The cost of living crisis may have fallen off the front pages but getting help to people who need it most is as important as ever. In 2024 a third of adults are struggling to cope financially and over 1 in 5 adults are living in poverty.
Each year, people miss out on an estimated £23 billion in benefits and support due to stigma and the complexity and confusion that is seemingly baked into the welfare system.
This webinar focused on identifying and removing barriers that prevent eligible people from accessing the support they need. Attendees gained insights into innovative approaches that leading organisations are taking to enhance customer engagement, streamline application processes, and ultimately, increase the take up of social tariffs and other benefits.
Listen back to learn about:
- Identifying and understanding the roadblocks
- Broadland District Council and South Norfolk Council Case study
- Apply Once in the Better Off Calculator
- Questions and answers with our panel
Guest speaker:
Lindsay Sayer, Partnership and Innovation Senior Manager, South Norfolk and Broadland
View the webinar
We have a benefit system that is largely reactive. It expects the individual to know about a particular benefit, understand if they're eligible, know how and where to apply for it, and then to actually follow through on making that claim. For so many people, this just isn't realistic.
We're focused on ensuring that people receive the financial help they’re entitled to, which helps prevent them from reaching crisis point. By eliminating barriers, like automatically enrolling Universal Credit customers for Council Tax Reduction, we're making it easier for residents to access the financial stability they deserve.
People tend to be slightly more aware of the national options, like Universal Credit, and don't realise there's more than the DWP out there. Being aware is the first hurdle, but having to repeat information in lots of forms means that, even if you are aware, you might not have the energy to go around the loop again.