S7/2019 (Revised): New Burdens funding to meet the costs of implementing Carers Allowance Supplement and Best Start Grant in 2018-19
Updated 27 November 2019
Applies to England and Wales
© Crown copyright 2019
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Who should read
All Housing Benefit staff
Action
For information
Revision
This circular is being reissued as we have added to the subject description, title and main heading in order to reflect when this funding is for. We apologise for any inconvenience.
Guidance Manual
The information in this circular does not affect the content of the HB Guidance Manual.
Queries
See our Housing Benefit subsidy circular page if you want extra copies of this circular and previous circulars.
technical content of this circular, contact
hddchange.managementoffice@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
payments, contact
hbsubsidy.queries@dwp.gsi.gov
distribution of this circular, contact
housing.correspondenceandpqs@dwp.gsi.gov.uk
Introduction
1. A policy change provided for in the the Scotland Act 2016 provides the Scottish Parliament with additional powers including the ability to create new benefits in areas of devolved responsibility, the ability to top-up any reserved benefit and the ability to make one off discretionary payments for any reason.
2. This circular is to inform you of additional funding that will be allocated to local authorities (LAs) for the costs of implementing the following two changes. The LA Practitioners’ Operational Group has been consulted regarding New Burdens associated with implementing them.
Carers Allowance Scotland
3. On 28 August 2018, the Scottish Government announced that the first payment of Social Security Scotland’s Carer’s Allowance Supplement (CAS) would be made on 15 October 2018.
4. CAS payments are made by the Scottish Government to some carers living in Scotland.
5. For further information you should refer to bulletin LAWD11/2018
Best Start Grant
6. On 20 November 2018 the Scottish Government announced that Best Start Grant (BSG) would commence from 10 December 2018.
7. BSG will replace Sure Start Maternity Grant for claimants living in Scotland.
8. For further information you should refer to bulletin LAWD12/2018
Funding and payment details
9. Although LAs will receive a single payment, in order to provide transparency, a breakdown of the total funding is given below and detailed in Annex A.
| Area of activity | Total amount | Comments |
|---|---|---|
| Carers Allowance Supplement | ||
| Changes to websites, online claims forms and leaflets | £12,500 | Based on previous New Burdens paid for this one off cost |
| Learning and development | £64,000 | Money will be allocated to each LA according to HB caseload size |
| Best Start Grant | ||
| Changes to websites, online claims forms and leaflets | £25,000 | Based on previous New Burdens paid for this one off cost |
| Learning and development | £128,000 | Money will be allocated to each LA according to HB caseload size |
10. Each LA will receive their allocation payment the week commencing 25 March 2019.
Allocation New Burdens funding: Annex A
| LA | CAS | BSG | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aberdeen | £2,415 | £4,831 | £7,246 |
| Aberdeenshire | £2,344 | £4,688 | £7,032 |
| Angus | £2,218 | £4,435 | £6,653 |
| Argyll and Bute | £2,186 | £4,372 | £6,558 |
| Clackmannanshire | £2,124 | £4,248 | £6,372 |
| Comhairle nan Eilean Siar | £2,055 | £4,111 | £6,166 |
| Dumfries and Galloway | £2,356 | £4,712 | £7,068 |
| Dundee | £2,486 | £4,972 | £7,458 |
| East Ayrshire | £2,316 | £4,632 | £6,948 |
| East Dunbartonshire | £2,131 | £4,262 | £6,393 |
| East Lothian | £2,176 | £4,352 | £6,528 |
| East Renfrewshire | £2,105 | £4,211 | £6,316 |
| Edinburgh | £3,037 | £6,075 | £9,112 |
| Falkirk | £2,340 | £4,680 | £7,020 |
| Fife | £2,782 | £5,564 | £8,346 |
| Glasgow | £4,364 | £8,728 | £13,092 |
| Highland | £2,404 | £4,808 | £7,212 |
| Inverclyde | £2,235 | £4,470 | £6,705 |
| Midlothian | £2,166 | £4,331 | £6,497 |
| Moray | £2,153 | £4,307 | £6,460 |
| North Ayrshire | £2,402 | £4,805 | £7,207 |
| North Lanarkshire | £2,875 | £5,750 | £8,625 |
| Orkney | £2,035 | £4,070 | £6,105 |
| Perth and Kinross | £2,257 | £4,514 | £6,771 |
| Renfrewshire | £2,465 | £4,930 | £7,395 |
| Scottish Borders | £2,244 | £4,488 | £6,732 |
| Shetland | £2,029 | £4,059 | £6,088 |
| South Ayrshire | £2,259 | £4,517 | £6,776 |
| South Lanarkshire | £2,672 | £5,343 | £8,015 |
| Stirling | £2,141 | £4,281 | £6,422 |
| West Dunbartonshire | £2,327 | £4,653 | £6,980 |
| West Lothian | £2,401 | £4,801 | £7,202 |