Source · Select Committees · Welsh Affairs Committee
Recommendation 22
22
Paragraph: 130
We welcome efforts to improve awareness among claimants of all UK Government, Welsh Government, and...
Conclusion
We welcome efforts to improve awareness among claimants of all UK Government, Welsh Government, and local authority support, but written evidence suggests that there is still a long way to go. People requesting help need to feel confident that they have been informed of all the benefits and grants available to them, rather than miss out on any because they didn’t know what questions to ask or found the system too The Benefits System in Wales 45 complex to navigate. Evidence we have received suggests that the approach taken in Scotland, where the UK Government and the Scottish Government worked together to produce a toolkit for Work Coaches, could prove a useful model.
Paragraph Reference:
130
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
In Scotland, social security includes both reserved and devolved elements, so a toolkit was created to help work coaches navigate the situation for their claimants. Social security is reserved in Wales, so the need is not so apparent. However, the Department for Work and Pensions has worked with the Welsh Government on a variety of devolved and non- devolved schemes, helping to raise awareness of, and promoting these initiatives. This is part of the regular liaison set out in the Department for Work and Pensions and Welsh Government Concordat agreement. The Department for Work and Pensions will continue to work with Welsh Government colleagues to discuss what improvements can be made in terms of the signposting of grants and allowances that are available.