By Helen Richards Partnership Manager for Wales Background From April 2013 elements of the Social Fund are abolished Community Care Grants Crisis Loans for Living Expenses Replaced by a local fund devolved to Welsh Government ID: 402370
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Discretionary Assistance Fund
By Helen RichardsPartnership Manager for WalesSlide2
Background
From April 2013 elements of the Social Fund are abolished
Community Care Grants
Crisis Loans for Living Expenses
Replaced by a local fund devolved to Welsh Government
Themes from consultation events in WalesPartnership delivery modelNational qualifying criteriaGrants not loansGoods and services over cashIndependent appealsLinks to financial capabilitySlide3
Discretionary Assistance Fund
Discretionary Assistance Fund
- payments or in kind support for two purposes.
Enable independent living or continued independent living, preventing the need for institutional care –
Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)
Provide assistance in an emergency or when there is an immediate threat to health or wellbeing – Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)Payments available to people who do not have alternative means of paying for what they need and do not need to be paid back. One-off needs rather than on-going expenses.National delivery modelSlide4
Delivery Team - credentials
Northgate has 10,000 staff and 48 major offices
100% of local authorities and police forces in Wales
Systems in every NHS hospital as national programmes
Half of all fire brigades and ambulance trusts
Central GovernmentFamily Fund is the UKs largest grant making charity and for over 40 years Family Fund has administered £33m per annum of grant funds for the four governmentsWrexham County Borough Council is the pilot authority in Wales for Single Fraud Investigation Service and will be keen to ensure equitable use of the fund for all. Wrexham is also one of the Universal Credit Processing sites.Slide5
How to access DAF
Free from landline 0800 859 5924
Charged at local rate 03301 015 000Online & downloadable forms for posting
www.moneymadeclearwales.orgSlide6
Individual Assistance Payment
The Applicant makes an application
Application arrives at DAF team in Wrexham
Decision is made to Approve or Decline
Declined
Approved
Advised of approval for Goods or Service (e.g. Cooker, Fridge, Bed). Signposted to other places for help
Family Fund advised by Northgate, then Family Fund advise the retailer e.g. Argos, Euronics, Park Retail
Payment Card or Authorising Letter sent to Applicant
Advised by phone, email or letter, signposted to other places for helpSlide7
Emergency Assistance Payment
Applicant advised of approval for payment. Signposted to other places for help
Family Fund advised by Northgate, then Family Fund advise Pay Point
Applicant goes to Pay Point outlet (newsagents etc) shows retailer the code and cash is given
Pay Point send barcode or unique reference number to applicant mobile
The Applicant makes an application
Application arrives at DAF team in Wrexham
Decision is made to Approve or Decline
Declined
Approved
Advised by phone, email or letter, signposted to other places for help
£Slide8
For more than 13 years Family Fund has used supplier contracts for grant making programmes
In 2011 75% of applicants received their grant in the form of goods and services spending £25m
Example retailers include Park Retail, Euronics, Argos
Suppliers offer choice for beneficiaries along with trusted brand, excellent service and good
coverage
FFT provides a rebate into the DAF of 3.5% of the value of goods ordered (excluding cash payments) at the end of each quarter which over a full year could add more than £250,000 to the fundOpportunity to expand to additional outlets in WalesCash payments through PayPoint or BACSFulfilment ExperienceSlide9
1
The
Public Web Site allows members of the public to make applications from the
Discretionary Assistance Fund. They can;Check for likely Eligibility 2. Make & submit an Application3. Save a partly completed application 4.Return to a partially completed application5. Track the progress of an applicationhttp://www.moneymadeclearwales.org/discretionary-assistance-fund-for-walesSlide10
Partners across Wales
Need to ensure the hardest to reach can get support to apply
Domestic abuse, care-leavers, those in crisis, someone experiencing a tragedy, mentally ill.
Partners can signpost or complete applications with or on behalf of customers
The partnership forum will be an on-going mechanism for feedback & involvement
Registration is simple & each organisation given their own unique organisation numberSlide11
Performance of Quarter 1 & 2
Total amount awarded Quarter 1 & 2:
£2.7million*
*Final official accumulative figure is still be approved.
Quarter 1Quarter 2Number of EAP’s awarded23454839Number of IAP’s awarded22402345Slide12
Quarter 1 & 2 continued
Quarter 1
Quarter 2
Emergency Assistance Payments are paid within 24 hours
96%
98%Individual Assistance Payments are paid within 2 weeks98%99%Contacts to DAF by: Telephone (which is fully bilingual)Online Postal contact28,75959764438,4701466
704
Total number of awarded applications is
4290
6937Slide13
Key Messages
Accessible
via online, post, telephone in dual language
Governance through Executive and Operational Boards
Active engagement with partner
networks & partnership manager Regular updates and online seminars Ongoing programme with all stakeholdersGrant Fund as part of holistic serviceBeing a partner organisation is a commitment to support the hardest-to-reach & most vulnerable people, to access the DAF either through signposting or support.We are committed to ensuring everyone who needs to apply to the DAF has the chance to do so.Slide14
Thank you
Thank you for the opportunity to come and discuss the discretionary assistance fund with your organisation
Please ask any questions you may have