Akinola Daisi, Service Development Officer, Revenue & Benefits
Minutes:
Jay Akinola Daisi, Revenue & Benefits Service Development Officer, explained that part of his role was to implement the major changes to benefits that were imminent. He made the following points:
· Most benefits would be reformed in some way. The Council was responsible for administering council tax benefit and housing benefit.
· A universal credit scheme was scheduled for 2013. The idea was to simplify and introduce one benefit that would encompass housing benefit, income support, child benefit and others together.
· A benefit cap would be introduced in April 2013. It would limit the total sum of benefits to £500 per week for a household or £350 for a single person.
· Housing benefit would be restricted for council and housing association tenants depending on the number of rooms a household needed. About 3,000 of Southwark’s 21,000 council tenants would be affected by the changes.
· Council tax benefit would be replaced by a new system whereby every local authority would have to develop a new way of managing people on low incomes.
· The council was writing to affected residents, starting with the most vulnerable and inviting them to contact the council advice centres to discuss options. The benefit changes would not affect those of pensionable age.
In response to questions, Jay gave the following replies:
· Not everyone affected would be on housing benefit. Downsizing of property would be the best option for some tenants and a higher priority would be given to those who did so.
· He would be willing to speak to affected groups and those with concerns about the benefit changes. He had already been to thirty public events to discuss the reforms.
Councillors thanked Jay for his presentation and expressed concern about the impact the changes would have on Southwark residents.