Sanctions -delays-Food banks-U.K

As I read the article below I was struck by the key issue that Food is a vital need within our society and so much more so than during the winter.

The timing of the article / report being made public just prior to Christmas and the winter period I feel is no suprise.

I Have highlighed key comments and my own comments have been added in italics

"An income squeeze, benefit delays and excessive utility bills are blamed by a cross-party group of MPs for a huge rise in the use of food banks.

The inquiry, by Conservative and Labour MPs and church leaders, says many families are one unexpected bill away from financial crisis.

They urge quicker benefit payments, the extension of free school meals and a living wage to reduce hunger.

Ministers called the report a serious contribution to an important debate.

The all-party parliamentary inquiry into hunger in the UK was set up to understand the extent and spread of hunger, food poverty and to investigate its underlying causes.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

Too many people... face the choice of putting money in the gas meter or food on the table”

Hunger and Food Poverty report

The inquiry found it difficult to calculate the exact number of food banks in the UK as so many are independent and run by individual groups.

But it did ascertain the number of Trussell Trust food banks has grown from a handful to 420 in the past 10 years. And it heard suggestions there may be at least as many food banks operating independently.

The growth in food bank use is mirrored across Europe and the US, the report said.

It acknowledged UK families on low incomes "have been hit disproportionately hard" by rising living costs and this has eroded the value of their income.

"Too many people living in low-income households often face the choice of putting money in the gas meter or food on the table," it said.

"In addition, they face in many cases a premium on the basic goods and services they buy."

Severe hardship

The report stressed "benefit delays have been a key reason" for people turning to food banks.

It heard much evidence that lengthy delays in the administration and receipt of benefit payments have caused severe hardship for new claimants."

These delays are an issue for many hard working Job seekers and indeed those on low incomes including those on zero hour contracts and part timers

"It concluded: "Benefit-related problems were the single biggest reason given for food bank referrals by almost every food bank that presented evidence to us.

Continue reading the main story

Hunger in the UK

4 million

people at risk of going hungry

272

food banks across big cities and towns

• 500,000 children live in families that can't afford to feed them
• 3.5 million adults cannot afford to eat properly

Source: All-Party Parliamentary Inquiry into Hunger in the UK, Poverty and Social Exclusion project

Getty Images

"The inquiry is concerned that there are avoidable problems occurring in the administration of social security benefits, which have a particularly detrimental impact on poor and vulnerable claimants."

RICHMOND'S FOOD BANK USERS

• Benefit delays 26%
• Benefit changes 14%
• Low income 15%
• Debt 11%
• Domestic violence 13%
• Homeless 8%
• Sickness 4%
• Unemployment 4%
• Other 5%

Source: Richmond Food Bank

Why are there problems with the administration of the Welfare benefits?

These delays are likely to be on new claiments

It heard the Department for Work and Pensions does not currently collect information on the time taken for benefit payments to be made and said some people were waiting up to 16 weeks for a claim.

This is a 4 mnth delay of which those claiming may well be entitled to payments. Ad that to the issue that such payments may not be entitled to back payment but may be new claiments, How many of us could survive without any money for this length of time

'Too long to survive'

The department measures the average number of days taken between an application and a decision being made on a claim.

"Whilst the department aims for this process to be concluded within 16 days, we heard that for some claimants even this length of time is too long to survive without money," it said.

This is 16 working days therefore over 3 weeks

The authors want benefits to be delivered within five days of a legitimate claim and for more discretionary payments to be made when delays occur.

They also highlight the impact of high utility bills and say the poorest often pay for gas and electricity through prepayment meters, face higher energy costs and are unable to get the best deals.

They also looked at hunger in schools, with some schools estimating up to a quarter of pupils arrive hungry each morning.

While low parental income is an important factor, children often go hungry because of lack of organisation at home, they added.

They want free school meals to be extended to more children of low-income parents and for a campaign to decrease the number of children arriving at school hungry.

The MPs also recommend a national organisation be set up to end the destruction of edible food and ensure more of this goes to those who need it.

On Sunday, the Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, backed the report, saying more help was needed to prevent families in the UK going hungry.

He said food was being wasted in "astonishing" amounts while hunger "stalks large parts" of the country.

The archbishop said he was left more shocked by the plight of the UK's hunger-stricken poor than those suffering in African refugee camps, because it was so unexpected.

Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said benefits sanctions - for infractions such as missing interviews or failing to take part in a work-related activity - were partly to blame and should not always be imposed "overnight".

Reality is Mr Clegg they are are regularly applied and the over turning procedure takes longer than it should. They are not used as a last resort they are used as a first resort what ever the circumstance.

He told the BBC's Andrew Marr Show: "Whilst it is of course necessary to have sanctions in the benefit system, I think we should introduce a sort of traffic light system so that some of the sanctions are not imposed quite as 'overnight' as they sometimes are.

"That might help alleviate some of the problem."

'Safety net'

A government spokesman welcomed the report's recognition that the reasons behind demands for emergency food assistance were "complex".

"As a country we have enough food to go around, and we agree that it is wrong that anyone should go hungry at the same time as surplus food is going to waste.

"There is a moral argument as well as a sustainability one to ensure we make the best use of resources.

FOOD BANK FAVOURITES

• Milk - UHT or powdered
• Sugar (500g)
• Fruit juice (carton)
• Soup
• Pasta sauces
• Sponge pudding (tinned)
• Tomatoes (tinned)
• Cereals
• Rice pudding (tinned)
• Tea Bags/instant coffee
• Instant mash potato
• Rice/pasta
• Tinned meat/fish
• Tinned fruit
• Jam
• Biscuits or snack bars

The spokesman said it was important to remember "this country has been through the deepest recession in living memory, and sticking to this government's long-term economic plan is the best way to improve living standards".

He said the plan was working and the economy growing while the welfare system provided a vital safety net.

"In addition, the UK has a proud tradition of civil society and faith groups providing support for people in need, and it is right that their impressive work is recognised in the report.

"Under tough circumstances, communities have shown that by pulling together to help each other, we can build a bigger, stronger society." "

Housing-Private and Council-the crisis

 Social Housing is a massive issue as featured in this Panorama documentary. The waiting list far exceeds the demand. Private landlords are thriving. Councils are becoming like agents. Havering Council is such an example. But temporary accomodation is a massive issue and the Stats highlight this issue. In London the Issue is worse. In London the Council's look at moving people to outside of London West Midlands etc. Often Private Accomodation in these categories may often suffer from Damp as featured within the documentary The Benefit cap is highlighted by the Newham and Stoke issue
 
 The DWP stats on Benefit Cap Highlight the issue.London outstrips the remainder of the Country very clearly

The CAP per region highlights the issue we can see here how the figures rise and to the levels they rose to. We alse see the regional differences

It is clear that the CAP has had a direct effect On the London and South East This is born out on all the Media productions.The conclusion has to be that those on low incomes, Zero hour contract, part time workers face an uncertain future unless Housing options for low income earners are tackled. Temporary Accomodation soon becomes long term accomodation

Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn sums up the issue well and leaves us with something to consider for the New Year and the future General Election
What is your M.P saying

Remote Advice Guidance Support U.K

The Following videos highlight a way of providing information, guidance and advice in a practical way

Introduction

The Purpose of the Videos is to discover

1. How a client can benefit from Remote Support, Advice and Guidance
2. Discover information that they can return to and ask questions about the information they are being provided with
3. Client and Provider can Jointly look and discuss action required and review progress and needs
4. The Videos show the Experience from both computers at the same time and how both sides see the same process
5. The differences between the views

Remote computer-Trainee or Client

Can take control or disconnect when they wish

• Share with their Adviser what they know  and what they need to know

Can engage and chat with Adviser

The Facilitator-Adviser or Guide

• The Adviser is able to see both screens
• The Adviser can take over from the client as well as has both chat boxes on screen.
• Can engage by chat or speak to the client assessing the need and requirements
• If there are issues at the Advisers computer the client does not see the issue
•  The Adviser can see his own screen 
• If the client requires the adviser can see some technical issues at the client end 

EU Immigration -David Cameron responds to statistics

Highlights of the speach

EU migrants to the U.K will not be able to for 4 years

• Access Universal Credit, JSA or Tax Credits
• Wait for social Housing for 4 years
• Will be deported if they are job less after 
• All EU immigrants have to have a job offer before they come to the U.K

This in many ways is a direct responce to yesterdays statistics
-

1. Net long-term migration to the UK was estimated to be 260,000 in the year ending June 2014, a statistically significant increase from 182,000 in the previous 12 months. 

While net migration has increased since the most recent low of 154,000 in the year ending September 2012, it remains below the peak of 320,000 in the year ending June 2005.

583,000 people immigrated to the UK in the year ending June 2014, a statistically significant increase from 502,000 in the previous 12 months. There were statistically significant increases in immigration of EU (up 45,000) and non-EU (up 30,000) citizens.

An estimated 323,000 people emigrated from the UK in the year ending June 2014. Long-term emigration has been relatively stable since 2010. 

There was a statistically significant increase in immigration for work (up 45,000 to 247,000), driven by increases for non-EU citizens (up 14,000), EU2 citizens (up 11,000) and EU15 (up 10,000). Estimated employment of EU nationals (excluding British) resident in the UK was 16% higher in July to September 2014 compared to the same quarter in 2013.

National Insurance Number (NINo) registrations to adult overseas nationals increased by 12% to 668,000 in the year ending September 2014 from the previous year. Romanian citizens had the highest number of registrations (104,000), followed by Polish citizens (98,000).

> The Romanian citizens rights changed at beginning of the year

32,000 Romanian and Bulgarian (EU2) citizens immigrated to the UK in the year ending June 2014, a statistically significant increase from 18,000 in the previous 12 months.

>Based on the changes in their EU status

Immigration for study remained stable (176,000) in the year ending June 2014.

The statistically significant increase of 30,000 in immigration of non-EU citizens to 272,000 was in part driven by an increase in immigration to accompany/join others up 19,000 to 54,000. This follows a steady decline in non-EU immigration since the recent peak of 334,000 in the year ending September 2011. 

1. Work and study visas grants continued to rise in the year ending September 2014, by 6% (+9,500) and 3% (+6,100) respectively. These trends reflected higher levels of both skilled work visas granted and university sponsored applications.

> Visas are not required by EU citizens

There were 24,300 asylum applications in the year ending September 2014, an increase of 2% compared with the previous 12 months (23,800), but low relative to the 2002 peak (84,100).

There is a catch 22 that many EU citizens come to the U.K looking for work and often take the work that is at the lower end of the pay scale that fits within the Working Family Tax Credit eligibility

Secondly this may all take a long time to implement. 

U.K Welfare Reforms Update

Although this was a Northern Island Conference the speaker spoke about the reality of the changes from a pilot of Universal Credit and the National results It makes stark viewing and reflection

The speaker then continues with even more
 




Here is the slide that is referred to - Note 5 weeks minimum to
The Mandatary reconsideration of ESA and UC with an average 8 week delay is very poor
2 months of direct debits - how would you be affected

The Rowntree Slide makes us reflect on the Housing situation Nationally

Benefits and welfare and the real situation

The Welfare challenge

The Institute for Fiscal Studies says"



Working-age benefit spending has always been sensitive to the unemployment rate. But the rapid growth of housing benefit and tax credits over the couple of decades (documented in thisbriefing note published today) means that slow earnings growth now has the potential to push up spending too. Much of the hoped-for savings from the introduction of ESA have failed to materialise, and it is an open question whether the personal independence payment will be any different. Mr Osborne wants further cuts to social security spending to help reduce the deficit. He may end up having to make cuts just to stay on track."

The gov .uk Stats for your area-
Benefit stats

The BBC quote the Institute of Fiscal studies

Explaining why spending had in fact reduced by £2.5bn in real terms, it said:

• All of the £5bn rise in the cost of pensioner benefits could be explained by the rising cost of state pensions. It said this was partly down to the ageing population, but also the "more generous" entitlements of a new generation of pensioners who had recently retired
• There had been an "unanticipated" rise in housing benefit spending of £1bn, despite cuts of £2bn, which was down to the growth of the private rental sector, rising rents and slow earnings growth
• This slower earnings growth meant spending on tax credits had not come down as quickly as expected, reducing costs by less than £3bn compared with a forecast saving of £4.6bn
• "Significant delays" in the replacement of disability living allowance with the "less generous" personal independence payment had led to a £1.6bn increase in spending, rather than a £1.2bn cut
• Switching from the Retail Prices Index to the Consumer Prices Index measure of inflation for up-rating benefits had not saved the expected £4bn

Note the challenge of the Tax Credit - this will become the Universal Credit in due cource. The slow earnings growth has made a difference

Many may agree with Edd Balls and Rachel Reeves. They wrote: "A key cause of the Tories' overspending is their failure to make the economy work for working people, leaving thousands more reliant on housing benefit."

So how are the Welfare Reform changes affecting people

The changes to council tax benefit have also hit Blackpool particularly hard, as the council decided to pass on most of the 10% shortfall in government grant to its residents.

Mike Clague, a former RAF chef whose 19th floor flat has such a spectacular view, is having to find £15 a month extra.

"It doesn't sound much," he says. "But on top of all the other bills, it's a lot."

Ann Morris gives out school uniforms to those who cannot afford them

He has had to cut back on food as a result. Chocolate has become a once-a-week treat.

In Blackpool even those on jobseeker's allowance (JSA) have to find an extra £206 a year.

Many people have not yet paid anything.

"We recently had a huge influx of clients for non-payment of that money," says Julia Hannaford of Blackpool Citizens Advice.

"In one week we saw 40 people."

For those that are paying, the extra outgoings have stretched household budgets. Half the council tenants in Blackpool are behind with their rent.

In two or three cases, the local housing association has now obtained suspended possession orders, the first stage in the eviction process.

Sanctions

Elsewhere in the North West there are already some striking memorials to the first six months of the benefits changes: the houses that no one wants.

In Sefton, on an estate once known as Beirut, there are roads where dozens of people have moved out.

One resident of Daley Road points out 10 empty houses in her street.

One of the empty houses in Daley Road

"They don't even bother to board them up anymore," she tells me.

"It's all because of the bedroom tax. Nobody wants a three bedroom place anymore."

On this part of Merseyside, community workers also report that, since April, more people are having their benefits temporarily stopped.

JSA claimants, for example, now have to prove that they are job hunting, by applying online.

But not all are computer literate.

Ann Morris, a development worker in Litherland, says that as a result many parents can no longer afford to buy school uniforms.

She and her colleagues have set up a uniform bank to help.

"They all want their kids to go back to school with new uniforms. But some have benefit sanctions, so they just don't have the money," she says.

Continue reading the main story

“Start Quote

I never thought I'd see the day that we'd all get in and share a bath. A treat is getting in the bath first.”

Carol WilsonBenefit claimant

'Blind Scouse'

Carol Wilson, a carer from the Tuebrook area of Liverpool, was herself sanctioned earlier in the year.

She lost one week's Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), as a result of being in hospital.

Since April she has also had to find £80 a month as a result of having a spare room, and £9 a month extra for council tax.

Along with all claimants, she has also been affected by the 1% cap on annual benefits increases.

She, her partner, and her son now share their bath-water to try to economise.

"I never thought I'd see the day that we'd all get in and share a bath. A treat is getting in the bath first."

And she stretches a pot of stew, known as scouse, so that it lasts for three days.

"You just add potatoes each day. When the meat runs out, it's known as "blind scouse".

Blind scouse is certainly making a comeback in Liverpool at the moment, she says.

Coping

All along the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has insisted that the changes are not about saving money, but about encouraging more people into work.

Indeed since claimants were warned about the cap on total benefits back in April, the DWP says more than 15,000 have been helped to find jobs.

"Since April we have made great strides delivering our reforms," a DWP spokesman told the BBC.

"The rollout of universal credit and personal independence payments have begun, reforms to housing benefit are making the system fairer and the benefit cap is now in place across the country."

The government also says it has cut income tax for 25 million people, saving a typical taxpayer £700 a year.

It claims the typical household will also save £600 as a result of council tax being frozen for five years.

And even among those hit by benefit cuts, there are those who support the principles of the reforms.

"I do think it's right that people should be in work if they can be," says Carol Wilson.

"And I don't think being on benefits should be too comfortable.

"Whilst I would like more, the country is in a crisis. And I cope with what I have," she says.

The Welfare Reform

This is the reality watch the video to hear the truth!!!

Employment-Apprenticeships and Bankers

A day when the stats and Banker feature in the same news bulletins

In many ways interelated as the Bankers started the issue of the recession which affected the Employment rate and led to an increase in Youth Unemployment

Apprenticeships are now available in careers ranging from advertising, to legal work, to art galleries, and information technology, to name but a few of the 1,200 job roles on offer.

 Is that the solution to the Youth Unemploymentor NEET ?
The challenge of Pay is an issue
National minimum wage for apprentices, which is £2.73 per hour.
A lot lower than the minimum wage
Apprentice News




If you move people off JSA to ESA you get some interesting results. Note ESA are not featured here
The figures are encouraging however against the past figures

Around 14.7% of workers, or 4.5 million, are self-employed, down by 88,000 on the quarter but up by 279,000 on a year ago, while the number of part-time workers wanting a full-time job remained at about 1.3 million.

Employment Minister Esther McVey said: "Record numbers of people in work means more people with the security of a regular wage who are better able to support themselves and their families.

Part of the problem is that many are not feeling the benefits. many are still searching to undertake 2 or more Jobs

Background

Unemployment is referred to as a lagging indicator, because businesses will often delay laying people off as long as they can in difficult times.

A few months after the start of the recession in 2008, unemployment started to rise sharply. When the global financial crisis hit, the unemployment rate was a little over 5% or 1.6 million.

Towards the end of 2009, with the UK coming out of its severest recession since the 1950s, it was almost a million higher at 2.5 million, or 8%.

Unemployment peaked at almost 2.7 million at the end of 2011, its highest level for 17 years.

Bankers

Six banks have been collectively fined £2.6bn by UK and US regulators over their traders' attempted manipulation of foreign exchange rates.

HSBC, Royal Bank of Scotland, Swiss bank UBS and US banks JP Morgan Chase, Citibank and Bank of America have all been fined.

Have we not been here before and didn't this whole recession start with the Banks?

Is there not an issue with bankers benefiting from fraud or " benefits fraud"