Back on Track Policy 2023-24

The Welfare Support Team helps people of the Borough to maximise their income and assists those in crisis, with the aim of reducing poverty and protecting the vulnerable.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council operates a Back on Track scheme which provides a safety net to Council residents in the case of emergency. It aims to:

• safeguard people in their own homes
• support vulnerable people in the local community
• alleviate poverty
• encourage financial inclusion and financial resilience
• support families in need

The scheme operates at the Council's discretion and there is no statutory right to support. The scheme is currently administered by the Council's Welfare Support Team. 

The three key features of the scheme are:

• to provide crisis support for costs for energy supplies to residents in an emergency
• to provide settlement support to vulnerable residents who require help to establish or maintain a home independently in the community, or remove barriers to starting work
• to signpost or refer applicants to other support and welfare services which are available when people are in financial need - this may include but is not limited to food bank organisations, Citizens Advice, Tees Credit Union (a not for profit community bank) and the Department for Work and Pensions

1.1 Eligibility

To be eligible for the scheme applicants must be:

• aged 16 years or over
• a resident of Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council or be moving into Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council as part of a planned resettlement programme and
• usually have links or ties to Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• have no other form of immediate financial assistance, for example family, friends, employer, own resources or other available funding streams

To receive support applicants must also meet the qualifying conditions for the individual form of support they are applying for. These criteria are set out in 2.1 and 3.1.

1.2 Available support

There are two forms of support provided by the Back on Track scheme:

• crisis support aims to prevent an immediate deterioration to the wellbeing of the applicant or their partner or dependent by providing short-term access to energy supplies, essential food, toiletries, clothing or footwear and baby consumables, which can be provided to cover the period until their next payment of benefit or payment of wages
• settlement support aims to help applicants remain in the community or move back into the community after a period in supported or unsettled accommodation

This will be in the form of Crisis support or Settlement support.

Crisis support

Assistance with:

• energy costs, generally via a pay point voucher
• essential food and toiletries, generally via a referral to a food bank
• essential clothing or footwear, generally via a referral to the appropriate agency
• essential baby consumables

Signposting to appropriate support and welfare services, community organisations and the Department for Work and Pensions which are available when people are in financial need.

Settlement support

• beds
• bedding
• chairs or sofas
• tables
• wardrobes
• white goods
• pans, crockery and cutlery
• floor coverings
• curtains
• storage or removal costs
• removal of barriers to starting work
• rent in advance will be referred to our Homelessness and Housing Solutions Team for consideration
• removal of barriers to starting work

Generally recycled furniture and white goods will be provided.

Floor coverings and curtains will only be provided where there is a proven medical need or a risk to the health and safety of the applicant or their household. Floor coverings will be provided for essential rooms only. This list is not exhaustive.

Support will be given via vouchers or access to items and products and will not usually include:

• cash payments
• payments into individual's bank accounts

Crisis support aims to prevent an immediate deterioration to the wellbeing of the applicant or their partner or dependent.

There will be two stages to the assessment of a crisis support application:

• an assessment of need - to establish if the applicant meets one of the qualifying conditions set out in 2.1
• a financial assessment - to establish if the applicant has immediate access to any other form of financial assistance

2.1 Qualifying conditions

Applicants must have:

An immediate need for assistance with essential daily living expenses that has arisen following an exceptional event or unforeseen circumstances and as a direct result of the inability to afford the services, the wellbeing of the applicant or their partner or dependent will immediately deteriorate. Also, the applicant or their partner must meet at least one of the following:

• they have a serious physical health problem for which they are receiving treatment, or there is a severe risk to their health and safety
• they have a dependent child who normally lives with them and that child's health and safety would be at immediate risk
• they are at risk of homelessness
• they have a substance or alcohol misuse problem, which they are receiving treatment or support for
• they are on probation or receiving support relating to their offending history
• they are affected by or at risk of domestic abuse, hate crime, honour based violence or forced marriage
• they have a learning disability
• they have a physical or sensory impairment
• they have a mental health problem, which they are receiving treatment or support for
• they are pregnant
• they require support with costs to ease exceptional circumstances for the applicant and their family

2.2 Crisis support award values and duration

The value and duration of the award will be at the discretion of the Council, in relation to the needs being presented and the financial situation of the applicant.

In most cases support provided to cover needs will usually last no longer than the period until their next payment of benefit or wages.

Applicants can receive a maximum of two awards in any one financial year, with the exception of awards which are made where a purse or wallet has been lost or stolen. In such cases only one award will be made in any one financial year.

Applicants will not usually be able to receive support with a value exceeding £100 in any financial year.

Applicants making repeated claims for crisis awards will continue to be referred or signposted to relevant advice services. Should the applicant refuse to engage after a referral to a partner agency then future applications may not be considered.

Settlement support aims to help applicants remain in the community or move back into the community after a period in supported or unsettled accommodation and assist the most vulnerable.

There will be two stages to the assessment of a settlement support application:

• an assessment of need - to establish if the applicant meets one of the qualifying conditions set out in 3.1
• a financial assessment - to establish if the applicant has any excess income or capital including a Department for Work and Pensions budgeting loan that could be used to meet some or all of the required support

3.1 Qualifying conditions

Applicants must meet all of the following qualifying conditions:

3.1.1 The applicant or their partner is entitled to one of the following:

• Income Support
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Employment Support Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit and working less than 16 hours per week

Or they are leaving accommodation in which they receive significant and substantial care and supervision and expect to be discharged within 6 weeks and receive one of the benefits above.

3.1.2 The applicant or their partner requires support for one of the following:

• support to move back into the community after a stay in supported or temporary accommodation or following an unsettled way of life, for example hostel or sleeping on the streets (but only where they will be setting up home in the community as part of a planned resettlement programme)
• support to move out of inappropriate accommodation
• support to stay in the home and prevent a move into residential care or hospital
• support to prevent a serious deterioration of health within the home
• support with costs to ease exceptional pressures for the applicant and their family, for example a breakdown of relationships within the family (including domestic violence, honour based violence or forced marriage)

3.1.3 The applicant or their partner who lives with them must meet one of the following:

• they have a serious physical health problem for which they are receiving treatment or there is a severe risk to their health and safety
• they have a dependent child who normally lives with them and that child's health and safety would be at immediate risk
• they are at risk of homelessness
• they have a substance or alcohol misuse problem, which they are receiving treatment or support for
• they are on probation or receiving support relating to their offending history
• they are affected by or at risk of domestic abuse, hate crime, honour based violence or forced marriage
• they have a learning disability
• they have a physical or sensory impairment
• they have a mental health problem, which they are receiving treatment or support for
• they are pregnant
• they require support with costs to ease exceptional circumstances for the applicant and their family

3.2 Settlement support award values

The value of the settlement support award will not usually exceed £500 in a financial year and be appropriate to the needs being presented and the financial situation of the applicant. In exceptional circumstances the maximum award value may be raised in order to ensure a household has access to essential household items which meet the needs being presented at the time of application. The Council will undertake a full income and expenditure calculation of the applicant and their household to determine if they have any excess income or capital that could be used to meet all or part of the cost of the support.

4.1 Apply for welfare assistance

Apply for welfare assistance

If you need assistance, telephone 01642 524180. Out of hours advice and information is available on the Stockton Information Directory or from the Emergency Duty Team on 0870 240299.

Applications can be considered from:

• the applicant's appointee
• the applicant's carer
• the applicant's advocate
• a third party agency acting on behalf of the applicant
• a referral from a specialist provider or trusted partner

Confirmation will be accepted verbally that the third party agency is acting on behalf of and with the consent of the applicant.

5.1 The Council will decide if the qualifying conditions for an award have been met.

5.2 The Council will require evidence of the qualifying conditions by either:

• confirmation by telephone with a specialist provider or trusted partner
• other evidence provided by the applicant, their appointee, their carer, their advocate or referring agency, based on the individual circumstances of each case

5.3 Where the applicant has health, support or care needs which are not currently being met or have not been assessed by a specialist provider (for example by a GP, support or care agency), the applicant will be signposted to the relevant specialist provider to assess their needs.

5.4 The Council will also make a financial assessment, which will involve an assessment of the income and expenditure of the applicant to establish if they have any excess income or capital, including a Department for Work and Pensions budgeting loan that could be used to meet some or all of the required support.

5.5 The Council will process the application and inform the applicant of the outcome of their application.

5.6 The Council will also refer the applicant or signpost to an advice agency, if for example it appears that the applicant may qualify for additional welfare benefits or Tax Credits or other support. Should the applicant refuse to engage after a referral to a partner agency then future applications may not be considered.

5.7 For crisis support, the Council will contact the applicant within 24 hours to discuss the application. On receipt of all requested information and evidence, the applicant will be notified of the decision and their award distributed (if applicable) within 24 hours.

5.8 For settlement support, the Council will contact the applicant within 3 working days to discuss the application. On receipt of all requested information and evidence, the applicant will be notified of the decision within 5 working days. If successful, awards will be provided in line with the applicant's needs but usually not within 48 hours of the award decision.

The Council may request any information or evidence it reasonably requires in support of an application for an award.

6.1 For crisis support and settlement support, the information and evidence to be provided will be identified during the assessment. Evidence will need to be provided before an award is given to the applicant and home visits may be made to verify information.

6.2 For settlement support, if evidence is not provided the Council will contact the applicant or the specialist provider, requesting the information and evidence required as at 5.8. Applicants or specialist providers will be expected to provide the requested information and evidence within 3 working days, or contact the Council within 3 working days if more time is required. If evidence is not forthcoming then the application will be declined.

6.3 The Council reserves the right to verify any information or evidence provided by the applicant, as required. Any such request will be essential to the decision making process and will only be used in connection with Back on Track.

6.4 Examples of evidence that may be required are set out in the Evidence Requirement Guide.

7.1 Notification of decisions

Once a decision on the application has been made, the applicant and specialist provider if relevant will be notified of the outcome in writing. In addition, crisis and settlement support decisions may also be notified verbally over the telephone or via text if the applicant agrees.

The notification letter will include the following:

• where Back on Track support is awarded, the item or items to be provided and the period of the award if relevant
• where the Back on Track support awarded does not provide all support requested, the reasons for this decision
• where Back on Track support is not awarded, the reasons for this decision
• the applicant's review rights
• information on who to contact if they need further information or advice
• the duty to notify the Council of any changes in their circumstances, which may affect their award

7.2 Decision reviews for crisis support and settlement support

Back on Track assistance is not subject to any statutory appeals mechanism.

Any request for a review will be subject to the following:

• an applicant who disagrees with the decision on their Back on Track application may dispute the decision and request a review. The request for a review can be made by the applicant, their appointee, their carer, their advocate or a third party, with the applicant's consent where appropriate
• disputes will be considered where they are received by the Welfare Support Team in writing, verbally or by email within one calendar month of the written decision being issued to the applicant
• disputes will be considered by the review officer not involved in the original decision and the outcome will be confirmed in writing either by email or letter

Support will not be awarded for the following items or services:

• educational or training related expenses, for example uniform, equipment or travelling expenses
• expenses or costs in connection with court and legal proceedings such as legal fees, court fees, fines, costs, damages, subsistence or travelling expenses
• removal or storage charges if the applicant is being re-housed following a compulsory purchase order, closing order, a compulsory exchange of tenancies, or under a housing authority's statutory duty to the homeless. Assistance may be available through housing and homelessness solutions
• rent arrears and mortgage costs including interest payments
• Council Tax or Council Tax arrears
• domestic assistance and respite care
• a medical, surgical, optical, aural or dental item or service
• mobility needs
• a television or a radio, or a licence, aerial or rental charges for a television or a radio
• purchase, installation, rental and call charges for a telephone
• garaging, parking, purchase, and running costs of any motor vehicle 
• debts to government departments or local authorities

The following people cannot be supported by the Back on Track Support Fund:

• people who normally reside outside Stockton-on-Tees Borough, unless the need is for a person who is in the process of moving into Stockton-on-Tees Borough and usually have links or ties to Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council
• care home residents and hospital in-patients, unless the need is for a person who will be discharged as part of a resettlement plan
• persons who are members of and fully maintained by a religious order
• people in full-time education unless they are entitled to:
  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Universal Credit and working less than 16 hours per week
• prisoners who are in prison or released on temporary licence
• a person who is, or would be, treated as a person from abroad for the purpose of Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance and Pension Credit, and has no entitlement to those benefits, including:
  • foreign nationals with limited immigration status
  • foreign nationals with no recourse to public funds
  • non-economically active European Union individuals
  • United Kingdom nationals who are not habitually resident in the United Kingdom

The Council will undertake regular monitoring of the Back on Track scheme to ensure funds are available throughout the financial year and that decisions are being made fairly and consistently.

The Council will monitor the number and type of referrals made to other support and welfare services.

The Council will publicise the Back on Track scheme as appropriate and will work with all interested parties to achieve this.

The Council will:

• ensure the scheme is publicised on the Council website and that all information is accurate and up to date
• work with partners to raise awareness of the scheme, the qualifying criteria which need to be met to receive support and how applications can be made
• work with partners to encourage take up of the scheme
• ensure training is provided for front-line staff to ensure their knowledge of the scheme is both relevant and up to date

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council is committed to the prevention and detection of fraud.

An offence may have been committed where false statements or false evidence is used to obtain financial awards from the Back on Track scheme.

Where fraud is suspected, the matter will be investigated appropriately and this may lead to criminal proceedings being instigated.

The Council has a duty to protect public funds and may use information given to prevent and detect fraud and may give some information to other organisations where the law allows.

This policy will be reviewed at regular intervals by appropriate Council officers. This will take into account any views of applicants, Council Members, specialist providers, other referral agencies and other voluntary sector organisations with an interest in the scheme.

Proof of address

• Council Tax bill
• health and social care correspondence
• HMRC, local authority or Jobcentre Plus correspondence
• landlord letter
• mortgage agreement
• MP
• other local authority
• probation service
• Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council correspondence
• solicitor
• tenancy agreement
• utility bill

Proof of identity

• birth certificate
• decree absolute
• driving licence
• health or social care correspondence including support workers
• HMRC, local authority or Jobcentre Plus correspondence
• insurance company
• marriage document
• MP correspondence
• passport

Proof of need - letter or document

• fire brigade
• GP
• health or social care correspondence including support workers
• insurance company
• landlord
• police
• prescription
• probation service
• Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council services
• utility company 

Qualifying benefits

• employment and support allowance
• income support
• Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit if working less than 16 hours per week
• employment and support allowance
• income support