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Update from MoJ re: welfare benefit contracts from 1 November 2013
Update from MoJ re: welfare benefit contracts from 1 November 2013
Arrangements for services across England and Wales
Services under new contracts for welfare benefits began on 1 November in the procurement areas of London & the South East and Midlands & East where the Law Centres Federation successfully tendered for this work.
It has not been possible for us to place welfare benefits services through the tender process in the procurement areas of the North and the South West & Wales.
Three month extension
In these areas there will be a three month extension to existing arrangements with CLA providers to ensure provision.
Future announcement
We are considering our longer term approach to provision in the North and the South West and Wales and will make an announcement shortly.
CLA operator service
The CLA operator service may still handle calls and make an initial assessment of scope where clients make contact about welfare benefits issues.
If a case is in scope and meets the eligibility criteria the CLA service will refer clients to providers contracted to cover that procurement area.
Welfare benefit enquiries
Providers who receive enquiries on welfare benefits services should refer either to the CLA operator service or the Law Centres Federation.
[ Edited: 14 Feb 2014 at 02:04 pm by shawn mach ]MoJ is having another go at tendering for welfare benefits provision in the North and South West & Wales
ps ... here’s info on the law centres network’s service
http://www.lawcentres.org.uk/our-work/welfare-benefits-upper-tribunal-service
MoJ have announced that legal aid contracts are now in place for the delivery of welfare benefits advice in the North and the South West & Wales
http://www.justice.gov.uk/legal-aid/newslatest-updates/civil-news/welfare-benefits-advice-update-on-contracts
http://www.justice.gov.uk/legal-aid/contracts-and-tenders/tenders/welfare-benefits-contracts-from-february-14
If you recall, whilst Law Centres Network got the contract for London & the South East and Midlands & East, back in November the MoJ announced that it had not been possible for it to place welfare benefits services through the tender process in the North and the South West & Wales ...
... looks like, as a result, 13 different orgs have been allocated 40 matter starts each ...
http://www.justice.gov.uk/downloads/legal-aid/tenders/wb-tender-outcome-feb-2014.pdf
[ Edited: 14 Feb 2014 at 02:07 pm by shawn mach ]