Devon urges Government not to scrap Local Welfare Support
Some of the most vulnerable people in Devon will be hit by the Government’s plans to stop funding for local welfare next year, Devon County Council has warned.
Since the Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants were abolished under the Welfare Reform Act 2012, local welfare assistance schemes have been run by district councils in the county, using money given to the County Council by the Government.
The local welfare assistance schemes provide help to those facing a crisis or changing circumstances. The schemes aim to stabilise the immediate crisis by providing help such as food, vouchers for gas or electricity or replacing essential white goods, and then assist people to become more resilient to future crises by providing budget and debt advice or supporting access to work and skills training.
The Government plans to stop its local welfare funding from April 2015, however, it is formally consulting on this decision following a recent legal challenge. Three out of four future options put forward by Government in its consultation suggest that Councils should fund the schemes from their own general funds, but Devon County Council has strongly rejected this.
Councillor Barry Parsons, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Performance and Community Engagement, said: “It is totally unacceptable for the Government to suggest that we should fund this from our own budget. The County Council has seen an unprecedented level of cuts since the austerity measures began and is having to make some very tough decisions about the future of many services. The Government has previously said that any new burdens created by its reforms would be fully funded and now it is going back on that word and forcing us to make a very difficult choice.
“This fund has provided much needed help to some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and has provided assistance at an early point to stop problems escalating. The County Council has made it clear that if the Government does not reconsider its position and provide additional funding, then unfortunately, the scheme will not be sustainable and will have to close. If that happens, then vital local support for the Government’s welfare reforms will end.”
Councils in Devon have moved away from the previous Government scheme that gave cash awards and they currently use payment cards, vouchers or directly purchase essential items for those in need.
The funding has paid for a comprehensive Money Advice service providing much needed budgeting support and debt advice to help avoid future crises. It has also been used to support voluntary and community sector organisations that help vulnerable people.
Devon County Council is working closely with the County Councils Network and Local Government Association to help highlight the role that councils have had across the country in setting up schemes that have successfully and innovatively addressed the needs of local people. The LGA shares Devon County Council’s concerns about the impacts that withdrawal of funding will have on vulnerable residents and has sent its own response to the Government's consultation that supports Devon County Council's position.
