Briefing note - Coventry City Council

d. Cuts are happening to social care as well which impacts not only on the
client but on the family who have to fill in the gaps in support.
e. The voluntary sector in Coventry is struggling to meet the demand for their
services.
2) The impact on women due to changes in the way benefits will be paid to one
individual who will be considered the ‘head of the household’
a. It matters who receives the income in the family as money given to women
is more likely to be spent on children – women are the 'shock absorbers of
poverty'
b. There is the opportunity for an increase in financial abuse
c. Universal credit will disadvantage second earners as incomes will be a lot
lower then under tax credits.
d. In Coventry there is already a lower number of women working or looking
for work then nationally – therefore, there are issues when relationships
breakdown.
3.59 The City Council have a wide ranging equality impact assessment process which is
used during decision making and each approved policy will have an Equality and
Consultation Analysis.
3.60 Impacts on Coventry City Council
3.61 Staff in benefits and housing have been moved into appropriate roles and trained to
deal with the likely impacts of the changes. Looking to ensure staff have
appropriate training in dealing with people with mental health issues.
3.62 Closer working links have been developed by Benefits, Housing and Children’s
Social Care, to ensure people are only accessing one source of support from the
Council. This should also remove the situation which has arisen in the past, where
when someone has been turned away by housing, they have gone to social
services and demanded to be housed.
3.63 Welfare Reform is on the corporate risk register and Audit Committee are
monitoring developments. If Members wish to view the risk register, please contact
the Internal Audit team.
3.64 Further possible work for 2013/14
Credit Unions
3.65 Credit Unions have a role to play in providing financial facilities for those who do
not have access to bank accounts. The board may wish to look at how credit unions
are supporting residents to budget and access their funds and at the pilot
Whitefriars are operating with New Central Credit Union. This is to provide “jam jar”
accounts for those who cannot access mainstream bank accounts.
DWP
3.65 There has been a substantial rise in the number of sanctions being used for those
on Job Seekers Allowance.
3.66 Partners raised concerns about how sanctions are being used and the impact on
residents. It was raised that these sanctions may disproportionately impact on those
with mental health issues as they appear ‘fit for work’.
3.67 Members may wish to consider looking at how the remaining elements of the Social
Fund are working e.g. Short Term Benefit Advances and Budgeting Advances.
Clients and Partners are confused about what the Council offers and what the DWP
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