Author: Society Matters

  • Getting it right, Social Landlords and Awaab’s Law

    Getting it right, Social Landlords and Awaab’s Law

    You might remember hearing in December 2020 of the death of a two-year old boy, Awaab Ishak. The death of a child is always heartbreaking; a reminder of a life lost, potential wasted and a family no doubt torn apart. What made Awaab’s death all the more shocking was that he died as a result of exposure to what the coroner described as ‘extensive’ mould throughout his parents social housing property, which it then came to light his parents had made their landlord aware of on multiple occasions though no remedial action was ever taken. Sadly, this culminated in the loss of a little boy’s life.

    Awaab’s death and the idea that a child, in Britain and in the 21st century could die from exposure to mould rightfully horrified the nation.

    In response to this tragedy, the Housing Secretary Michael Gove, has this month launched a consultation on what the government are calling ‘Awaab’s Law,’ which aims to introduce new reforms in social housing to prevent this injustice from reoccurring. Largely these focus on the introduction of new binding timescales under which landlords once becoming aware of a need for repairs (i.e. mould), need to investigate, start and subsequently complete repairs.

    Following Awaab’s tragic death, the Awaab’s Law Campaign organized to force the government to bring in legislation around binding timeframes for the reporting and repairs of mould and damp. However, the consultation proposes to go further than this and invites views on providing these repairs under binding timescales for all 29 hazards under the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS), for example, damp/mould, extreme temperature or pests to name a few.

    In terms of timescale themselves, the government propose that ‘emergency repairs,’ that is, those that pose an imminent risk to health or safety, such as exposed wiring, loss of gas/water, or the presence of mould to the extent it affects a person’s ability to breathe, should be repaired within 24 hours of reporting. For any repairs that fall under the 29 hazards as set out in the HHSRS (a full list can be found via the link at the bottom of the article), the government propose that social landlords have a 14 day timeframe to launch an investigation and provide a summary of its findings including outlining interim next steps as well as a permanent solution. The landlord will have 7 days from providing that summary to launch the repair works and be expected to provide a schedule to the complainant, with consideration given to their needs, if for example they need to vacate the property.

    This is a commendable aim; data by the English Housing Survey suggests that 4% of socially-rented homes have a ‘category 1’ hazard (the most serious hazards under the HHSRS). However, separate date from the Department for Levelling Up, Communities and Housing suggests that 3.6% of private-rented homes were estimated to have category 1 damp and mould hazards. It raises a question of why, if the incidence rates of these risks are broadly similar, does Awaab’s Law apply only to the social-rented sector and disregards the private rented sector?

    Its worth noting however that this is not the only proposed exemption to Awaab’s Law. A recently published article by the Guardian highlighted that governments intention is for Awaab’s Law to apply to landlords who are registered providers of social housing and if the dwelling under the lease is classed as social housing – something asylum-seeker accommodation is not often classed as. Charities have criticized this heavily, arguing that it will in effect create a two-tier accommodation system of standards with asylum seekers then more likely to be put into properties that remain hazard to health (whether that be through mould, damp or vermin, for example) but without the binding timeframes of Awaab’s Law to force landlords to take corrective action.

    What the government aim to do here is laudable – giving tenants a concrete timeframe on which they can expect their repairs to be done. Previously, the (1985) Landlord and Tenant Act has stipulated that repairs should be done in a reasonable and timely manner with the vague nature of that wording opening tenants up to lengthy and unnecessary delays owing to mixed interpretations of what is ‘reasonable.’ As part of Citizens Advice Gateshead, we know all too well the issues people can face in having their repairs completed in a timely manner. These reforms have the potential to be a landmark moment in tenants rights in regards to repairs and so it beggars belief that these are limited to apply to the socially-rented sector only.

    What happened to Awaab Ishak was a tragedy and whilst we welcome any attempt to ensure that lessons are learnt, it would be a mistake to think that the problems associated with getting a landlord to take concerns seriously and action them accordingly are unique to the social-rented sector; we at Society Matters know this  isn’t always the case.

    If you would like to learn more about landlord’s responsibilities in social housing we recommend jumping on board our CPD accredited Housing and Homelessness Matter course.

    The consultation runs for 8 weeks, closing at 11:59pm on March 5th 2024; if you’d like to give your views, you can do so, and find more information about Awaab’s Law, here https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/awaabs-law-consultation-on-timescales-for-repairs-in-the-social-rented-sector

  • The Human Cost of the UK’s Immigration Policies: What do the new UK visa rules mean for multinational families?

    The Human Cost of the UK’s Immigration Policies: What do the new UK visa rules mean for multinational families?

    Editor’s note: Updated 2/1/24. This article was originally published on the 21st December 2023. On that day, changes were proposed to the minimum income level, and the article has now been updated to reflect this.

    Recently, the government announced sweeping reforms to visas to prevent what they call ‘the abuse of the immigration system.’ This comes in the face of record high legal net migration, which was last year estimated to be at approximately 745,000 people; the highest figure on record.

    These changes are going to have a huge impact on the lives and livelihoods of people who engage with the immigration system; with this in mind, we wanted to take some time to explain these changes, why they’re being brought in and what the effect will be, in keeping with Society Matters own values of understanding the people behind the process. These aren’t just statistics. These are people.

    For a British citizen to bring a partner/family member to live in the UK from abroad, they currently must earn a minimum income of £18,600, intended to show that a person can support their partner/relative and minimise the ‘burden’ placed on the state. The Government in early December announced that from spring 2024, they would raise the minimum income level needed to qualify. It was initially set at £38,700 – a sharp 50% rise from the £18,600 currently required.

    However, after warnings that the new rules risked separating families, the government quickly lowered the minimum to £29,000. It said the amount would increase in the future – first to £34,500 and then £38,700.  Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said the full amount would be reached “in early 2025”. Critics of the policy have warned we are just kicking the can further down the road causing further anxiety for families in the UK.

    Critics have also already argued that this significant rise will disproportionately impact groups who tend to earn less such as women, younger people who are earlier in their career and geographic areas outside of London and the wider South East (in which salaries tend to be higher).

    It’s worth noting that people who come from overseas to work in the health and social care sector will be exempt from a rising salary threshold. However, they will no longer be able to bring dependents (i.e. family/children) with them. The government estimate that approximately 100,000 Health and Social Care Worker visas were issued last year, with a following 120,000 to their dependents. Care companies have argued that this will simply exacerbate pre-existing staff shortages, with Skills for Care estimating around 150,000 vacancies in social care alone.

    Whilst the government argue that social care will still remain an attractive sector to those outside the UK, we don’t feel that this expectation matches reality. It is well-documented that the social care sector is amongst the lowest paid in the UK with the Trades Union Congress estimating that 60% of social care workers earn below the Real Living Wage of £12 per hour. How likely is it that someone will uproot themselves for a job paying not a great deal more than minimum wage and now have to leave their families behind? The government have long talked of a reform of the social care system for staff to boost retention and make social care an attractive employment choice, but with a lack of any concrete workforce planning to this effect, there is a real risk that these changes will only worsen a system in crisis.

    For those who work outside the health and social care sector and want to come work in the UK via the ‘skilled worker’ visa route, the changes are more substantial. The minimum salary threshold will rise from £26,200 to £38,700 from Spring 2024. The Migration Observatory argues that this will disproportionately impact what they call ‘middle-skilled’ jobs like chefs or butchers.

    Additionally, the government are also proposing to scrap the ‘20% discount for shortage occupations’ – these allowed employers to recruit overseas workers for shortage occupations but pay them at a 20% discount compared to what they would need to pay British workers. Whilst this was meant to help ‘plug the gaps’ in the employment market, the government now argue that this scheme has led to an over-reliance on cheaper migrant workers.

    Finally, significant changes are planned to the ‘graduate’ visa route with a tightening of restrictions. A graduate visa enables a person to stay in the UK for two years to seek work following completing a course in the UK. Similarly, to the changes discussed above, they will no longer be able to bring dependents with them, with the exception of research courses (PhDs/doctoral level).

    Universities have already criticised the move, arguing that this will make the UK a less desirable place to study with a consequent effect on the number of admissions. It’s worth remembering that university undergraduate tuition fees have remained frozen at £9,250 per year for several years now. This has led many universities to increasingly rely on international student recruitment (where they can charge considerably higher fees) to plug that funding gap as they deal with a funding shortfall amid rising inflation.

    There are major concerns that implementing these changes, this will only worsen the funding crisis that many universities are experiencing.

    These changes the government are making are supposedly to curb ‘abuse’ of the system and, altogether, are estimated to reduce future net migration figures by around 300,000. Criticism the government has faced largely focuses on the idea that whilst they want to reduce migration there is nothing yet in place to mitigate the effects that reduced migration will have on communities and public services – whether that’s funding shortfalls in education or exacerbating the social care crisis. Ultimately, these changes represent a system that isn’t prepared to look at people as people, more akin to numbers on a spreadsheet.

    If you would like to learn more about Immigration in the UK check out our highly acclaimed and popular CPD accredited Understanding Immigration and Benefits (Advanced) training.

  • Boosting Social Prescribing Effectiveness: Training on UK Benefits

    Boosting Social Prescribing Effectiveness: Training on UK Benefits

    Society Matters, Programme Director, Phill Capewell talks about the importance of boosting social prescribing effectiveness and the crucial role Social prescribers play across the UK.

    Introduction

    The United Kingdom has witnessed a growing demand for healthcare services in recent years, attributed to an ageing population, rising chronic disease rates, and mounting pressure on the National Health Service (NHS). Social prescribing has emerged as a practical solution to address these challenges, supplementing traditional healthcare services by focusing on social determinants of health. Training social prescribers on social welfare benefits can enhance social prescribing interventions’ effectiveness, leading to improved community wellbeing. This article delves into the advantages of training social prescribers on social welfare benefits within the UK context.

    What is Social Prescribing?

    Social prescribing, or community referral, is a healthcare innovation connecting patients with non-medical community support services. Tailored to individual needs, these interventions include exercise classes, art therapy, peer support groups, and debt advice services, aiming to address factors contributing to poor health outcomes and promote holistic wellbeing.

    Social prescribers, also known as link workers or care navigators, play a crucial role in social prescribing. Collaborating with healthcare professionals, such as general practitioners (GPs), they identify patients suitable for community-based support and connect them with relevant services and resources.

    Successful UK Social Prescribing Initiatives

    The Bromley by Bow Centre in East London is an outstanding social prescribing initiative that has gained significant recognition for its success. The centre offers an integrated approach to health and wellbeing, providing services such as community-based exercise classes, gardening, cookery courses, and art therapy. These activities not only help patients develop new skills but also foster social connections, reducing isolation and loneliness. The Bromley by Bow Centre’s approach has become a model for other social prescribing initiatives across the UK.

    Challenges in Social Prescribing

    Despite social prescribing successes, several challenges persist. Community organisations’ capacity to meet the increased demand for services can be strained. Many voluntary and community sector (VCS) organisations are already stretched concerning resources, funding, and staff. The influx of referrals from social prescribing initiatives can further strain these organisations, limiting their ability to support service users effectively.

    Advantages of Training

    Social Prescribers on Social Welfare Benefits Training social prescribers on social welfare benefits can address some social prescribing challenges while enhancing its overall effectiveness. Two significant advantages of this approach include:

    Improved Knowledge and Understanding: Social prescribers knowledgeable about the welfare system can better navigate the complex landscape of benefits and support services. They can provide more accurate and relevant advice, ensuring patients receive appropriate assistance for their needs. This comprehensive knowledge base connects patients to suitable financial support options, potentially overlooked, leading to a more significant impact on overall wellbeing.

    Increased Financial Stability for Patients: Connecting patients with relevant financial assistance, social prescribers can alleviate financial stress and improve overall wellbeing. A deeper understanding of the benefits system allows social prescribers to identify financial support opportunities unknown to patients, reducing financial burden and contributing to improved mental and physical health outcomes. Better-equipped patients can manage their finances and focus on their health needs without added stress.

    Conclusion

    In conclusion, training social prescribers on social welfare benefits can lead to significant improvements in the UK’s social prescribing interventions’ effectiveness. By enhancing their knowledge of the benefits system, social prescribers can provide more accurate and relevant advice, ensuring patients receive the most appropriate support for their needs. Connecting patients with financial assistance can alleviate financial stress and contribute to better overall health outcomes. Investing in social prescriber education can strengthen the social prescribing approach and better support the health and wellbeing of our communities.

    Learn More About Benefits Training

    To find out more about training for social prescribers and how it can benefit the effectiveness of social prescribing, visit the Society Matters cic website. Society Matters cic is a social enterprise dedicated to providing education and support to organizations working to make a positive impact on society. Our website offers resources, training opportunities, and information on social welfare benefits to help enhance social prescribers’ knowledge and skills, ultimately improving the health and wellbeing of communities across the UK.

  • Getting to Grips with Pension Credit

    Getting to Grips with Pension Credit

    What is Pension Credit?

    Pension Credit is a top up available to people of State Pension age who are living on low incomes to help with living costs. There are no restrictions on what you can use the money on, and it can also lead to additional support through various other measures which we will explain more about below.

    There are two ‘parts’ to pension credit; you could get one or both parts –

    • Guarantee Credit – this is live across the UK and tops your income up to a minimum amount
    • Savings Credit – a small top up for people who might only have a modest amount of income or savings.

    Savings Credit is only available to you if you reached State Pension age before April 6th 2016.

    At Society Matters we firmly believe that everyone deserves dignity and comfort in their older years and Pension Credit can be an invaluable way for those on the lowest incomes to boost their incomes and afford themselves the comfort they deserve, helping them to lead lives well lived well into their later years.

    Unfortunately, we know that Pension Credit itself is a massively underclaimed benefit, with Martin Lewis estimating that approximately 800,000 of the UK’s poorest households are missing out on this vital financial support, worth on average around £3,500 per year. This equates to an estimated £1.8bn annually in Pension Credit that is currently going unclaimed during a cost-of-living crisis.

    In response to this, the government have launched a trial aimed at 10 local authorities to raise awareness of Pension Credit. The DWP estimate this will target around 2000 households claiming Housing Benefit but not Pension Credit with letters and leaflets informing them of potential eligibility. Whilst we welcome any attempt by the government to help people get the support they’re entitled to, it’s important to bear in mind this is 2000 households of approximately 800,000. In light of this, we wanted to take some time to focus on Pension Credit; what is it, what can you get, what are the misconceptions and what else might you get if you do receive it?

    What could you get?

    Pension Credit can top up your weekly income up to:

    • £201.05 per week if you’re single
    • £306.85 if you’re part of a couple

    The most you can get from the Savings Credit of PC is

    • £15.94 per week if you’re single
    • £17.84 if you’re part of a couple

    The exact amount of Pension Credit you receive will depend on any savings and income you (or your partner) may have.

    On top of this however, Pension Credit also has various ‘premiums’ you or your partner may be entitled to, depending on your circumstances. In these cases, your income can go over the amounts given above.

    For example, if you are receiving a qualifying disability benefit such as Attendance Allowance, you can receive a ‘severe disability premium;’ an additional £76.40 for a single person or £152.80 per week if you’re part of a couple and both eligible (i.e. both receiving a disability benefit).

    If you are a carer (i.e. receiving Carers Allowance), you can receive an additional £42.75 per week added to your claim.

    Why is Pension Credit underclaimed and what are the misconceptions?

    As we’ve mentioned, Pension Credit is a massively underclaimed benefit, with around 800,000 households missing out on support they’re entitled to, but why might this be the case?

    Firstly, people over pensionable age, are the age group that are least likely to reach out for support or to undergo a full benefit check. Advisers will also tell you Pensioners are also more likely not to apply for benefits on the grounds that they perceive benefit “handouts” or to be shameful, there can be a stigma attached to getting support from the state.

    Unfortunately, there are a lot of misconceptions when it comes to the eligibility criteria for Pension Credit. Research by the DWP itself has shown many people believe that owning a home, or having some savings excludes a person from claiming Pension Credit but this is often not the case. Home ownership (the home a person lives in) should not prevent you applying for Pension Credit. In regard to savings, there is a common misconception that there is a cut-off point of £10,000 in savings, after which a person who has more than this cannot apply for Pension Credit. Again, this is not the case. Pension Credit itself is awarded more like a sliding scale where savings over £10,000 will reduce the amount you get, not end it altogether. Even receiving a small amount of Pension Credit will also entitle you to the support outlined below, so it’s always worth checking.

    What else might Pension Credit entitle you to?

    One of the key benefits of Pension Credit is that, aside from the direct top-up to a person’s income, it can also act as a passport to other forms of financial aid or support.

    For example, if you receive Pension Credit, you may be entitled to a reduction in your Council Tax bill. There is no single council tax support scheme; you would need to contact your local authority to see exactly what support they offer but as an example, in Gateshead, this can be a reduction of up to 100% of your Council Tax bill.

    Pension Credit should also qualify a person for the cost-of-living payments. The first 2023 payment of £301 was made between 25 April and 17 May. The second payment is for this Autumn (date to be confirmed) and will be £300. There will be a further payment in Spring 2024 of £299.  This could be in addition to the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment and Disability Cost of Living Payment if applicable.

    Receipt of Pension Credit can also entitle claimants to additional support such as free TV licenses (where the claimant is over 75 and in receipt of Pension Credit), the Warm Home Discount Scheme (a £150 payment towards a person’s towards a person’s electric bill) or Cold Weather Payments (payments of approximately £25 per week which can be paid automatically to eligible people in the event the temperature drops below a certain point for a sustained period of time) to assist with fuel costs.

    As well as additional direct financial support, however, receipt of Pension Credit can also entitle individuals to free NHS dental care as well as voucher contributions towards the cost of glasses, if necessary.

    Taken together then, we can see how Pension Credit and the further support it can afford claimants can be potentially life-changing for people on low incomes. In the face of the continued squeeze on household incomes, helping people to access this support is more crucial than ever.

    You can use the Pension Credit calculator  to work out if a person is entitled to any Pension Credit, or if a person may struggle with this they could contact their local Citizens Advice for support. Once you’ve established an entitlement to Pension Credit, we would recommend getting a full benefit check from an organization like Citizens Advice or Age UK in order to establish what additional support a person may be entitled to.

  • Getting to Grips with PIP reviews and the current backlog of cases 

    Getting to Grips with PIP reviews and the current backlog of cases 

    In this article, Training Manager Adam Matthews gives us the lowdown on PIP Reviews, shares some useful tips, and explores the devastating effects on the current backlog and waiting times for decisions being made for people on PIP.

    What is a PIP Review?

    The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can review a person’s Personal Independence Payment (PIP) award at any time. This has proved controversial as the DWP often initiate a review even if the person has an award for a fixed period. Understandably this can cause severe anxiety and alarm for a person with a disability or long-term health condition.

    It is also important that a person tells the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) if and when anything changes which might affect an entitlement to PIP. If a person’s health is getting worse or better, the DWP may want to reassess them, and this would normally initiate a PIP Review.

    What are the 5 Stages of a PIP Review

    1) When the DWP decide to initiate a PIP Review they will notify the person by a letter which asks them to complete the “Award review – how your disability affects you” form.

    2) The person will be expected to fill in the form

    3) The form must be sent back to the DWP (to watertight the case with supporting evidence). The person must return the form by the time given on the initial PIP review letter – if the person doesn’t their PIP could be stopped. If the person needs an extension to the deadline, they will need to contact the DWP with an acceptable reason for the delay. Examples of an acceptable reason could be that they have been ill or caring for a loved one.

    4) Once the form is received the DWP will review the form. If they need more information, an independent health professional might phone the person to ask some questions or send a letter inviting them to an assessment. Assessments can be in person but currently are mostly over the phone or in some cases by video call.

    5) Finally, the person should receive a letter from the DWP informing them of their decision. There is no guarantee on how long this will take. The DWP could decide to do the following:

    • Extend the PIP award.
    • Increase or decrease payments.
    • End the persons PIP claim.

    If the person would like to challenge a decision, they will usually need to follow the mandatory reconsideration process and appeal if this is unsuccessful.

    Where do we Currently Stand with PIP Reviews?

    Statistics this month from Citizens Advice revealed that a staggering 430,000 people are currently awaiting the outcome of a Personal Independence Payment review across the UK. As a result of this often-vulnerable people with disabilities and long-term health conditions are missing out on an estimated £24m a month.

    Some PIP reviews since the pandemic have taken up to two and a half years to be processed and understandably this can cause severe distress, with a person awaiting the often-dreaded decision letter to turn up everyday and what the outcome may be.

    In the last six months, the number of people seeking support from Citizens Advice for Pip review-related issues rose by a significant 19% compared with the same period last year. The charity says delays to payments worth up to £172 a week are causing widespread hardship and distress during a cost-of-living crisis.

    The Impact of the Backlog of PIP Reviews

    Recent Scope research suggests that currently on average, disabled households (with at least one disabled adult or child) need an additional £975 a month to have the same standard of living as non-disabled households.

    Whilst someone waiting for their PIP review should still receive financial support, it is only their initial award amount, meaning that if their health condition has got worse (as often happens) or their needs have increased since they were last assessed, the payments will not cover their growing costs.

    PIP Review delays can disrupt crucial access to other important benefits such as carers benefits for a person supporting the person, blue badges and access to the Motability scheme affecting the persons independence and vital financial support for younger claimants and their parents in full time education worth up to £456.89 per month on Universal Credit for example.

    The psychological impact of both receiving a PIP review notification letter (especially when you may have another couple of years until the end of your current PIP award) or being in limbo after you have completed the PIP review form awaiting the decision can be devastating on a person. As an adviser I often sympathised with people who told me that the uncertainty had made their condition worse.

    2 Tips for Completing the PIP Review process

    Use the Descriptors Again and Justify the Points

    It’s risky just to state that there has been no change to the condition or just give brief statements on the PIP review form. Also, there isn’t much space given on the form so I would recommend giving as much detail as possible and adding extra pages of A4 paper.

    Remember DWP decision makers often aren’t medical experts. They will be looking at how often the condition affects the person in relation to the PIP descriptors as they did in the initial application, so it’s really important to justify the points giving recent examples and histories of the persons challenges. Remember to use PIP terminology such as differentiating between if a person requires ‘supervision’ or ‘prompting’.

    If we think the person should be scoring 8 points for the Preparing Food Descriptor for example, we need to demonstrate that person ‘cannot prepare and cook food’. So, we need to explain why this is the case in relation to their conditions, if there is a risk factor, who prepares the food for them and what would happen if they weren’t available to support the person.

    The Importance of Supporting Medical Evidence

    It’s important to supply supporting evidence, (especially if the condition has got worse as the person may be entitled to a higher rate}.

    You should include copies of documents such as:

    • a list of the persons prescriptions
    • a copy of a care plan if one is in place or a carers statement for a carer can be useful.
    • any paperwork a person has been given by health professionals, including reports and letters (not appointment letters)
    • a PIP diary is always useful and gives a DWP decision maker a good insight into how often a condition affects a person.

    Remember the DWP must consider all relevant supporting evidence! So, if this is not addressed by the DWP when making their decision, this would often be your starting point when challenging a decision!

  • Getting to Grips with Changes to Childcare and Universal Credit

    Getting to Grips with Changes to Childcare and Universal Credit

    Adam Matthews, the Training Manager at Society Matters, delivers a compelling analysis of the key changes the childcare element of Universal Credit. Insights into the present state of childcare in the UK are provided along with key strategies to ensure individuals receive the full extent of the support they rightfully deserve.

    What are the Changes to Childcare Support on Universal Credit?

    There are some welcome changes for people who need financial support with Childcare when it comes to Universal Credit coming into play on Wednesday 28th June.

    The government will allow eligible parents on Universal Credit to claim back up to £951 for childcare costs for one child and up to £1,630 for two or more children. This works out as a significant 47% increase on previous support.

    Childcare support on Universal Credit had previously been frozen for several years at up to a maximum of 85% of childcare costs or £646 per month for one child or £1,108 for two or more children. It’s important to note that this increase is only available on Universal Credit and won’t be added to the ‘legacy benefit’ Working Tax Credit ‘childcare element.

    The government has also announced it will also support eligible people responsible for children with their first month of childcare costs when they either enter work or increase their hours, by providing childcare funding upfront rather than expecting people to manage the first month’s costs themselves. From speaking to many people this was proving unmanageable for many due to the combination of the cost-of-living crisis and high childcare costs.

    Where do we Currently Stand with Childcare in the UK?

    It’s quite clear that within the perfect storm of the cost-of-living crisis and high inflation, we have a childcare costs crisis. The UK as of March 2023 was the third-most expensive country for childcare in the world, based on a couple earning the average wage, according to data from the OECD.  For a couple with two young children childcare costs take up nearly 30% of their income, according to the OECD. A survey of 24,000 parents, which was published recently by campaign group Pregnant Then Screwed, found 76% of mothers who pay for childcare feel it no longer makes financial sense for them to work.

    Childcare costs have increased by a massive 44% since 2010, according to analysis from the Trades Union Congress and have risen by nearly 6 per cent just over the past year. All this has happened whilst the availability of places for Children in the UK has fallen. This means the average annual cost of a full-time nursery place for a child under two in the UK is now a staggering £14,836, according to a report by the charity, Coram. To add to this fewer than one in five (18 per cent) of local authorities in England have enough childcare places for disabled children, down from 21 per cent.

    If you compare the UK’s childcare spending support, quality of childcare and length and payments for paternal and maternity leave to other countries it ranks a lowly 36th in a recent report put together by UNICEF.

    Why are people underclaiming childcare when costs are so high?

    The childcare support available is often underclaimed similarly to other welfare benefits (approx. £19 billion a year) due to a general difficulty in navigating a complex system, a lack of awareness and digital exclusion, stigma, and the increasingly fragmented nature of support from the government.

    For example, Policy in Practice estimates £7.5 billion of Universal Credit goes unclaimed by 1.2 million eligible households this year. How many of these households may have been entitled to the childcare element but are not currently getting the support and struggling to manage financially?

    There are of course other forms of childcare support available, some of which you cant claim at the same time as the childcare element of Universal Credit including the Tax-Free Childcare for 0-11 Year olds. Add to this the current Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds, the 15 Hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds the 30 hours of free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds and the outgoing Working Tax Credits childcare element and I’m sure you will agree this can become confusing and overwhelming for people responsible for children.

    There is further welcome incoming childcare support over the next few years which have been confirmed by the government. Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By, September 2025, working parents with children aged 9 months old to when they start school will be eligible for 30 hours childcare support. Information on the timescales and level of support can be found here.

    How can we make sure people get all the childcare they are entitled to?

    It’s really important at the moment to maximise income and to make sure people that are struggling get a full benefit check by using either the benefit calculators such as entitled to or signposting to organisations such as Citizens Advice.

    In addition to this I would recommend using the governments childcare calculator, whilst remembering some people will need extra support using the tool.

    The Childcare Choices website also gives a good breakdown of all the different types of childcare support in the UK, explains who should be eligible and how to claim and is a useful recourse to send out to people who are struggling to navigate the complex system.

    If you’re looking for social solutions, Society Matters cic is your perfect partner. We have a training calendar or workshops we provide with regularity which you can book onto as an individual or employee.