Summary

Main problem areas for claimants revolve around the "availability for work" rule and the "actively seeking work" rule.

Earnings limits are a further disincentive to using the system.

Disabled people are not even allowed to do voluntary work so they should not become involved (although a "disabled only" system seems feasible).

We need clear strategies and support before we attempt to build up case law. Otherwise individuals could come under undue pressure.

Local groups should beware of "going it alone".

Outline positions and strategies are outlined in this paper.

Basic Advice

Many issues are not resolved yet, and are unlikely to be until a concerted approach is taken at national level. Since activity on the ground is still at a low level, the current response from DSS/Benefits Agency in most areas is to:

• a) say no
• b) ignore us and deal on a claimant-by-claimant basis

From this point of view, it will be better to spend our energy building contacts with MPs and local politicians. Brief them on the problems.

Claimants are at risk. Always advise claimants to BE VERY CAREFUL in their use of the system. As administrators, our job is not to police the activity of those people who use the system. However, we can provide clear information to all concerned.

If you do want to approach the Benefits Agency locally, it is courtesy to consult claimants who are using the LETSystem before you do so.

Disabled people are (unfortunately) advised to stay clear at the moment because any "activity" may be interpreted as being fit for work again. Another point to make to the MPs.

Special systems which are limited to claimants or disabled people and use non-money-equivalent measures, such as hours, may be one way forward. This will become increasingly easy to administer as the multiLETS methods are adopted.

Draft Position Statement

• By the general agreement of LETSystem account-holders, either expressed or implied, anyone who uses the system and who is also claiming benefit can be at all times available for work. Claimants are able to interrupt or postpone any LETSystem exchanges should they be offered employment.

• Even though a claimant participates in exchanges in the LETSystem, he or she is not prevented from actively seeking work.

• When the equivalent value of LETSystem income exceeds the appropriate disregard, benefit payments may be reduced, but only when the claimant can use local pounds to obtain - at no extra cost - the minimum needs that are covered by those benefits. These minimum needs are typically in the categories of food, fuel and shelter.

Note: DSS/Benefits Agency offices may not accept this.

LETSystems and social security

The DSS/Benefits Agency position is, we suggest, a far more serious problem than the one of taxation.

Without the support of, say, the Local Authority, we are unlikely to make any progress with local offices and it has been suggested that we make approaches at Regional level.

In addition, some local benefits officers would feel compelled to suspend the benefits of people who exchange on LETSystems and refer their cases for consideration by the local Adjudication Officer. This is a powerful deterrent to claimants who wish to participate.

The first thing the Adjudication Officer would have to consider was whether the Account-holder was engaged in remunerative work.

• Remunerative work is defined as work in which the person is engaged for, on average, 16 hours or more a week and which is done in expectation of payment.

Those engaged in remunerative work are not normally eligible to claim Income Support. If the person spends less than 16 hours a week on LETSystem activities, the Adjudication Officer will have to decide whether the local pounds count as earnings. Notional earnings are subtracted from a person's benefit in the same way as ordinary earnings. (See section on "notional earnings" in Section 4.0.)

• The earnings rule only allows you to earn a small amount before you start to lose your benefit. This limit (the "standard disregard") for Income Support is £5 with a "higher disregard" of £15 for special groups.

The 16hr a week limit for Income Support will probably only affect those in part-time work. Those without work will find it difficult to do more than 16hrs per week at the moment. In any case, we should look further at the idea of "remunerative work".

Although the measure of the unit of exchange in a LETSystem is the same as the pound sterling, the unit itself is not the same as the pound and may not have the same spending power. Can we use local pounds to buy food or pay our electricity bills? The other areas which is cause concern for claimants are:

• the "availability for work" rule.

• the "actively seeking work" rule

Since work on the system can be done in the evenings and on Sundays, claimants who do not enter into an employment relationship can argue that they comply with these requirements, as long as they are not involved in a lot of work through the system.

If a significant number of hours are worked in the week, a further rule to take into account is:

• the "extended normal hours" rule

DSS/Benefits Agency Position

The DSS position is given in the letter from Alistair Burt (9/12/92) to Judith Chaplin MP (copies available on request). "We would have to consider very carefully whether it is right to meet a person's living expenses in full from public funds where he has another source of income available to supplement any benefit he receives." Also, "In considering entitlement to IS, we must ensure that no one group of people has too great an advantage over other recipients. To ignore a form of payment simply because it is in the form of a local pounds, could lead to the scheme becoming inequitable as only those living in certain towns and who are able to participate in such a scheme can benefit."

Whatever happened to the idea of incentives?

On a more serious note, with increasing demands on the benefits system and a commitment from government to cut public expenditure, we can only expect further tightening of the rules.

Suggested negotiating strategies

Regarding the earnings limits, the case for not applying the rules is based on the following arguments:

1. DSS claimants should not be penalised if they are receiving extra support from the community.. This state of affairs will arise if claimants' balances show a continual state of commitment. The community is basically saying, "We will support you now and you can pay us back later." This point will be rammed home if claimants are in commitment because they have been exchanging local pounds for skills training.

2. Benefits are designed to meet the subsistence needs of the claimants: food, fuel etc. At present these are not normally available on LETSystems, so local pounds are not equivalent to normal earnings. Even if they are "payments in kind", the kind of payments does not meet any of the subsistence needs.

3. The availability for work rule should not apply if those requesting a service from a claimant agree to release the claimant if they are offered paid work. If I ask a claimant to supply me with something on a LETSystem, I will do so on the condition that they can break off at any time if they are offered formal employment. They can then return at a later date to finish the trade. If all participants trade under a similar condition, the problem should be solved. Perhaps this could be emphasised by a special agreement form to be signed by the person receiving.the trade.

We are on difficult ground arguing against the current rules. The moral case is clear, but the practical one is bogged down in legal concepts. My inclination is to go to the legislators for special incentives (like, no initial loss of benefit) for claimants who use LETSystems, provided that we meet certain safeguards against fiddling. We all have much to gain from this, it's not one sided.

It looks like we will have to approach central government including the DSS, Benefits Agency HQ and the Treasury. Our case can be based on the fact that LETSystems provide:

• training for new skills

• a route for individuals to develop and establish their new skills to a point where they can enter the formal economy

• local economic activity which would not exist without the system

• community development resulting in a healthier physical and social environment.

Perhaps an approach to local MPs is the best place to start. Don't assume that Conservatives will be unsympathetic. Many of them are turned on by the idea of self-reliance, also our aims which involve lifting people's earning potential to a point where they don't have to claim benefit any more. And training is the big buzzword of the moment.

Allies may be also found in other government departments, Employment in particular springs to mind.

Footnote: the Business Start-up Scheme had a 4 month "business planning phase". Claimants could join. Is it still running? Could claimants use LETSystems to do "market research" and "market testing"? (But a loan/grant of more than £3000 is classed as "income".)

Suggested Community Strategies

In an area which tends to operate on case law, we have no real cases to refer to. And that's as it should be, because cases involve putting vulnerable individuals through the adjudication process. Until the community can support individuals through adjudication, the case law route will be closed to us.

Community support gives us the opportunity to link the better-off sections of the community with the disadvantaged, which is more powerful than leaving matters to external agencies.

1. People who are well-off in the community and have litle spare time (such as doctors or skilled manufacturing workers) can swop hard cash for claimants' earnings in local currency. Claimants can then declare income and accept pro-rata reduction in benefits. Their "sponsors" can then spend local money within the local community, so strengthening the system.

2. Make full use of Registry multiLETS facilities to set up claimants-only systems where the unit of exchange is not linked to sterling (e.g. hours), thus emphasising the community and self-help aspects. Also we should investigate "pooling" by claimants.

3. Set up funds to support claimants through a rolling series of appeals. Demonstrate community willingness to challenge obstructive tactics by local Benefits Agency offices.

Disability Benefit

Disabled people are advised to stay clear at the moment because any "activity" may be interpreted as being fit for work again. "Disabled only" systems have a potential to help out and they can easily be administered through the new multiLETS software.