Cheshire East Council, working in partnership with local housing associations, is holding a series of drop-in sessions to let people know about the biggest shake-up to the benefit system for 60 years.
The Welfare Reform Act became law earlier this year as the Government aims to: create the right incentives to get more people into work; protect the most vulnerable in society; and make the benefit system fair for both claimants and the taxpayer.
The main changes are:
- Housing benefit, including new regulations in relation to under occupying within the social-rented sector and reductions in rates for under 35s residing in the private rented sector;
- Council Tax benefit is being replaced by a form of localised Council Tax support drawn up by individual councils;
- The introduction of a cap to the amount of benefits which can be received;
- The introduction of universal credit to provide a single streamlined payment; and
- Reforms to disability living allowance, through the introduction of the personal independence payment
A drop-in session will take place on October 12th at the Sports Pavilion, Lacey Green from 2pm to 5pm, where residents can find out more about the changes.
People will be able to speak to representatives from registered housing providers, the Money Advice Service and council staff from the housing benefit and adult learning teams.
Councillor Janet Clowes, Cabinet member in charge of health and adult social care, said: "I would advise anyone who is of working age and claiming benefits to come along and find out how the changes could affect them.
"I cannot emphasise enough how significant these changes will be and the potential impact they may have. If people find out about the changes now they will be able to plan better for the future."
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
As someone who currently claims more than one of the benefits that will be changing, I will endeavour to attend the Wilmslow event.
Full information on all of the drop in sessions can be found at: http://bit.ly/QLW82l
However, I question whether the amount of time being made available for these events and the level of advertising for them is sufficient. I will therefore be raising this with my Cheshire East Councillors (Gary Barton & Wesley Fitzgerald) and my MP (Rt Hon George Osborne MP).
I have carried out some calculations and believe that in the region of 1000 households/people from the Parish of Wilmslow could be affected by these changes.
Is one three hour session in Lacey Green really adequate?