Contact Officer: Paul Wilding, Benefit Operations Manager, 01865 252461

Email: pwilding@oxford.gov.uk

The Head of Customer Services submitted a report (previously circulated, now appended) concerning Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP). Paul Wilding, Benefit Operations Manager, presented the report to the Committee and provided some background and context to it.

He explained that the DHP policy has been successful in that the Council has been able to support all those people who needed such support, and who in turn were prepared to work with the Council to seek a sustainable solution to their situation. In April 2013, the Council spent approximately £15,000 on DHP payments, but by April 2014 that had virtually doubled. The plan now is to do more work with people affected by the under-occupancy rules, and also to reach out to private tenants.

Questions and comments from the Committee

·         Some excellent work has been carried out on this issue, and it should be extended to help more people if possible;

·         Once information about DHP goes into general circulation – word of mouth – uptake should increase;

·         DHP should be promoted heavily in and by advice centres;

·         The Council could also reach out to nurseries and advice groups – for example, those dealing with mental health issues;

·         It is important to remember people who were homeless and who are now seeking to move on from hostels;

·         There is concern about our level of rent arrears;

·         There is also concern that private landlords so often reject people  who are on benefits, and thus they are excluded from private tenancies;

·         Some disappointment was expressed that the whole DHP budget had not been used, however it does take time for the word to go out, and there have been huge efforts made to promote this in advice centres and services;

·         Are the DHP application forms very complicated?

·         If people are actively looking for smaller accommodation, how many have actually found it?

Responses from Paul Wilding

·         CEB allocated an extra £100,000 in its budget to support DHP – this has been rolled forwards into the current budget;

·         Potentially, the Council had a demand on the DHP budget last year of £1.3million., and had a budget of about half that to meet the demand. It focussed publicity on advice centres and partnership organisations to target the help at those who most needed it. This year, it will do something similar, and is looking to work with Children’s Centres to help push the advice into the community;

·         People in private tenancies are less likely to apply for DHP, when in reality there should be a lot of demand. A lot of private tenants do not seem to be aware that support is available from the Council, so it is intended to do more work with private tenants;

·         Some people now have their rent paid directly to them (as opposed to the landlord) , and there has been an increase in rent arrears in this sector. However, rent arrears generally are quite small;

·         A report is going to CEB in July, and this is currently with the Council’s stakeholders for their views. It is anticipated that any changes made as a result of this will be mostly cosmetic and not substantial;

·         The application form for DHP has been reviewed and the process changed. Those who apply can come in to see someone face to face and there is now a dedicated officer working on determination of claims. A shorter version of the form has been devised for repeat claims;

·         Some people have managed to find smaller accommodation. Conditionality is about people engaging with the Council, and this may include looking for a smaller home.

Resolved to:-

(1)  Note the report;

(2)  Ask that this issue be kept under regular review by the Scrutiny Committee, with the receipt of regular reports about progress.