Additional Needs Working Group
This working group of external stakeholder representatives and HM Revenue and Customs' (HMRC) staff helps us to understand the needs of customers who may need additional help with HMRC services. We aim to help them engage with us, pay their correct tax or claim the benefits to which they are entitled without being disadvantaged. The group also provides valuable insight into the impact on our customers of any HMRC changes in a fast-moving world. In short, we ensure they do not get left behind.
External members
| Tax Policy Advice |
| Association of Taxation Technicians |
| Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales |
| TaxAid |
| Ty Hei Cyf Ltd |
| Money Advice Unit |
| Association of Disabled Professionals |
| Disability Dynamics |
| Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland |
| Low Incomes Tax Reform Group |
| Royal Association for Deaf People |
| Money and Mental Health Policy Institute |
| Money Advice Trust |
| British Dyslexia Association |
| Department for Work and Pensions |
| Royal National Institute of Blind People |
| Carers UK |
| Valuation Office Agency |
Terms of reference
Purpose
The Additional Needs Working Group is an external focus group of HMRC staff and invited external representatives. The group’s main functions are to:
- support and challenge HMRC on equality issues and help the department deliver on its strategic objectives and Public Sector Equality Duty
- explore ways to assist those customers who need extra support to use HMRC services and progress the removal of barriers to enable customers to interact successfully with us
- share expertise and best practice for those with additional needs and monitor the impact of HMRC’s strategic direction on them
- understand the concerns of customers who need additional support, and work toward ensuring that these are reflected in the development of HMRC services
Responsibilities
The Additional Needs Working Group will:
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provide support and challenge by:
- examining planned changes to ensure that the impact on customers with additional needs has been sufficiently considered
- ensuring the Department considers and responds to the issues raised by members, escalating issues where necessary
- using their skills and experience to provide practical advice, help and guidance, making recommendations as to how relevant policies, strategies and practices can be improved
- provide HMRC with a forum for the constructive exchange of ideas about the requirements and concerns of customers who need additional support
- ensure that HMRC’s Assisted Digital and Digital Exclusion approaches are shaped by the group
- use interaction and feedback from external members of the group to provide an opportunity for the quality assurance of guidance, HMRC services and projects
- the responsibilities of the group will expand to accommodate new areas for collaboration and be appended to this list
Membership and meetings
The membership of the Additional Needs Working Group is listed above.
Membership of the working group is by invitation, in general, made up of the following stakeholder groups:
- Voluntary and Community Sector organisations that represent people with disabilities and mental health conditions
- non-government organisations with particular interests in equality or disability issues
- representatives of government or public sector bodies with particular interests or experience in equality or disability issues
- relevant HMRC stakeholders
Meetings of the Additional Needs Working Group will be held 3 times a year. Additional meetings will be arranged to address particular topics if required.
Meeting procedures:
- agendas developed through mutual agreement with members
- papers for meetings issued in advance
- meetings chaired by HMRC
- HMRC invites subject experts to attend meetings as necessary
- minutes published as soon as possible after meetings
- action points from meetings tracked by HMRC and reviewed at subsequent meetings
- HMRC responds to members’ queries between meetings
- full facilities to assist members with disabilities available at face-to-face meetings
HMRC will conduct an annual review of the Additional Needs Working Group’s effectiveness and report to its membership on the outcome. The Terms of reference will be reviewed every 2 years.
Minutes of meetings