Welfare reform help An initiative to help people deal with the far-reaching implications of welfare reform is being recommended for approval by Moray councillors tomorrow (Tuesday). The council’s policy and resources committee will be asked to allocate funding to develop a web portal and to appoint a development officer to help people cope with the complexities of welfare reform. Most of the funding for the £75,000 initiative will come from the Scottish Government. Moray Council is currently working with the Department for Work and Pensions, Moray Citizens’ Advice Bureau and tsiMoray to manage changes arising from the reform of the welfare benefits system. They have identified the need for a web portal to help individuals and agencies to access information and provide relevant links to apply for welfare support online. The council’s 10-year plan has already identified welfare reform as a significant factor for the future of public services in Moray and cabinet finance secretary John Swinney has indicated that he is encouraged by the collaborative work being carried out with local partners in Moray. The welfare benefits portal will be a searchable online database which will provide information on available services and how to access them. The development officer will be employed for 18 months to engage with relevant services, build and facilitate partnership working and develop a publicity drive to promote local services that can assist people cope with welfare reforms. In a report to Tuesday’s committee meeting, the council’s corporate services director, Mark Palmer, says: “There is currently no easy way to navigate the complex mix of relevant services. “The portal system only becomes useful once it is populated with information from relevant services. This will require the development officer to engage with agencies and services to generate understanding and support how the network can assist clients.” Mr Palmer said the marketing plan would determine what information people needed and how best to get that information to the public. “This will focus on how people can access services to help them deal with the impact of welfare reform,” he said. “Implementing the marketing plan will improve general access to support services and will allow people to access the support they need and the benefits to which they are entitled.”
Posted on: Mon, 14 Apr 2014 11:03:56 +0000