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The efficiency imperative: driving impact via data driven outreach With increasing demand and shrinking resources, councils face growing pressure to deliver impactful support to vulnerable residents efficiently.

In this webinar, we explore how data driven outreach campaigns can help local authorities overcome these challenges and achieve impactful results.

Join us to hear from two leading local government organisations as they share their experiences using Campaign Manager, a powerful new feature of the LIFT platform.

Discover how they’ve leveraged their data using intelligent analytics to identify financially vulnerable residents, streamline their outreach processes, and maximise both resident outcomes and cost savings.

This session will cover:

- Strategies to manage rising demand with limited resources
- How data insights can drive targeted and efficient resident support
- Real world results from councils using Campaign Manager for impactful outreach campaigns

Join us to learn how your council can also turn insights into action and make smarter, data-driven decisions to support your communities.

With guest speakers:

- Fahmida Rahman, Senior Policy Officer, Greater London Authority
- Seth Pearson, Darlington Partnership Director, Darlington Borough Council
- Sarah Small, Darlington Partnership Programme Officer, Darlington Borough Council

26/3/2025

10:30am GMT

1.3 hours

Protecting vulnerable consumers in regulated sectors Regulated industries such as water, energy and finance play a critical role in people’s lives. With increasing economic pressures, more consumers are becoming vulnerable, requiring additional support and protections.

Regulators like Ofwat, Ofgem and the FCA have tightened expectations around how businesses identify, support and engage with vulnerable customers. Failure to comply can result in reputational damage, regulatory penalties and customer hardship. But how can organisations balance compliance with commercial priorities while delivering fair outcomes for consumers?

Join industry experts as we explore best practices, regulatory expectations and practical strategies for businesses to proactively identify and protect vulnerable consumers. Gain actionable insights on:

- The evolving regulatory landscape across Ofwat, Ofgem and the FCA
- Effective strategies for identifying and supporting vulnerable customers
- Case studies showcasing successful industry approaches
- How technology and data can enhance consumer protection

Join this webinar to learn how to strengthen your compliance strategy, improve customer engagement and safeguard both consumers and your organisation’s reputation.

Register now to stay ahead of regulatory expectations and build a more consumer focused business.

30/4/2025

10:30am BST

1.3 hours

Harnessing data for regional impact: empowering local leaders to drive change Devolution is one of the core missions of the new government, promising a strong focus on giving local areas more control over services. To tackle economic inactivity, and with many people across the UK needing support, it’s vital that local authorities deliver effective, targeted interventions. The success of tailored, region-specific approaches depends on how well local areas can harness data to drive change.

Local organisations, from Mayoral Combined Authorities to county councils, need to deliver these crucial services. Accessing and using the data insights required to implement efficient and effective programmes is a challenge and, without localised data, decision making can become less accurate. This leads to inefficient resource allocation and missed opportunities to reach those who need help the most.

Data analysis offers the key to overcoming these challenges. By harnessing the power of local data, authorities can get the accurate insights they need to target support where it will be most effective. With the right insights, local areas can design and deliver services that are more tailored, timely and impactful, ensuring the right residents get the right support at the right time.

Proven results from current data led initiatives already show the transformative potential of this approach.

Join this webinar to hear from guest speakers who have successfully implemented data driven campaigns. They will showcase real world examples of how they have come together to achieve measurable outcomes.

We’ll also explore how these data insights can be applied to address key issues like economic inactivity, youth unemployment and social isolation to deliver lasting change across regions.

21/5/2025

10:30am BST

1.3 hours

Blog

Unlocking impact: Top 10 features in the Better Off Calculator

Genevieve Orford Published on 08th February 2024

Woman looking at screen of the calculator

With 2024 firmly underway, the award winning Better Off Calculator continues to deliver impact for our individual users and organisations.

We’re excited to share how the latest features are helping clients make a greater impact alongside those that our users already know and love.

In this blog we will explore:

New features recently added
Existing features that our clients love
Upcoming features in the 2024 roadmap

Is there anything else you would like to see in this list? Contact us to learn more about any of these features, and let us know what you would like to see.

Policy in Practice’s Better off Calculator keeps getting better. Features are updated regularly to keep up with changes in benefits regulations; easy to understand; easy to follow and the three sections are laid out in a very user friendly manner
Citizens Advice client

New features recently added

1. Integrate the calculator into your customer journey

The Better Off Calculator can now integrate into your organisation’s existing processes, effortlessly flagging where a benefit check should be considered for a customer. The result is a streamlined flow of data between your system and the calculator, so customers don’t have to enter the same information twice and embedding income maximisation into your customer journey.

You can easily integrate income maximisation into any of your systems through our API, and use your customers data to complete an assessment without either the customer or the advisor having to lift a finger.

2. Help people transition to Universal Credit under managed migration with confidence

As the government prioritises the migration from legacy benefits to Universal Credit, we’ve built new Managed Migration features in the Better Off Calculator to help people to take their next steps with confidence. People receiving migration notices can use the calculator to get comprehensive information, specialised support and guidance with an estimate of their transitional protection.

Policy in Practice’s Better Off Calculator includes detailed support and guidance on Managed Migration which will affect approximately 2.3 million households in the UK.

3. Help people with disabilities access the right support

Four in ten Better Off Calculator users have a disability or caregiving responsibility. People struggling with health conditions or disabilities can find out about the support they could get and, crucially, understand the impact that claiming this might have on their entitlement to other benefits.

We’ve made disability benefits easier to understand with clearer information and support links so adviser appointments are more effective for those in need.

4. Access diverse support schemes with ‘Apply Once’

The Better Off Calculator helps administration teams improve the efficiency and fairness of their support and understand the impact of their spending.

We have enabled ‘one click’ applications for diverse support schemes. We are working with local authorities to include schemes such as LWA, DHPs and Council Tax support; with utility providers on social tariffs and debt write off; and with other providers to increase awareness and improve application rates for their support.

5. Make grants easier to find and access

Our integration with Lightning Reach, a grant search and application portal means that users can seamlessly identify and apply for grants directly through the calculator. This simplifies the application process and means information doesn’t need to be re-entered.

6. Share comprehensive results with clients through a user friendly interface

The ‘Results’ download in the Better Off Calculator mirrors the familiar user interface of the calculator, allowing for easier sharing with clients and improved accessibility. The PDF has been updated to include clear and expanded charts, comprehensive cost breakdowns and a clear display of take home income. We’ve also added the ‘change your earnings’ graphs, the ability to see different scenarios and an input summary to the things you can show in a download. This is all available as an HTML file too, which offers significantly better accessibility for customers who use screen readers.

Policy in Practice is a simple tool to use that gives correct, up to date information that we can use to help our customers along their journey back in to sustainable employment. I have used other calculators in the past but this is the best one I have ever used.
Local authority client

Existing features that our clients love

7. Rely on our popular built in help features

Our free monthly training workshops are a brilliant way to get new users up to speed with the Better Off Calculator and connect with other advisors. Built in tooltips throughout the calculator explain the purpose of questions and provide government specifications.

For more complex queries, licensed users have quick online access to policy experts through our built in chat box. We’re proud that our average feedback rating is 4.5/5.

8. Quickly and confidently compare changes in circumstance

The Better Off Calculator has a powerful scenario comparison tools to allow advisors to model a change in circumstances or benefits systems for clients.

An earnings slider models how changes in income affects the amount of support customers are eligible for, while more in depth scenario modelling allows changes to fields such as rent.

9. Get ahead of next month’s Universal Credit payment

Universal Credit monthly assessments can create uncertainty for claimants that receive variable income. The Better Off Calculator shows the next Universal Credit (UC) payment award based on income received in that month and your payment schedule.

It is a useful feature to identify the best time to apply if people are moving over to Universal Credit.

10. Complete a Standard Financial Statement (SFS) compatible budget

The Better Off Calculator extends beyond benefits calculations, offering expert budgeting advice. It automatically applies adjustments, generating visuals for clients and advisors to understand spending patterns.

Organisations registered for SFS can activate the SFS spending guidelines feature to assist in debt discussions, automatically adapting to household size.

Developments to look out for in 2024

2024 is going to be another big year for the Better Off Calculator. As well as being responsive and highly accurate on policy updates as standard, we will continue to improve the user experience and stay up to date with our underlying technology.

In particular, there are a few projects that we are looking forward to:

Enhanced reporting
Document Uploads
Open Banking
️ Updating self-serve cases
Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) – Better Off Calculator integration

Learn more

Get in touch with your Account Manager to discuss any of the new features for your organisation’s Better Off Calculator.

If you’re not already using the Better Off Calculator and would like to learn more, we’d be delighted to hear from you. Schedule a call with our team here.

The team at Policy in Practice is dedicated to putting money in the pockets of people in need. There are very few things more important than that. They understand front line services, how to provide support for officers and residents, and they do so with passion.
Housing organisation client