Analysis of the cumulative impact of welfare reforms to tackle poverty and deprivation
Local authorities know that the impact of welfare reforms is going to be big, but they have no way of knowing the impact that future reforms like Universal Credit would have.
By running housing benefit data through Policy in Practice’s Universal Benefit Calculator they can understand the impact at an aggregate level as well as pin pointing exactly how each household is affected by welfare reforms.
Deven Ghelani, CEO of Policy in Practice and a director of the Welfare Reform Club, gave a webinar on this topic in July 2015.
To view the slides click here
This webinar covers:
- The cumulative impact of welfare cuts in Leeds
- What the insights were created and how they were created
- How Leeds City Council are using that information to target and tailor support
- How this analysis could benefit your organisation
Next steps
- Request a copy of the Leeds City Council case study click here
- Request pricing details for Policy in Practice’s Welfare Reform Impact Analysis click here
- Request pricing details for Policy in Practice’s Universal Benefit Calculator click here
- Request a meeting to discuss your specific welfare reform policy delivery issues click here
2 Comments. Leave new
I must apologise for being pragmatic, but this is not a very helpful calculator for those on benefits. Whoever made up the idea of this benefit calculator, has forgotten to include vital information. Most people need to eat, buy some clothes, pay the electricity, gas and water bills, and have money for transport, medications and other, what I consider, essential items. Most of us need to consider these items when budgeting. The calculator has totally ignored these things, and is not considering a normal budget.
The choice of items included in the calculator gives a skewed overall impression. The assumption is that people spend most of their money on rent, or interest on a mortgage. It ignores the impact of other costs. These costs can be stressful factors for people who have a low income for a period of time. These seem to be ignored as financially not important in the budgeting calculation. Some on low incomes consider that being able to send four Christmas cards at this time is a luxury! Desperate people go to loan sharks to obtain what they cannot afford on benefits (like fridges), others have generous relatives and friends. I think none of these problems are mentioned, or addressed in the ‘hype’ written on this site.
Thus the impression is given by Policy in Practice is that all is well in the benefit system. Where the financial needs, mentioned above, are not included in the financial calculation, the calculator is relatively useless to assist anyone to budget, or understand real expenditures. The calculation in a budget should reflect true expenses of a living person. It does not indicate the impact on a person surviving on benefits, and the variations which occur with any change. Are we all expected to live in tents or park benches while on benefit? The calculator is crass, and shows little understanding of real life budgeting.
P.S. I do not have much money, but am being honest so that you know what is going on in the other end of the financial spectrum, so please listen, and do not try to sue me for my comments.
Hi Ruth, thank you for your comments. The calculator is to show benefit entitlement – outgoings are not considered in the assessment of benefit (except for childcare, rent and council tax) and the rules on assessment of benefit are set by the Government. We believe that the benefit system can be greatly approved and are working towards this. Please do not worry about your comments. It is useful to us to hear your views. I wish you the best of luck in the future