External provider social loans: Joining-up financial inclusion and social fund reform.
Date
2010
Authors
Buck, Trevor, 1951-
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
ISSN
1354-7747
DOI
Volume Title
Publisher
Sweet & Maxwell
Peer reviewed
Yes
Abstract
This article examines the way in which policy has been developed in relation to
the recent reforms to the Social Fund, in particular the ‘‘external provider social
loan’’ scheme; policy that has now found its way into the Welfare Reform Act
2009. It then outlines and comments on the relevant statutory provisions in the
Act and discusses a number of issues arising from these reforms. The article
concludes that: the DWP’s consultation in December 2008 was unfortunately a
hurried affair; there remain more radical proposals to join up a reformed social
fund within the financial inclusion agenda; a full evaluation will only be possible
when the details of the scheme appear following further consultation; and, the
Government would be wise to rethink its current plan to disapply the social fund
review processes to the external provider social loans.
Description
Keywords
community care grants, budgeting loan, crisis loan, external provider social loan, financial inclusion, credit unions, social fund
Citation
Buck, T.(2010) External provider social loans: Joining-up financial inclusion and social fund reform. Journal of Social Security Law, 17(1), pp.39-57