This presentation was delivered at the Employment and Skills Conference 2019 by Deven Ghelani, Director and Founder, Policy in Practice, and Marise Mackie, Head of Employment Devon and Cornwall, Seetec Pluss
One year on from the introduction of the Work and Health Programme we take a look at how the rollout is going in the South West and see what impact Universal Credit is having. Marise Mackie, Head of Employment Devon and Cornwall from Pluss, will outline some of the challenges and successes from the last 12 months and share the stories of some of the people they've helped. Deven Ghelani, Director and Founder of Policy in Practice, will provide an updated policy context and share findings of new analysis of Universal Credit.
Watch Asher's story (slide 12) here https://youtu.be/pGGUe1zfcPo
Watch Tim's story (slide 15) here https://youtu.be/LRZhPsIX37g
For more information please visit www.policyinpractice.co.uk, call 0330 088 9242 or email hello@policyinpractice.co.uk
5. 555
How is Universal Credit doing?
A quick poll…
- Better than reports suggest?
- The same as reports suggest?
- Worse than reports suggest?
6. • 2m households on Universal
Credit
• Growing by 130,000 per month
• Issues haven’t scaled with the
growth in caseload
• But those who do face
problems struggle
An update on Universal Credit
0
500,000
1,000,000
1,500,000
2,000,000
2,500,000
Households on Universal Credit
7. Issues with Universal Credit
23% of customers tell us they delay claiming
Timely applications Debt and overpayments
Fluctuating payments Inflexibility in resolving issues
8. • UC work allowances: increase by £1,000 per year
• Two week run-on for those on existing DWP benefits (JSA, ESA, IS) in addition to
those receiving housing benefit (from July 2020)
• Self employed: assessed on actual income (not MIF) for 12 months
• Deductions from UC: Max rate down from 40% to 30% (from Oct)
• Period for recovery of advances extended from 12 to 16 months (from Oct 2021)
• Delay in increasing the earnings limit that triggers surplus earnings (remains the
same until 2020)
• Slower roll-out of Universal Credit (end now Dec 2023)
• Plus increase in minimum wage & changes in tax allowances
Changes to Universal Credit
13. Still some way to go…
Disability Employment Gap…
No disability Disability
52%
Autism
15%
Mental Health
7%
Learning Disability
6%
82%
14. Our approach…
• With the right support, anyone can find work
• Personalised and Co-produced
• Employers
- Recruiting in a different way
- Hidden vacancies
- Lightbulb moment
- Tenacity
15.
16. What does the future hold?
What impact is Universal Credit
having on the frontline?
Will we have a new Secretary of
State?
What impact will Brexit have on
employment and austerity?
DG
Ask the audience: how is UC going?
National numbers on UC
Natioal numbers on the disability employment gap
UC improvements - advances, disability, run ons but what impact are they having on the frontline?
Myth busting: how can we promote positive view of UC?
Disability Confident sign ups: how well is it working? what more can be done?
MM
Merge with Seetec, now Seetec Pluss: why and what this means
Transition to UC is not the issue
Once someone up and running with UC no issue
5 week period
Myth busting: need to promote what UC is like on the ground (posters)
Some cases of clients: Video x 1, Video x 2, Video x 3
Q&A with the audience:
What more can be done to get employers on board?
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