THE TOP SECRET FUND THE DWP TRY TO HIDE

“Flexible Support Fund”

From April 2011 a number of schemes operated by Jobcentre Plus – including the Deprived Areas Fund, the Adviser Discretion Fund and the Travel to Interview Scheme – were abolished and replaced by the “Flexible Support Fund” (FSF). The FSF gives Jobcentre Plus Districts greater freedom to tailor back to work support to individual and local need.

The budget allocated for the FSF in 2015/16 was £69.5 million, and in 2016/17 is £76.7 million, and this is set to go up again in 2017/18. A breakdown of FSF spending in 2012/13 was provided, but according to answers given to Parliamentary Questions asking for breakdowns of subsequent years have been

Publicising the fund

Primary responsibility for publicising the fund lies with Jobcentre Plus advisers. However the Social Security Advisory Committee expressed concern at how little is known about the FSF and suggested its low profile allowed opportunities for partnerships with local authorities and agencies to be missed. An investigation by Channel 4’s Dispatchesprogramme into a Universal Credit contact centre in Bolton found advisers choosing not to inform claimants about the FSF. One adviser likened the FSF to the illegal boxing clubs in the film Fight Club, in that they don’t talk about the FSF.

There is limited information on the FSF in the public domain. This note sets out such information as is currently available, including extracts from DWP guidance and responses to Freedom of Information requests.