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In this issue:

  • Universal Credit is a better way to deliver support for energy bills
  • Council tax support: new analysis for Welsh Government and arrears evidence published
  • Housing Digital social: how housing providers can boost the income of tenants
  • MALG: bringing income maximisation to the heart of debt advice
  • See you there: IGPP's Local Government Event 2022
  • Join our next webinar: How low-income families can benefit from social tariffs
  • On-demand webinar: Using data analysis to get ahead of the cost of living crisis
  • Case study spotlight: Northern Ireland Housing Executive
  • People news and blog posts
Universal Credit is a better way to deliver support for energy bills

Our analysis on the government's new measures to mitigate the cost of living crisis was published in the MJ this month. Read the full article here
In a recent blog Deven Ghelani explored the government’s case for uprating benefits by less than inflation and explained why increased benefit support is needed to create a less complex social security system.
Council tax support: new analysis for Welsh Government and arrears evidence published

In 2019 the Welsh Government introduced four council tax interventions as part of its commitment to make council tax fairer:

  1. Standardisation of the approach to disregarding council tax liability for people with a severe mental impairment
  2. Introduction of legislation to exempt care leavers from paying council tax
  3. Publication of the Council Tax Protocol for Wales
  4. Removal of the sanction of imprisonment for non-payment of council tax

Three years later the government wants to evaluate how well these interventions are helping vulnerable people to meet their council tax liability.

We are delighted to announce that Policy in Practice has won the bid to carry out this research. This latest research will build on our work for the Welsh Government which includes analysis on the impact of Universal Credit, as well as the impact of Covid-19 on the council tax support scheme in Wales.

Read more about our data-led analysis for the Welsh Government here
Analysis by Policy in Practice shows that flexible collection policies can be beneficial to both the taxpayer and the council, yet obstacles must be overcome if embedded practices in some councils are to change. Giving councils the evidence that adopting a new approach won't adversely affect collection rates is the key to promoting flexible collection practices.

Our evidence for the Department of Levelling Up, Housing and Communities on on council tax arrears to was published this month. You can read it in full here.
Housing Digital social: How housing providers can boost the income of tenants

The drop in the nation’s financial resilience, together with last year's end of the eviction ban, means that housing providers are facing higher demand for support.

We recently joined the Housing Digital platform to connect with more housing providers. Adam Kenny joined the February social to share successes our housing clients are having in boosting the income of tenants.

View Adam's slides here
Connect with Adam on Housing Digital here
MALG: Bringing income maximisation to the heart of debt advice

As the country navigates the cost of living crisis and the end of the pandemic it is an important time for the members of the Money Advice Liaison Group (MALG) who help people in problem debt. We are proud to support the work that MALG does and help by bringing income maximisation to the heart of debt advice.

We are delighted to be forming new relationships and look forward to connecting at regular MALG meetings.
See you there: IGPP's Local Government Event 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has hit many sources of income for councils and created new demands on budgets. IGPP's Local Government Event will give insight into how councils are using innovation and collobaration to address the challenges they are facing.

Find us at stand 30 at the IGPP's Local Government Event 2022 in London on Wednesday 30 March.
Join our next webinar: How low income families can benefit from social tariffs
Wednesday 30 March
All our webinars are free and run from 10.30 to 11.45

Millions of families under pressure from the rising cost of living are missing out on savings on their utility and broadband bills that could make a big difference. Research shows that savings of up to £144 a year for broadband alone are being left on the table. This is money that can help people to stay connected, an essential part of the way we live, work and learn.

Lack of awareness of the support available for families is a problem. Research from Ofwat suggests that only 15% of people knew about affordability support and similar research by National Energy Action puts that figure at just 8%.

As well as unclaimed benefits of around £15 billion a year, there is a complex and evolving network of other support available for people who need it. Frontline advisors need the latest information about social tariffs so they can help customers on their income maximisation journeys.

Join this webinar to learn:

  • What social tariffs are available from water, energy, broadband and other suppliers
  • Why take up of social tariffs is low and how this can be addressed
  • Support tools that can help frontline advisors
Case study: Northern Ireland Housing Executive

COVID-19 has led to more complexity for Northern Ireland Housing Executive. To address these challenges, 600 front line staff now use the Benefit and Budgeting Calculator.

Greater insight and income maximisation allows for earlier intervention. As a result, NIHE has established more benefit entitlement for one third of customers.

A snapshot analysis indicated that extra benefit income averaged £3,870.

Read more about our work with Northern Ireland Housing Executive here
On demand webinar: Using data analysis to get ahead of the cost of living crisis

Rising living costs, particularly energy bills, are putting more pressure on low-income families and this is set to intensify as the energy price cap is lifted in April. Many of these households, having recently been hit by the removal of the £20 uplift to Universal Credit, were struggling to get by anyway so their financial outlook for 2022 looks bleak.

The inadequacy of the welfare system is highlighted by research showing that the basic rate of benefits is at its lowest for thirty years.

Against this backdrop we look at work that local authorities are doing with their data to tackle poverty in this webinar.

Join this webinar to learn:

  • The impact of the pandemic and rising living costs on indebtedness
  • Case studies of local authorities helping people to grow their financial strength
  • The supporting role that technology can play

View the slides, full webinar recording and clips of each speaker here.
People news

We would like to extend a very warm welcome to Juliet-Nil Uraz who will be working as a Senior Research Analyst whilst also working on her doctorate at LSE.

We are currently recruiting for:

  • Marketing Executive
  • Engineering team members
  • Business and Account Manager

Check out our latest vacancies and find out what it's like to work at Policy in Practice here.
February's blog posts

How better use of Universal Credit can tackle the cost of living crisis
We look at the government's case for uprating benefits by less than inflation, and argue that universal credit should be made to work better.
Read more

Universal Credit: Why work search at four weeks is a lose-lose policy
We explore the new rule for Universal Credit work search at four weeks and explain why it’s a lose-lose policy for claimants and public purse.
Read more


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