Finance

Information on Fairer Charging

Find out about Fairer Charging, how to refer a service user to us, and what your role as a provider is in the procedure.

Hardship Fund 2009/10

Applications are now being considered to the Manchester Supporting People Hardship Fund 2009/10.  The closing date for applications is 31 August 2009. For further information click here

The payment process and rules for returns for providers

Introduction

The payment process has been developed within the constraints of the council's financial regulations and the operational procedure is described below.

Definitions

Block gross
A contract for a support service which is delivered for a short period, i.e. less than two years. Payments are made based on the capacity of a service. On Block Gross accommodation services there is usually a void factor of 10% which takes into account the service will not be at 100% occupancy throughout the year. Payments are made for a fixed number of service users. Service users are not charged for the support.

Block subsidy
A contract for a support service which is usually long-term or permanent, e.g. sheltered housing. Grant payments to the provider will vary, depending on how many people receiving the support service qualify for the subsidy at any given time.  Providers tell the Supporting People team on a period basis who has moved in and out of their service, and the subsidy payment is adjusted accordingly.  Some service users may be charged for this service. There are some subsidy services that receive a fixed element due to the nature of the legacy funding but these will be incorporated into the user based system in the foreseeable future. 

Supporting People payment periods
Supporting People make payments every 4 weeks, resulting in 13 payments a year. These payment periods are numbered 1 to 13. To download the current Provider Payment Timetable click here

Block subsidy

• Every payment period the provider is required to submit a return of deletions, starters and amendments (13 periods a year). A nil return is required where there are no changes. This must be done for each individual subsidy service by the cut off date published. There is no requirement to wait until the cut off date to submit a return. Providers may submit more than one return a period.
• Failure to submit a return or a nil return in two consecutive periods may result a retention of 50% of the amount due.
• Failure to submit a return or a nil return in three consecutive periods may result in a 100% retention of the amount due.
• Failure to submit a return or a nil return in four consecutive periods may result in a 100% retention of the amount due and the issue of a default notice.
• Once a provider has submitted a return for every service the retention will released and paid on the next available payment run.
• Payment is made every 28 days on the published dates directly to providers bank accounts by BACs.
• A payment notification is sent each period detailing the amounts being paid both at service and client level. Payments are made four weeks in advance.

Block gross

1/13th of the annual figure is paid on each service on the same dates as the block subsidy services directly to providers bank accounts by BACs.  Payments are rounded down for pence with the 13th period making any pence correction required.

Statements

• Each period the provider will be sent a statement detailing the amounts being paid for each service showing any adjustments to those amounts and any amounts already paid in the period (e.g. a released retention). This will show the amount being paid to your bank account. In addition the provider will receive a copy of the block subsidy payment notification.
• Those providers only with block gross contracts or only fixed element in block subsidy contracts will receive just the statement.
• Letters will accompany these statements and notifications only where explanations are required or there is a requirement to disseminate relevant information.

Vatable providers

Those providers whose services are subject to vat will receive the same information except that the statement will show amounts net of vat and zero being paid to the bank. This is because their payments are made against vat invoices submitted, and these will be shown in the 'any amounts already paid in period' column in the subsequent period’s statement. This will also apply to providers who require paying by invoice even if they are not subject to vat.

HB rules

Housing benefit rules are followed for the appropriate start, end and change dates.  Providers should put the actual dates on their returns and our computer system will select the correct date. Tuesdays and Wednesdays go back to the previous Monday, other days go forward to the next Monday. Please note the start date is when the support actually starts rather than the tenancy.

All starters and deletions are checked by Manchester Supporting People on the Housing Benefit records (Academy) to ensure the client is passported to Supporting People and the exact end dates.

NB. If there is a delay in a service user's Housing Benefit claim the provider must inform the Supporting People Team on their returns routinely until the claim is resolved. At present we are unable to recheck old returns for outstanding new claims, if you do not resubmit the service users name for rechecking they will be missed from payment.

Clients ceasing to be passported from HB

The onus is on the provider to inform us if a clients Housing Benefit status alters. If the provider is landlord and provider this information will be readily available to you. If you are just the provider you should routinely check the Housing Benefit status with the client.

Block subsidy returns

• It is not our intention to routinely distribute these schedules in future with each notification. You can download the Provider Adjustment Schedule (Excel spreadsheet).
• Should you require forms and do not have access to the web site please contact us and we will forward a quantity.
• Returns must show all the information we require including the National Insurance number (Nino) and Housing Benefit reference number if known.
• Unfortunately Manchester Supporting People are unable to accept returns by email (for data protection reasons) but they can be faxed on  0161 274 7061
• Providers are expected to observe the data protection rules and clients’ information and data should be treated accordingly.
• Returns must be signed and dated together with the name of the contact printed or in block capitals and a contact telephone number for that person.

The Finance contact at Manchester Supporting People is James Stock:

Telephone 0161 234 4437

Fax  0161 274 7061

Email  supporting.people@manchester.gov.uk

Postal address
Supporting People
PO Box 536
Town Hall Extension
Manchester
M60 2AF

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