In our last webinar of 2023 our policy analysts reviewed 2023’s policy changes and big issues, from the ongoing cost of living and energy crises to the funding of local government and the Autumn Statement.
Our policy findings from the year were highlighted including our work that revealed that millions of households across the UK are missing out on £19 billion of support each year.
We looked at the role that data is playing in helping leading organisations to tackle these issues.
Through case studies of different types of households we heard what the changes mean for families now, and what 2024 has in store.
Our analysts shared the positive impact that organisations we work with are having and gave practical solutions that others can adopt.
Look back at 2023
- The cost of living and the cost for local government
- £19 billion of support is unclaimed
- How different organisations are closing this gap
- Data at the core: two big questions
- Safeguarding and data
Look forward to 2024
- What 2024 may bring for people
- What 2024 may bring for organisations
View the webinar
2.3 million households will begin the process of moving over to Universal Credit. We know not everybody claims on time, missing out on transitional protection, and some don't claim at all. We will expect to see a gap starting to form of people who were previously receiving tax credits, for example, who don't manage the migration process over to Universal Credit and potentially missing out.
I think the risk is that people think inflation is on the way down but there are sectors where people will need a lot of support, such as water. Perhaps the most valuable thing is building income maximisation and checks into every process that customers engage with. So when they engage with councils or voluntary groups trying to make sure that people get that benefits check and they don't slip through the cracks.
Of the households that we track within our Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT) 46% on means tested benefits are living in highly fuel inefficient homes meaning they will continue to see quite high energy bills regardless of the drop of the energy price cap. Meanwhile, £1.37 billion in support for utility bills goes unclaimed each year.
Data makes all the difference, it is the key to all this great success that is going on. It highlights the people who are losing out on benefits, it links up support, clients and partnerships. £19 billion in unclaimed benefits is a hefty carrot that's being dangled right now and data can take you to who is entitled to that.
Our research suggests that there's a significant link between poverty and child welfare. This means that the impact of the cost of living crisis is also likely to have an impact on other areas as well. My experience over the last 12 months demonstrates the benefits of bringing all this data together to assist safeguarding practices, that's why we're focusing on building MAST to scale across regions around the country.