Present
Richard Baillie
/Edinburgh WRS
Joe Marshall
/Edinburgh WRS
Bashir Zaman
/Tameside WRS
Margaret Roff
/Watford CC
Nancy Fowler
/Welfare Rights Officer
Lorne Campbell
/Perth WR
Nicole Sutherland
/Perth WR
Grant Mackie
/Perth WR
Joy Mayglothwy
/Perth WR
Helen Hirst
/Midlothian WR
Fran Robinson
/Lancashire WRS
Dave Laurie
/Stockton WR
Patrick Hill
/Bolton WRS
Elaine Martin
/Lancashire WRS
Andy Malitz
/Gateshead CAB
Julie Burton
/Durham WR
Jacqui Rogers
/Durham WR
Lorraine Bram
/Middlesborough WR
Euan Henderson
/Glasgow WR
Gillian Manning
/Gloucester Mutual Benefit Training
Lesley Stirton
/South Lanarkshire Council WR
Paul Neave
/Flintshire CC
Aleksander Tuner
/Welfare Rights
Sharon Hinds
/Cheshire CC WRS
Doreen Parr
/Cheshire CC
Phil Hanns
/Durham CC WRS
Jon Laidler
/South Tyneside WRS
Tom Hayton
/City of Sunderland WRS
Alan Markey
/Citizens Advice SSJ
Nancy Fowler
/City of Edinburgh WRS
Calum Mackwin
/North Lanarkshire SW Dept
Keith Spencer
/RNID Casework Service
Nicole Bethune
/Midlothian Council
Christopher Keel
/Glasgow CC
Roddy Slormch
/Glasgow CC
Laura McLean
/Aberdeen WR
Alison Gillies
/Glasgow CC
Richard Gass
/Glasgow CC
Liz Fitzharris
/Inverclyde Council
Jane Smith
/Inverclyde Council
Carolyn Armstrong
/North Lanarkshire Council
Jim McKenny
/Kirklees CC
Apologies
Ian Gemmell – East Ayrshire Council; Isobel Kelly – North Ayrshire Council; Rita Shearer – South Ayrshire Council; Vera Baxter – Scottish Borders Council; Paula Twigg – CPAG; Scott MacInally – Durham CC; Terry Patterson – Manchester CC; Claire Cunningham and Tamara Moreau – Colchester Borough Council; Clive Davis – Newcastle WRS.
Welcome
Anne Hannah welcomed all NAWRA members to the meeting at The Friends House in Edinburgh.
1.Minutes of Last Meeting
A final request for notes for workshops and Third Age handout.
2.Information Exchange
Anne, could you possibly help me out here? I’ve written down who spoke to being with but didn’t follow what they were discussing?
Via email:
Claire Cunningham from Colchester Borough Council raised the issue of take-up work using HB/CTB records held on Academy software system. Colchester’s HB/CTB section says it’s very complicated to write ‘queries’ which will extract info needed to carry out take-up. Can whoever has had success writing ‘queries’ please contact:
Terry Patterson from Manchester Advice commented on last minutes, page 4. Publicity is underway by the Pension Service:
Pension Credit leaflet issued April 2003
Direct mail shots of packs to 7.3 million pensioner households in the period April 2003 – June 2004
Support packs to ‘partner agencies’ issued Summer 2003
Pension Service Local Service pilot take-up work with ‘partner’ agencies in 15 areas completed Summer 2003
TV adverts started in September 2003
Press ads started mid September 2003
Radio ads started mid October 2003
Contact Terry about any local work initiated by welfare rights or independent groups, to share materials and findings email:
Alan Markey from Citizens Advice Specialist Support Unit suggested a possible workshop could be ‘Judicial Review’.
Keith Spencer from RNID commented that there might be a lack of awareness that it’s possible to take cases beyond the Commissioner. Are advisers aware? Time constraints may put people off.
Nicole Bethune from Midlothian Council stated that some have difficulty accessing counsel, the costs involved. Possible training issues of welfare rights advisers.
Gillian from Mutual Benefit Training raised the issue of tax credit overpayment. When working stops, payments should stop.
Doreen Parr from Cheshire CC agreed with Gillian. Also commented that HB and CTC have different rules.
Paul Neave from Flintshire County Council commented on changes in rules for 18 year olds with HB/CTC.
Patrick Hill from Bolton Borough Council mentioned an unawareness of non-dependant 18 year olds on a higher rate; right of appeal in European cases, regs deny; indirect discrimination cases forward to him; right to possession, right to back-dating.
Andy from Gateshead CAB stated carers have been told case closed, no appeal rights now open to appeal due to no appeal time limit having been set.
Doreen Parr remarked the pension department have amended primary evidence, tampering/alteration to prevent backdating.
Richard Gass from Glasgow City Council has observed capital is dependant on purchases i.e. buying a vehicle.
Sue Spriggs from Bolton Borough Council commented on a case where a pension couple SD phoning – not entitled, can be additional?
Keith Spencer from RNID confirmed the above issue has been raised, broader knowledge is required and benefits are massively under-claimed, an issue for the Steering Group to discuss. ‘Know your rights’ packs are available free of charge for organisations, please contact:
Anne Hannah from Edinburgh Council suggested the pension service training issue might not solve the problem, as they don’t make the decisions.
3.Steering Group Report
Chair: Alan Markey requested feedback about the AIMS & OBJECTIVES of NAWRA. A vote was taken including amendments to the document, which is viewable via rightsnet. Amended document attached.
New member is Nel Coles for Wales. East Midlands position is still vacant.
A plea for venue offers as there has been much difficulty organising this. A possible increase in subs to cover venue costs.
There will be publicity about NAWRA in Adviser Magazine article. A list of Regional Steering Group Representatives attached.
4.Morning Workshops
Notes attached as stated below.
5.Afternoon Workshops
Notes attached as stated below.
6.Feedback
Workshops
Tax Credits Overpayments (attached)
- Information is also in December Welfare Rights Bulletin
- Tax Credit – 64/8 Mandate call 0845 900 404
Burden of Proof ICB (attached)
PCA Assessments (attached)
- Copy of form available from Tom Laidler South Tyneside
DDA Provisions (attached)
HB Pathfinder Pilot (attached)
7.Next Meeting/s
Blackpool on 11th June – confirmed.
Glasgow in September – unconfirmed.
Wolverhampton in December – unconfirmed.