applied to taxpayers in relation to between the end of 2015 and end of 2017,
their or their partner’s child benefit claim State Pension age starts to rise in stages to
where income exceeds £50,000. A levy will 67. By October 2020, State Pension Age will
be applied to income between £50,000 and be 67.
£60,000 up to the amount equal to Child
Benefit received. It is debatable whether Weekly Benefits Limit (Benefit ‘Cap’)
this will have an effect on providing From April 2013, a weekly benefits limit will
evidence for child responsibility for certain apply. For lone parents and couples this will
claims, where being in receipt of Child be £500 per week and for single claimants
Benefit offers access. An example of this £350 per week. There are some exceptions to
could be Parent and Carer Credits this, for example claimants of Working Tax
(formerly Home Responsibilities Credits and Disability Living Allowance. The
Protection) which count towards weekly limit does not include Social Fund
contributions for State Pension and also loans, free school meals or Discretionary
child premiums in Housing Benefit. Housing Payments and Council Tax Benefit.

5. Universal Credit and claimants of Attendance Allowance are
In April 2013, the Universal Credit (UC) not currently part of the PIP process.
Pathfinder will launch, with the intention of
roll out nationally from October 2013. In
the first phase, new claimants will receive Motability Scheme
UC in place of means tested, working age From January of this year and for new
benefits (Income Support, income based applicants, drivers of motability cars can only
Jobseekers Allowance, income related be insured on the vehicle if they live within 5
Employment and Support Allowance, miles of the Disability Living Allowance
Housing Benefit and Tax Credits). UC will claimant.
be payable to those both in and out of
work. Social Fund
Significant changes in circumstances will As mentioned in the foreword, from April 2013
also see existing claimants transferred to specific parts of the Social Fund i.e. Crisis
UC. Loans and Community Care Grants will be
localised and will be administered by Local
The second phase from October 2013 Authorities with their own schemes.
encompasses those households who could Budgeting Loans will be replaced by an
benefit from receiving UC will be advance payments system for those waiting
transferred. for their usual benefit to be paid.
From 2015 to the end of 2017, all those
remaining on existing benefits will be We are still working with the system in it’s
transferred over to Universal Credit. current form. From April 9th 2012 Crisis Loans
for non-householders in an emergency or
Personal Independence Payments (PIP) disaster situation will be allowed a maximum
and Disability Living Allowance award in relation to living expenses. This will
From April 2013, Personal Independence be based on 30% of the appropriate benefit
Payments (PIP) will replace Disability personal allowance rate, rather than the
Living Allowance (DLA) for working age previous 60%.
claimants. It is planned that a ‘face to face’
assessment will be part of this process. School Leaving Age
There will be two components - ‘Daily It is proposed that during 2013, school
Living’– ‘and ‘Mobility’. Each will have two leaving age will increase to 17 years followed
rates, ‘Enhanced’ and ‘Standard’ At by a rise to 18 from May 2014.
present we do not know amounts that
might apply and finer details but hope to be Post Office Card Accounts (POCA)
able to share more information on the PIP These were created to assist claimants
process with you later in the year – either without a bank account or who were unable to
through our Essex Benefits Network or obtain one. POCAs were intended as a
other usual channels. temporary measure and will now run until
March 2015, with the possibility of an
Those claimants of DLA aged over 65 will extension beyond that.
continue to claim DLA for the foreseeable
future. Claimants of DLA aged under 16 Benefit cheque payments are being phased
out. On this theme, the ‘Simple Payment’

6. service will be available from Summer your use as our partner organisations. The
2012. It will be a contracted service number should not be given out to members
provided by Citibank and Paypoint across of the public.
the UK and is aimed at those who cannot
use a mainstream account or Post Office Training
Card Account. It is not intended for those Our training courses continue at various
who already have an account or would be venues around the County. Please visit our
able to open one. Claimants are sent a website for details
welcome pack which explains how the www.essex.gov.uk/essexbenefitsplus/training
service works and they are issued with a Dates for this quarter have been released
card that allows them to access their from April and are filling up fast. Currently one
benefit payments at Paypoint outlets. The day courses on Introduction to Benefits,
card does not have any financial value or Employment and Support Allowance, and
hold details of the claimant. Where a Disability Living Allowance are on offer.
regular carer or family member collects We will be releasing some new dates by the
payments on behalf of the claimant an end of April. Courses will include our popular
additional card is issued. You can read Out of Work benefits and also Benefits for
more information by clicking on the link Carers. Places are free to staff working with
below and opening the PDF file: people in the Essex area.
http://www.adviceuk.org.uk/filegrab/document
s/1e27723a3fd6d183a78d65496e97537f/sig-
factsheet-v-3.0-a.pdf Disability Rights Handbook 2012/13 issue
Previously we have been able to provide
each of our training delegates with a copy of
This completes our Benefits round up for this useful handbook. Unfortunately this is no
this issue. longer the case and your organisations may
wish to purchase copies for frontline and
office use. The handbooks are published by
What’s in a name… Disability Rights UK and retail at ₤28.50 each
including postage and packaging. They can
You may have noticed that our name has be obtained by ordering online through the
changed, though this issue retains our old Disability UK website:
headers! As Information, Advice and www.disabilityrightsuk.org . Contact phone
Advocacy we are part of the Strategic number for Disability Rights UK is 020 7250
Planning and Commissioning Team at 3222
Essex County Council. We are delighted to
continue working with you and thank you Benefits Rates Guides
for your support. We are no longer involved in the production
of rates guides. Other organisations do
Helpline produce these and they are available on the
Our Helpline remains open daily 9.30 to internet. An example is the LASA Benefit
4pm for benefit related enquiries and we Rates poster, which can be found on their
look forward to hearing from you. Please website and is downloadable:
remember that our Helpline is only for http://www.rightsnet.org.uk/pdfs/benefit_rates
_poster_2012_2013.pdf

7. Dates for your diary
Essex Benefit Network
For those of you who couldn’t attend our
recent well attended Updates session, our
next Essex Benefit Network meeting will be
held on Wednesday 18th July 2012. Usual
venue of the Essex Records Office, Wharf
Road, Chelmsford. Starting promptly at
9.30 a.m. with an estimated 12.30 finish.
The topic for this session will be advertised
nearer to the date.
Invitations will be emailed to our
distribution list by the beginning of July. If
you would like to be added to our list
please let us know.
What do you think of our Bulletin?
We appreciate your views on ways to
improve our service. Please let us know
your thoughts and any suggestions for
improvement.
Contact us
Helpline
01245 434205
Mon-Fri 9.30-4pm
benefits.helpline@essex.gov.uk
Fax: 01245 436319
All other enquiries
essexbenefitsplus@essex.gov.uk
Information Advice and Advocacy
Strategic Planning and Commissioning
A5
County Hall
Chelmsford
CM1 1YS
www.essex.gov.uk/essexbenefitsplus