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<p>From April 2013, non-ring fenced funding was passed to local authorities in England
and to the devolved administrations in Scotland and Wales, who all now administer
Welfare Assistance Schemes on a devolved and localised basis. How those local authorities
administer this support is for them to decide and outside of my Department’s remit.</p><p>
</p><p>In 2014 the Department undertook a review of this change and confirmed that
local authorities were delivering targeted support more effectively than was the case
with the previous provision under the Social Fund. This confirmed the Government’s
wider view that local authorities are best placed to deliver help and support at a
local level, ensuring effective provision for those who need it most, and coherent
links with wider social care.</p><p> </p><p>Further support is available from Universal
Credit and Universal Support for claimants who are in financial difficulty or who
are awaiting a Universal Credit payment. This includes advance payments, Alternative
Payment Arrangements (more frequent payments, split payments within a household and
the payment of rent direct to landlords) and Personal Budgeting support.</p>
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