Agenda item

Purpose of report: Scrutiny of Services and Budgets

Elected members and officers have made it a priority to scrutinise services funded by the Council that relate to Welfare Benefits. This report details activity in respect of the first year of delivery of the Welfare Benefits Advice Information and Support grant.

Declarations of interest: None.

Witnesses:

Anne Butler, Assistant Director for Commissioning.

Norah Lewis, Assistant Senior Manager – Commissioning

Dave Sargeant, Interim Strategic Director for Adult Social Care

Mel Few, Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care

Steve Cosser, Cabinet Associate for Adult Social Care

External witnesses:

Clive Wood, Chief Executive – Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership,

Vicki Atherton, Deputy Chief Executive  - Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership,

Femi Sorinwa, Welfare Benefits Advisor – Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership.

1. Officers provided a brief overview of getWIS£ and outlined that it was a service available to all residents of Surrey with a focus on those most affected by the Coalition Government’s welfare reforms which came in to force in 2012. Service users had one point of contact and could be met at a venue of their choice. They were supported in making applications which was of particular benefit to those without IT skills or access to a computer, as many benefits forms are online.

2. External witnesses stated that since getWIS£ became operational in April 2013 it had supported nearly 2,300 people and secured over £1.6 million in benefits. It also supported people through tribunals and appeals. Over its first year, getWIS£ had taken a holistic approach to providing not only support for benefits, but also advice on health, social care and referrals to voluntary organisations. The Surrey Hubs were a great source of referrals and easy to access given their town-centre locations. The witnesses noted that with the increasing discussion of welfare in the media and the forthcoming move to Universal Credit, people were looking for more support and knowledge and were coming to getWIS£. This had created a need for more staff and volunteers. External witnesses also discussed the effect of the move from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payments, and the anxiety that some service users felt about the new medical assessments, which getWIS£ could support people through.

3. Officers acknowledged the good work that getWIS£ and its partners had done and noted the service supported the delivery of quality care to vulnerable people in Surrey, forming part of the FFC support, advice and provision of information.

4. The Committee acknowledged the successful first year of getWIS£. The Committee asked about the waiting time for benefit applications and appeals. External witnesses confirmed that applications for Personal Independence Payments could take up to a year, but that GetWIS£ supported claimants over that time and highlight other benefits that can be claimed in the meantime through its holistic service, for example referral to food banks.  Members expressed significant concern about the delays described by the external witnesses and were particularly worried that those waiting for applications to be processed might not be receiving benefits they needed.

5. External witnesses discussed their flexible working arrangements with service users able to telephone getWIS£, meet at a hub or Council building, or request a home visit. The Committee asked if there was logic in other community organisations sharing locations with getWIS£, and officers agreed there would be benefits to doing this.

6. The Committee asked whether getWIS£ was more of an information service or a technical support for completing benefits forms. External witnesses and officers reported that it was both and that particularly with the onset of Universal Credit, more specialist support was required. Once forms have been filled in and while a service user is waiting on the hearing date of a tribunal for example, support was still needed in other ways.

7. External witnesses discussed the benefits checks that getWIS£ offer, which ensured that people claim everything they are entitled to. This would lead to more work but was essential to make sure that people received what they needed. getWIS£ could also make referrals to food banks and the Council’s Local Assistant scheme, for example.

8. The Committee asked whether getWIS£ could ask the JobCentre for information on all unemployed people to proactively contact them about benefits. External witnesses said that this would be in breach of data protection; however, they have built a strong relationship with the JobCentres across Surrey and receive referrals from them.

Recommendations:

The Committee:

·         Noted the report, including the progress made by getWIS£ in their first year of operation and the programme of activities planned by Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership to enhance this universal offer

·         Congratulated the Surrey Disabled People’s Partnership and their partner organisations

·         Commended the service for the results it has achieved – realising £1,660,698 of annualised benefits for 2,287 people in the last year.

·         Recommends that the Cabinet Member takes forward with the relevant government minister the significant concerns raised regarding delays in welfare reform delivery.  (Action by: Cabinet Member for Adult Social Care)

·         Requests that the service work with its Commissioners to ensure waiting lists were not created with rising demands (Action by: John Woods)

·         Recommends that the Service circulate (via Democratic Services) the contact details for getWIS£ to all County Councillors

Actions/further information to be provided:

·         None

·         Committee next steps:

·         None.