Autumn Statement analysis, double win at the Public Finance Awards, discussing data with central government and more
Policy in Practice
Reducing poverty and empowering people by bridging the ￡23 billion unclaimed support gap in the UK.
In this issue:
What the Autumn Statement means for low-income families
The Autumn Statement announced on 17 November was broadly what we expected, and Policy in Practice welcomes the government’s decision to uprate benefits, pensions and the benefit cap in line with inflation of 10.1%.
However, as we dip into a recession, low-income families may need more support to prevent them slipping into poverty. As well as the uprating of benefits, other key impacts for low-income families include:
Deven Ghelani spoke with Ankur Desai on BBC Asian Network to break down what the Autumn Statement could mean for low-income households.
?
Policy in Practice wins double at the Public Finance Awards 2022
Policy in Practice, along with its local government partners, won two major awards at the?Public Finance Awards 2022?on 29 November, and was a finalist in a third category.
Winner of Solutions Partner Award
Policy in Practice won for using data analysis to help local authorities distribute ￡19 million of Covid support to residents through the Household Support Fund.
The judges said "This was an impressive submission from a relatively new organisation with a cutting-edge approach. Policy in Practice was adding considerable value to authorities’ efforts, helping them to turn their ambitions into practical deliverables that make tangible improvements to people’s lives."
Winner of Aligned Public Service Delivery Award
Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council for the use of data in joined-up safeguarding using the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Tracker (MAST) from Policy in Practice.
The judges said their entry was?"an impressive story about the real-world benefits of sharing data to improve public service delivery."
?Finalist of Digital Finance Project of the Year Award
Islington Council was shortlisted for their ￡1 million Pension Credit take-up campaign using data from the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) from Policy in Practice.
?
?
?
LGC Awards 2023
Nominations are open for the 2023 LGC Awards, one of the biggest celebrations of local government successes.?If you are thinking about entering and would like us to support you in writing your submission, do reach out to?Jen Thompson. We would be happy to help. Closing date for entries is 16 December 2022.
GLA partners with Policy in Practice to deliver Pension Credit campaign
Policy in Practice is thrilled to announce our new pan-London Pension Credit take up campaign.
This work is funded by London Councils, delivered by Policy in Practice and endorsed by Age UK and Independent Age.
The campaign will allow us to use councils’ housing benefit and council tax support data to identify households eligible for, but not claiming, Pension Credit. This takes the bulk of the work away from local authorities, but still increases the overall level of extra welfare support being claimed in each area.
Policy in Practice discuss the importance of data with central government
Deven Ghelani and Abigail Everett attended the Work and Pensions Select Committee meeting this month. They were there to give evidence on using data to increase take-up of Pension Credit.
Deven and Alex Clegg later met with Jonathan Ashworth, the Shadow Work and Pensions Secretary, to talk about ideas for social security reform. They spoke about how to shape the Labour Party's plans for social security reform and Universal Credit and the potential to streamline the administration of benefits using UC.
?Deven and Abigail also met with the Department for Education to discuss the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Tracker (MAST). MAST was referenced heavily in the November 2022 report by the CSJ, ‘A Submission to Government for Implementing the Family Help Teams’.
In the report, the CSJ advocates for the adoption of MAST as a new template for data sharing. This was part of the Independent Review of Children’s Social Care vision for improving the Children’s Care Service.
领英推荐
DWP trusts local authorities to use benefits data for good
This month, DWP announced some significant changes to its data-sharing policy.
The key points in the new guidance are:
The changes will make it easier for local authorities to use the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) to its full potential.
LIFT allows local authorities to identify households most in need of support. These households may be at risk of homelessness, may be missing out on certain benefit entitlements or may need some form of local welfare provision. They may not be receiving Free School Meals or Healthy Start when they should be.
There are legal gateways covering all these points, amongst others, and we can help you to identify the right legislation to quote.
Free Webinar: How 2022 has set up low income families for 2023
Tues, Dec 13, 2022 11:30 - 12:45
Join us for our last webinar of 2022 as we review what has been a tumultuous year politically and, more importantly, for households on the lowest incomes.
We will review the changes and big issues, from the cost of living and energy crises to the Autumn Statement and the missing million from the labour market.
Through focusing on case studies of different types of households we'll look at what the changes mean for families now, and what 2023 has in store.
Along the way we'll share the positive impact that organisations we work with are having, and give practical solutions that others can adopt.
Register here?even if you can't make the date to automatically receive the slides and recording.
Events and speaking engagements round up
We had a busy November exhibiting and speaking at a number of events across sectors.
We were at:
Join us at our Christmas networking drinks
We are looking forward to welcoming you to our Christmas Networking drinks on 7 December. We would love to see as many of you there as possible, where we can reflect on the past year and look ahead to 2023.
If you would like to attend but haven’t RSVP'd yet please?reserve your place here
12 Days of Christmas is almost here
We are excited to share with you our 12 Days of Christmas campaign 2022 which starts on 5th December. We’re looking forward to sharing the incredible work undertaken this year across a whole range of sectors.
Would you like to share your good news story from 2022? It’s not too late to get involved. Let us know about your highlights of the year?here.
Every organisation that enters is in with a chance to win one of two ￡50 donations for the charity of their choice.
November’s blog posts
Universal Credit allows for uprating benefits in-year. The government should take advantage
Uprating benefits can be done using the inherent flexibility of Universal Credit. It should be used to ensure benefits keep up with prices
In-work poverty: Government can make work pay for three million working families on Universal Credit
Ahead of the Autumn statement tomorrow, analysis by Policy in Practice shows that more needs to be done for benefit claimants to be able to meet their living costs while…
Autumn Statement 2022 and low income families
We review the Autumn Statement 2022 and what it will deliver for low-income households who will need support in 2023.
People news and jobs
We say hello and extend a very warm welcome to?Gary Layzell?who has joined us as Client Services Manager.
We are currently recruiting for a?Policy and Research Director.
If you?share our passion for using data and technology to change lives, we'd love to hear from you.