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In this issue:
- Budget 2023: Fewer barriers to work but harsher conditionality
- New report covered in the Times: Putting the 'Universal' into Universal Credit
- Media debates on LBC and GB News: Truancy, childcare and WCA changes
- New research for the Welsh Government: The
effectiveness of Council Tax interventions
- Free webinars:
- Register: The importance of Local Welfare Assistance and Household Support Funds
- View: How councils are using data to build the best localities model
- Talks we gave in March: Housemark and LARIA
- Awards: We're finalists for 5 National Technology Awards and 3 British Data Awards
- March's blog posts
- People news and jobs
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| Budget 2023 analysis: Fewer barriers to work but harsher conditionality
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For families on benefits there is both extra support and extra conditionality announced in the Spring Budget 2023. Our thoughts on some key points:
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Conditionality
The budget cracks the whip on in-work households on Universal Credit by increasing the earnings threshold for in-work households from 15 to 18 hours and introducing it for both members of a couple.
There are also plans to introduce a level of automation into sanctions. These measures together are likely to see sanctions rise further which risks economic engagement
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Energy
We welcome the suspension of forced prepayment meters and the removal of the 2% poverty premium paid by those currently on them. There are 4.5 million prepayment meters. Over 50% of these customers earn less than £18,000 a year. The policy change will help to reduce their energy costs but we find that how you pay, as well as your property EPC, influences how much you will pay for energy |
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Childcare
Universal Credit childcare costs
will be paid upfront to encourage households into work. Support is to increase to £951 to £1,630 for two children.
We welcome the increase in childcare support to help parents who are moving into work or looking to increase their hours. However, 100% support would have made the system simpler and targeted support better to lower earners |
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| Broken housing and childcare markets mean more families could access support
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| We are excited to announce the publication of Policy in Practice's latest report titled Putting the ‘Universal’ into Universal Credit.
The report, featured in the Times, highlights how the broken housing and childcare markets in the UK mean that more people, including higher-rate taxpayers, can access Universal Credit.
We estimate that
around £19 billion of benefits and other support goes unclaimed each year, typically because people are unaware of their entitlement.
Households with savings below £16,000 who rent or have children are particularly likely to be eligible for support.
In-work support helps many more people than you think
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Key messages:- More people are eligible for UC than you might think, people should check their entitlement
- The driver for this is high housing (and childcare) costs, the case studies in the report are all people working full time
- As higher earners are able to access Universal Credit, the government needs to deal with anomalies in the tax system (high income child benefit charge, personal tax allowance, savings limit) to make Universal Credit as much a ladder as a lifeline
- Many higher-income households in work may be unaware they are eligible for Universal Credit. More people need support due to increased rent and childcare
costs
- The majority of Universal Credit support for a family that rents in a high cost area goes to the landlord
- Higher earners are losing out due to the interaction between taxes and benefits
- Everyone with savings less than £16,000 should check their eligibility using a benefits calculator, especially if they rent and have children
- Out-of-work support under Universal Credit is inadequate and needs to be raised
Read the report
Read the blog post
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Deven appeared on LBC radio to discuss the Spring Budget's implications on childcare. Listen back to hear Deven discuss the importance of quality childcare and whether the new policies place too much value on working mothers over
non-working mothers. |
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| Debating the effectiveness of benefit cuts to combat truancy on GB News
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This month Deven also appeared on GB News. He discussed Michael Gove's suggestion to deduct money from parents on benefits if their children miss school regularly.
Watch back to hear why Deven disagrees with the approach.
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| Policy in Practice Council Tax Intervention research for Welsh Government published
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Webinar: The importance of Local Welfare Assistance and Household Support FundsWednesday 26 April from 10:30 to 11:45
The government has announced the allocation of an £842 million Household Support Fund to councils in England. Councils must submit their plans to distribute the Household Support Funds to the government by 17 May. New research from Policy in Practice that evaluates how discretionary Local Welfare Assistance schemes are delivered can help Household Support Fund scheme design.
Join this webinar to learn:
- Findings and recommendations from new research into the effectiveness of Local Welfare Assistance schemes commissioned by London Councils, funded by the GLA
- How practical considerations from the research can help councils design their Household Support Fund schemes
- How relatively low cost interventions can have a significant impact on a household’s ability to cope
Speakers include Jonathan Flowers, ex Deputy Chief Executive of Bedfordshire County Council, Zoe Charlesworth, Associate Policy and Research Consultant, Policy in Practice and a frontline
advisor.
Register now even if you can't make the date to automatically receive the slides and recording
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Webinar recap: How councils are using data to build the best localities modelBuilding an efficient and effective poverty cost avoidance strategy is essential against the backdrop of the current cost
of living crisis. Previous forecasting analysis shows that the increase in household costs and energy bills, without the Energy Rebate and the freeze of the LHA, are likely to outweigh the increases to benefits and the National Living Wage from April 2023. On average 1 in 10 households on the lowest incomes will not have enough money to cover essential costs like food, water, and clothing. In this webinar we discussed how councils can help their residents using administrative data to build their best localities model. Our guest speaker Randal Smith from Redbridge Council shared an inspiring case study of building a localities model in Redbridge Council. Listen back to learn about - Latest analysis on how the cost of living crisis is affecting low income families and what this means for
councils
- The cost of unclaimed benefits
- Case study: building a localities model in Redbridge Council
- A look at how to use data to inform decision making
Listen back here
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Talks we gave in March at Housemark and LARIA
Housemark Chief Officers ConferenceDeven Ghelani spoke alongside Rachelle Earwaker from the Joseph Rowntree Foundation at the Housemark Chief Officers Conference earlier this month. Deven's presentation showed that things are likely to get worse for the lowest-income households before they get better. He highlighted practical steps ALMOs and council owned providers can take to improve things including targeted take-up campaigns, energy efficient measures, and using the Better Off CalculatorLocal Area Research and Intelligence Association
We were delighted to join LARIA's online webinar series in March. We spoke about joining safeguarding data sets to help social workers with Walsall Council, and discussed the tangible results Lambeth Council has achieved using their data to tackle energy poverty via LIFT. Contact us if you'd like to see our presentations. |
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| We're shortlisted for five National Technology Awards
National Technology Awards
We are thrilled to have been shortlisted for five categories at the National Technology Awards 2023 with four of our clients: Anglian Water, Beam, GLA and Northumbrian Water.
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- Energy and Utilities Project of the Year
- Best Public Sector Project
- Data and Analytics Project of the Year
- Financial Services Tech of the Year
- ESG Technology of the Year
The awards focus is on technology pioneers and celebrating excellence. Developing innovative technologies to
improve people's lives is at the heart of the work of Policy in Practice and our nominated clients. We're looking forward to the event in May. |
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iNetwork Innovation Awards
Though there was no win for us at the iNetwork Innovation Awards this month, we were honoured to be shortlisted amongst other organisations doing great work. Congratulations to Wigan Council who won in the iStand UK category, and to CC2i, one of our MAST partners, for their Partner Excellence win. Watch our entry video highlighting the importance of MAST and
the impacts already achieved.
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British Data AwardsWe are finalists for three British Data Awards 2023 with our clients Anglian Water and Beam. - Large Company of the Year: Anglian Water
- Financial Services Firm of the Year: Beam
- Data for Good Consulting Initiative of the Year: Policy in Practice
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March's blog posts
Household Support Fund: Schemes should consider new Local Welfare Assistance research
Money for Household Support Fund schemes has been announced and new research about Local Welfare Assistance schemes can help with plan designs
Read the blog post
New report: Putting the ‘Universal’ in Universal
Credit
Putting the ‘Universal’ in Universal Credit finds that broken housing and childcare markets mean more families can access Universal Credit
Read the blog post
Spring Budget 2023: Fewer barriers to work but harsher conditionality
Spring Budget 2023: Ending the Work Capability Assessment (WCA), changes to childcare and more support for energy bills. We take a look
Read the blog post
How to give 8,500 Londoners up to £3,700 of unclaimed Pension Credit
A data-led campaign to boost take-up
of unclaimed Pension Credit identifies 8,500 Londoners for £3,700 of additional income each year
Read the blog
post
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People news and jobsOur most recent Employee Net Promotion Score was a fantastic +52 so we're a great place to work.
Want to join us? If you share our passion for using data and technology to change lives, we'd love to hear from you. See our latest vacancies:
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We say goodbye to Sameena Thompson and wish her all the best in her future endeavours.
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