Service user incentive payments

Neil Ayling, Chief Officer Social Services said; ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Service user incentive payments will now not be withdrawn from 1 April. This is to allow more time for consultation with service users, families and other interested groups and to enable any new processes and positive incentives to be established before withdrawing the existing system. We do want to develop our thriving day opportunity service to be even more valued, adopting a system where peoples contribution is rewarded more appropriately. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The current system is not sustainable financially as the funding to support the allowance was withdrawn some time ago. The allowance is not a wage for work carried out and many of the clients using the service receive disability benefits as part of the national welfare system. Most other councils have already withdrawn the local allowance service users receive and Flintshire is one of the only remaining authorities to continue this payment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​