Exeter CAB reports huge rise in people seeking advice
Leading local advice charity, Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau, has published its advice trend statistics for the period 1 April – 31 December 2015.
The charity has helped 5,998 people directly with their advice and information needs, an increase of 34% on the same period year.
The trends in the amount of advice that the charity has been able to provide compared to the same period in 2014, was as follows:
Welfare benefits
Overall, the charity has dealt with 29% more welfare benefit enquires this financial year. The main increases being:
• 38.7% about disability benefits (PIP/DLA)
• 34.2% about housing benefit
• 26.3% about tax credits
• 22.0% about employment and support allowance
Debt
Overall, the charity has dealt with 4% fewer debt enquires this financial year. However, the charity saw increases in the following areas:
• 30% increase about council tax arrears
• 9.6% increase about local authority rent arrears
• 5.4% increase about housing association rent arrears
• 1.2% increase about water debts
Employment
Overall, the charity has dealt with 33% more employment enquires this financial year. The main increases being:
• 64.2% about dispute resolution
• 38.6% about dismissal
• 25.3% about pay and entitlements
Housing
Overall, the charity has dealt with 38% more housing enquires this financial year. The main increases being:
• 38.8% about local authority property
• 34.7% about private sector property
• 30.5% about threatened homelessness
Exeter CAB Chief Executive Steve Barriball said: “There is a worry here that for the last nine months enquiries about welfare benefits, employment and housing have consistently been well ahead of where they were last year. This highlights the urgent need to address failings in the benefits system, provide more security for those in work, and provide additional assistance to those struggling to get on the property ladder; either as property owners or tenants.”
Steve continued: “In relation to debt enquiries, it is good news that the total number of enquiries are down. The worry is that these figures come before the impact of Christmas spending is felt. In addition, increases in urgent, or priority, debts such as council tax, rent and water bills show that folks with these problems are struggling to keep up with essential costs. Not everyone is confident managing their money so it is really important people are able to access free, impartial help and support to get their finances on track.”
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 Donation Support section of our website (www.exetercab.org.uk)0.”
Alternatively, donations can be made in person at the Bureau offices on Dix’s Field in Exeter.
