Universal Credit Conference 2019
Thursday 18th April 2019

For the booking form please click here

IRRV Scotland is pleased to announce this major conference, taking place on Thursday 18th April 2019, and being organised at the request of local authorities, housing associations, other organisations and IRRV members across Scotland.

The advent of Universal Credit heralds the biggest change in welfare benefits delivery in a generation and its likely impact on service delivery in local authorities is hugely significant.

This conference will look in detail at current issues surrounding UC implementation, how this affects local authorities, housing organisations and the third sector - and experiences and lessons to learn to date. The conference will also look at associated issues - including Universal Support, Direct Deduction, rent arrears and UC and preparing for mixed aged couples and UC.

Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Social Security and Older People, has been invited to make the Ministerial Address to conference. The Department for Work and Pensions has confirmed it will contribute to conference with a presentation on UC issues from a DWP perspective.

The programme will cover the following vital areas :

• Ministerial Address : Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP (invited)
• Presentation by the Department for Work and Pensions : Presentation on current Universal Credit issues from a DWP perspective and planning ahead.
• Latest Universal Credit issues : Jim McCafferty, IRRV Council Member and past Institute President
• Rent Arrears and Universal Credit : Joy Campbell, Senior Housing Development Officer, City of Edinburgh Council
• Universal Support : Derek Mitchell, Chief Executive, Citizens Advice Scotland
• Preparing for mixed aged couple and Universal Credit : Paula Doherty, Team Leader – Benefits and Welfare, Dumfries & Galloway Council, IRRV Welfare Reform Consortium Chair and IRRV Education Liaison Officer for Scotland
• Direct Deduction for Universal Credit : DWP presentation (this will be complemented by a related presentation on automation and robotics for council Tax Deduction from ESA – presented by Judith Hartshorne, SDM Working Age Live Products and Common Processes Team, Department for Work and Pensions)
• Universal Credit's hidden hardships: case studies of councils intervening early : Peter Carter, Policy in Practice

The conference will be chaired by Les Robertson, Head of Revenue and Commercial Services, Fife Council, and Chair, IRRV Scottish Revenues and Benefits Forum

The conference will be invaluable to all local authority, third sector, housing organisation and other practitioners, including Managers, Team Leaders and team members. It represents excellent value for money, with conference fees starting at only £145 + VAT. To encourage organisations to send a number of team members, every third delegate from the same organisation comes entirely free of charge.

For the booking form please click here