Issue - meetings

That the Committee support the ongoing work to manage the impacts that Welfare Reforms have and will continue to have upon Flintshire’s most vulnerable households.

The Benefits Manager introduced an update on the impacts that Universal Credit ‘Full Service’ and other welfare reforms were having on Flintshire residents and the work that was ongoing to mitigate this and support households.

Flintshire County Council, together with its partners, had been working to mitigate the full impacts of welfare reform from falling upon vulnerable Flintshire residents, and the report outlined how this would continue to be managed under the provision of the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016. 

The Benefits Manager provided an update on the impacts that welfare reform continued to have on Flintshire residents and the work that was ongoing to mitigate this and support these households, as outlined within the report.  

In response to a question from Councillor Ron Davies, the Benefits Managerexplained that the intention of the Carer’s Bonus Payment was for all eligiblecarers to receive and benefit from the full £500 payment, however, HMRC confirmed that payments were regarded as earnings and would be liable for tax, national insurance contributions and student local repayments.  Councillor Ron Davies outlined his disappointment that the payments were liable for tax and national insurance.    

The Chairman asked that the thanks of the Committee be passed to the whole team for the work being undertaken to support Flintshire’s most vulnerable people.

The recommendation outlined within the report was moved by Councillor Ron Davies and seconded by Councillor Mared Eastwood. 

RESOLVED:

That the Committee support the ongoing work to manage the impacts that Welfare Reforms have and would continue to have upon Flintshire’s most vulnerable households.