Taxing demands on Citizens Advice Exeter
Leading local advice charity, Citizens Advice Exeter, has released its latest advice trend figures.
These show a 10% increase in enquiries from clients about welfare benefits and tax credits, compared to the same period in 2015.
Citizens Advice Exeter has helped 5,972 people with advice and information across all enquiry areas since 1 April 2016.
Chief Executive Steve Barriball said: “The number of people coming to us for help with welfare benefits or tax credit issues has hit a nine-year high. It is no surprise when you consider that the last nine years has seen almost constant changes to the welfare benefits and tax credits system; from changes to disability benefits, to the so-called bedroom tax, to changes to unemployment benefit. It has been a time of major upheaval and change for those affected. In the last nine-months we dealt with 5884 benefit and tax credit problems. This is a massive 166% increase since 2008 when we dealt with 2208 enquiries. ”
Steve continued: “We would like to see a period of bedding-in with the last round of welfare changes before any future changes are brought in. This will give everyone a period to adjust and consider the wider, and often, inter-related impacts, such as money and debt problems. In relation to wider advice trends, we welcome the downward trends across debt, housing and employment enquiries. However, wider economic uncertainty, and the impact of Christmas spending, are yet to feature in these figures.”
The period showed ups and downs in advice trends:
Welfare benefits
Overall, the charity dealt with 10.7% more welfare benefit enquiries. The main increases being:
• 17.1% increase about disability benefits (PIP/DLA)
• 16.6% increase about employment and support allowance
The charity also dealt with 81 enquires about Universal Credit.
Case studies – focus on welfare benefits and tax credits:
1. A client, awaiting an operation, who submitted a GP letter in support of their Personal Independence Payment claim but had the claim refused. The GP letter confirmed a lack of mobility, but the claim for an enhanced rate for mobility costs was rejected
2. A client with a severe, and long-term, mental health condition who had their claim for Employment and Support Allowance turned down. The client told us that the medical assessment did not focus sufficiently on his mental health condition and difficulties with independent living.
Debt
Overall, the charity dealt with 7.8% fewer debt enquiries. The main changes being:
• 27.1% decrease about catalogue and mail order debts
• 22.1% decrease about credit card debts
• 21.8% increase about private sector rent arrears
• 10.2% increase about bankruptcy and debt relief orders
Employment
Overall, the charity dealt with 13.1% fewer employment enquiries. The main changes being:
• 52.3% decrease about resignation
• 17.4% decrease about dismissal
• 35.0% increase about employment tribunals
• 15.4% increase about terms and conditions
Housing
Overall, the charity dealt with 11.4% fewer housing enquiries. The main changes being:
• 23.3% decrease about threatened homelessness
• 16.7% decrease about private sector property
• 69.3% increase about housing association property
• 6.8% increase about actual homelessness
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.
