Most of us recognise that the welfare benefit system needs radical change!  It is a complex and convoluted system that is often inaccessible and incomprehensible to many and is sometimes open to abuse. It seems to raise barriers to those that are most in need and encourages others to fit the claim criteria.

So where is joined-up Government thinking in this arena and what is driving recent policy changes - money or need?  Who are the winners and what about the losers?

The conference will focus on the following areas of change:

1. Incapacity Benefit changes – how are they working?

What is happening in the field?  Are Government expectations realistic and are the new rules being applied consistently?  There will be a large number of people with long-term health needs being challenged about their fitness to work.  Is this creating anxiety and exacerbating ill health?

2. Back to work - preparing the workless?

What barriers do the long-term unemployed face when searching for work and what happens when they start a job?  How difficult is it for those families who are into their third generation of worklessness to adapt to routine and a regular work pattern?  Do ‘back to work’ schemes work and are they cost effective?  What are the success rates and how long do people really remain in work?

3. Back to work - implications for employers?

What changes are employers facing and are they really ready to face them?  At any give time the job market may be buoyant and jobs may be plentiful, but is this the type of work that people coming off Incapacity Benefit could realistically do?  Employers want the best person for the job but can they afford to have a social conscience?  Can they provide the relevant training, support and facilities that some people need to return to (and remain in) work and are they sufficiently compensated for their efforts?

4. Local Housing Allowance.

The Local Housing Allowance (LHA) allocates a predetermined amount of benefit to cover rent, depending on household need.  How will the most vulnerable people cope with having to manage their own payments?  Are the LHA amounts adequate or are they forcing people into poor accommodation because of affordability.  Will landlords decline to accept tenants in receipt of LHA or will they exploit the system for their own benefit?

Many of us voice our concerns for and against change but does anyone actually listen?  The answer is yes, sometimes.  Come to our conference, air your opinions, join the debate and learn about changes and challenges facing advisers.