|
Welcome to the LGA’s cost of living bulletin, covering news and updates from across the sector.
Latest from the LGA
Sector Support Programme launch 2024/25
The LGA’s Sector Support programme for 2024/25 has been launched. The programme is packed full of vital tools and support to help councils deliver critical services to communities, while helping harness opportunities and drive improvement across all regions. Building on the five overarching themes of governance, leadership, finance, workforce and transformation, it offers wide ranging support which has been updated to reflect current and emerging challenges and opportunities for councils across the country.
Wednesday 24 April 2024, 10.00am – 11.30am | Virtual
Those with care experience are more financially vulnerable than their peers, with a significant number living at or near the poverty line. Aimed at all councillors, and officers who want to learn more about their corporate parenting responsibilities, this virtual event will provide ideas and advice about how to be a good corporate parent to care leavers. Hearing directly from young people with care experience, it’s also an opportunity to hear about the type of support care leavers want, and how to design and deliver a local offer of support that meets their needs.
Wednesday 8 May, 10.00 – 11.30 am | Virtual
Councils, alongside partners in the voluntary and community sector, have a key role to play in tackling rising food insecurity and its impacts on low-income household’s health and wellbeing. This virtual event will hear from councils and voluntary and community organisations about learnings from effective local approaches to improving residents’ financial resilience and access to nutritious food – which could be put into action in your area.
Share your work
Would you like to share what you are working on? Please email megan.edwards@local.gov.uk to discuss presenting at one of our 2024 cost of living webinars or to submit a case study of your work to our cost of living hub.
Updates from Government departments and partners
Updated free school meals guidance
The Department for Education has updated the guidance on free school meals. The update clarifies councils’ responsibilities for providing school lunches for children who are educated otherwise than at school (EOTAS), as well as schools’ duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled children’s school lunches.
DWP: Universal Credit migration update
From the beginning of April 2024, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has begun notifying households that receive further combinations of legacy benefits that they need to move to Universal Credit, starting with Income Support claimants and those claiming tax credits with housing benefit. The DWP’s latest report on the move to Universal Credit sets out learnings from the migration process so far, with a specific focus on tax credit claimants. In March, the DWP also announced that Citizens Advice and Citizens Advice Scotland, will continue to be funded to deliver Help to Claim support.
Benefit levels in the UK report
The Work and Pensions Committee published a report on Benefit Levels in the UK. The Committee recommended that the Government provides a framework of principles to inform how benefit levels are set, including how they incentivise work and how they cover essential living costs. The report also called on the Government to introduce a new ‘uprating guarantee’ for working-age benefits and the Local Housing Allowance, so their real value does not erode over time, and make the Household Support Fund permanent.
For more information visit our cost of living hub
|
