North West DWP Update

• Personal Independence Payment Toolkit has been updated to reflect changes following the UK leaving the EU. This toolkit provides a guide for organisations and people in support roles to help explain PIP and changes to Disability Living Allowance to claimants.
• Guidance has been updated from the 1 January on GOV.UK explaining the rights of benefits and pensions for UK nationals in the EEA or Switzerland and benefits and pensions for EEA and Swiss citizens in the UK
• £7.5 million pound funding to Tackle Loneliness
• Mayday for Men – employer advice on male victims of domestic abuse
• Application for a State Pension Forecast  has been updated
• Funding for Community Champions to give COVID 19 vaccine advice
• Changes to Kickstart programme https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/kickstart-scheme
• New legislation to ensure fair treatment for armed forces
• Face coverings exemptions
• Support for offenders – DWP working in partnership with HMPPS, Steering Women Away from Crime, Preventing Prison Leaver Homelessness
• Funding boost to get more Young People into Work
• Support for the Aviation Sector
• Carers Allowance Form has been updated
• Children in Poverty Enquiry  – evidence for the enquiry to be submitted by 25thFebruary
• A consultation  has been launched, aimed at extending debt solutions and helping vulnerable people in financial distress get a fresh start. The consultation closes on the 25 February 2021.
• This report sets out the key findings from the review by BEIS into how victims of domestic abuse can be supported in the workplace and the actions which government will take as a result
• From 14 January, victims of domestic abuse will be able to access much needed support from thousands of pharmacies across the UK. The government has teamed up with independent pharmacies and Boots to launch a domestic abuse Ask for ANI  codeword scheme.
• The Disability Unit in the Cabinet Office has launched a survey to gather views and experiences for the National Strategy of Disabled People. If views are shared by 13 February, they will inform the development of the strategy. The Survey will remain open until 23 April, and views will be used to inform the delivery of the plans.

Job Centre Updates:

To help keep customers and colleagues as safe as possible in the latest phase of the pandemic Jobcentre opening hours will be 10am to 2pm beginning on Monday the 18 January 2021. Thus, the job centre is amble to provide safe, essential services for those who are unable to interact with them via the phone or digitally. Phone line  opening hours remain as they were. In addition, the Relay UK service and the Video relay service  are both still available. Anyone entering a Jobcentre will be required to wear a face covering, unless they are in an exempt category . We will follow the latest government guidance on meeting with others safely  and lockdown restrictions .