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type: Answer
type: WrittenAnswer
answer has question: 3VH82fN3
answer has answering person: cRr5jMY5
answer text: The new provision is not a replacement for the Social Fund. Some discretionary payments have been abolished from 1 April 2013 and funding has been provided for new, better targeted local provision through arrangements made by upper tier local authorities in England and the Welsh and Scottish Governments. To help local authorities set up for their new provision we had dedicated web pages providing data on discretionary Social Fund demand and spend. We also held many workshops around the country in 2011 and 2012 with local authorities and the devolved administrations to discuss how the funding could be put to the best use. The settlement letter issued to each local authority with details of their funding provided further clarity on the purpose of the funding. To promote awareness of the new arrangements we continue to work very closely with English local authorities and the devolved nations to support them in delivering their schemes so that claimants can get timely access to the support available from both the Department and the new provision in their communities. This includes messages on the Department's telephone enquiry lines, scripts for DWP staff to use in Jobcentres and call centres and messages on customer letters, and information on the benefits pages on the www.gov.uk website.
answer given date: 2013-12-03+00:00
answer has answering body: XbTBTDMo
written answer has answering body: XbTBTDMo