The Welsh Government published a route map on 14 January 2025 setting out the first phase of its Streamlining Welsh Benefits programme, covering three local authority delivered benefits: the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, Free School Meals and the Schools Essentials Grant1. The document states that this is "intended to be a route map for Phase 1 only (up to April 2026)"1.
The programme builds on the Welsh Benefits Charter, which the document says was "formally endorsed at the Partnership Council in November 2023" and launched in January 20241. All 22 local authorities in Wales have signed up to the Charter1. A Streamlining Welsh Benefits Steering Group was set up in 2024, independently chaired by Fran Targett, and established six workstreams covering areas including eligibility, design and data, and monitoring, research and evaluation1.
The stated aim of phase one is that people across Wales will only have to provide their information and supporting evidence once to claim the three benefits, with the document saying "The aim is for this to happen across all local authorities by April 2026"1. Success for the phase is defined as "all local authorities in Wales delivering the 3 selected benefits more coherently"1.
"The Welsh Benefits Charter sets out the principles for the design and delivery of a person-centred, compassionate and coherent Welsh benefits system."
The route map sets out priority actions against five strategic objectives: a simplified, inclusive, person-centred, coherent and future-proof Welsh benefits system1. Timescales are given by financial year, so that Q4 2024 means January to March 2025 and Q1 2025 means April to July 20251. The document states that all dates are indicative and subject to change1. A mapping exercise of the three benefits across all 22 local authorities is listed with a deadline of Q1 2025, and user research is listed for Q2 20251. The document also notes that the benefits provided by the Welsh Government include support such as Free School Meals, the Council Tax Reduction Scheme, the Schools Essentials Grant and Education Maintenance Allowance1.
Why it matters for households
The three benefits in scope are administered by local authorities, and the route map describes a long-term aim for people to "tell their story once" rather than provide duplicate information and evidence several times1. For households claiming more than one of the three benefits, the stated phase one goal is a single set of information and supporting evidence, with the aim of this applying across all local authorities by April 20261. The document also says some people are still not claiming their entitlements, and cites confusion over entitlement, complicated application forms and having to prove eligibility multiple times as contributing factors1. The route map does not set out changes to eligibility rules or payment rates for the three benefits; it describes administrative and process changes1.
What happens next
The route map covers phase one only, up to April 2026, and the document says it will be updated to include actions for subsequent phases taking into account lessons learnt from the first phase1. The mapping exercise of the three benefits is listed for Q1 2025 and user research for Q2 2025, with all dates described as indicative and subject to change1. The document states that the route map "will remain fluid as work progresses"1.
For background on the benefits involved, see the guide to Council Tax Reduction and the wider benefits section.
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