Welfare Reform

A new system of welfare benefits introduced by the government may have an impact on some residents of Middlesbrough

A number of changes to benefits and welfare support are being introduced by the Government from April 2013 onwards.

To find out more about how these changes may impact on you, please click on the links on the left. You can find out more about what benefits you may be entitled to here.

The changes being introduced also aim to create the right incentives to get more people into work by ensuring work always pays, but also protecting the most vulnerable in our society and creating greater fairness.

The main elements of the Welfare Reform Act are:

• The introduction of Universal Credit to provide a single benefit that will ensure work always pays.
• A stronger approach to reducing fraud and error with tougher penalties for the most serious offences.
• A new claimant commitment showing clearly what is expected of claimants while giving protection to those with the greatest needs.
• Reforms to Disability Living Allowance through the introduction of the Personal Independence Payment to meet the needs of disabled people today.
• Creating a fairer approach to Housing Benefit to bring stability to the market and improve incentives to work.
• Driving out abuse of the Social Fund system by giving greater power to local authorities.
• Reforming Employment and Support Allowance to make the benefit fairer and to ensure that help goes to those with the greatest need.

The reform will introduce a number of changes to different areas of welfare benefits, the Council will be involved in implementing some of the changes involving Housing Benefit, Council Tax Benefit as well as the Social Fund.

• Benefit cap

  To promote fairness between those in work and those receiving out of work benefits, a benefit cap will be introduced from April 2013 for those claiming out of work benefits

• Council tax benefit abolished

  From 1 April 2013, Council Tax Benefit is being abolished and replaced by Local Council Tax Support

• Replacement of disability living allowance

  With effect from April 2013 a new benefit called Personal Independence Payment will replace Disability Living Allowance

• Under-occupancy in housing association properties

  From April 2013 working age claimants of Housing Benefit living in accommodation provided by the council or a housing association who have more bedrooms than their household needs will have their eligible rent reduced

• Discretionary housing payments

• Universal credit

  From October 2013 a new benefit is being introduced called Universal Credit

• Who can help provide advice?

• Frequently asked questions

• Community Support Scheme (replacing the Social Fund)

  Community Support Scheme (replacing the Social Fund)

  From 1st April 2013 Middlesbrough Council will administer a new scheme called the Community Support Scheme (CSS)