Citizens Advice Exeter concerned over rise in welfare benefit enquiries
Leading local advice charity, Citizens Advice Exeter, has released its latest advice trend statistics.
In the period 1 April 2016 – 28 February 2017 the charity helped 7267 people directly with advice and information. The advice trends over the period were as follows:
Welfare benefits
Overall, the charity dealt with 10.3% more welfare benefit enquiries. The main increases being:
• 20.7% increase about disability benefits (PIP/DLA)
• 12.4% increase about employment and support allowance
• 2.6% increase about attendance allowance
The charity also dealt with 109 enquires about the new Universal Credit benefit system.
Employment
Overall, the charity dealt with 17.0% fewer employment enquiries. The main changes being:
• 39.2% decrease about dispute resolution
• 18.9% decrease about dismissal
• 29.1% increase about employment tribunals
• 4.7% increase about terms and conditions
Case studies – focus on employment problems:
1. A client who was demoted with no consultation in order that another colleague could be reassigned from another area of the business and was then told that their hours of work had been reduced without negotiation or agreement.
2. A client whose employer failed to make any provision or payment for long distance travel to various places of work or for training and provided no paid holiday entitlement.
3. A client who is off work and has had various employment benefits and bonuses withheld by the employer and is also owed holiday pay.
Debt
Overall, the charity dealt with 10.1% fewer debt enquiries. The main changes being:
• 23.2% decrease about unsecured borrowing and loans
• 22.4% decrease about credit card debts
• 7.1% increase about bankruptcy and debt relief orders
• 1.3% increase about council tax arrears
Housing
Overall, the charity dealt with 18.6% fewer housing enquiries. The main changes being:
• 23.6% decrease about threatened homelessness
• 25.0% decrease about private sector property
• 54.8% increase about housing association property
• 5.4% increase about actual homelessness
Chief Executive Steve Barriball said: “The falls in enquires about debt and money, housing and employment are all very welcome. However, the number of enquiries is now only just getting back down to the levels before the last recession. It has taken that long for many people to get past the impact.”
Steve continued: “The continuing high levels of welfare benefit enquiries remain a concern. We are seeing increases in many areas that have been subject to reforms over the last 5 years or so. This clearly demonstrates that changes in policy have a direct link to increased advice needs. A further worry is the impact that the full implementation of Universal Credit will have next year when it is rolled out. If past history is anything to go by we are likely to see high levels of advice need around this topic too. ”
Steve finished by saying: “Our commitment is always to provide the advice people need for the problems they face. However, we can only continue to do this if we have the necessary resources and we need to increase public and business donations. Anyone wishing to support our work can donate on-line by going to the Support Us section of our website (www.citizensadviceexeter.org.uk)”
Alternatively, donations can be made in person at the charity’s offices on Dix’s Field in Exeter.
