Responding to the latest Ofgem price cap, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said: “Today’s price cap rise pushes energy prices to a three year high. It’s another sign of the relentless erosion of living standards across the country: energy bills are simply too high, prices leapfrog incomes, and debt levels continue to…
Tag: citizens advice
What works: Lessons from the frontline of digital support & advice services
What works: Lessons from the frontline of digital support & advice services Government and essential services have fundamentally changed. More and more services have gone digital, meaning that the problems people face often require digital support. But between 14 and 22 million people in the UK face one or more barriers to digital services. In response, Citizens…
Get help if you’re struggling to pay your bills
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/debt-and-money/budgeting1/get-help-with-bills/ There are things you can do if you’re struggling to pay your bills – for example your energy bills, rent and council tax. If you owe money and you’re struggling to pay You should speak to the organisations you owe money to – they might let you pay smaller amounts or take a break…
How to balance fairness and effectiveness in Unemployment Insurance
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/how-to-balance-fairness-and-effectiveness-in-unemployment-insurance/ The aim of recognising previous labour market contributions in benefit eligibility and payment levels, in order to enhance the political legitimacy of the benefits system, is understandable. And we agree that the role of contributory benefits in partially replacing lost income when someone becomes unemployed can help some people return to sustainable jobs more…
Work incentives aren’t working: is the Universal Credit review asking the right questions?
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/work-incentives-arent-working-is-the-universal-credit-review-asking-the/ The Universal Credit (UC) system includes elements designed to encourage claimants’ transition into employment. These range from measures ensuring people are financially better off (such as the taper rate and the work allowance) to penalising people for failing to take active steps towards work (conditionality and sanctions). These mechanisms cannot necessarily offset the systemic…
The future of crisis support: a discussion paper
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/the-future-of-crisis-support-a-discussion-paper/ The Household Support Fund (HSF) has been the primary source of crisis support in England since it began in 2021. It has provided vital support to households facing hardship with nowhere left to turn, including being used to soften the impact of shortfalls in the wider benefits system. With the HSF’s 7th iteration due…
Deeper in Debt: Citizens Advice debt data update
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/deeper-in-debt-citizens-advice-debt-data-update/ Debt levels are rising sharply, and cases are becoming more complex and harder to resolve. The road to debt recovery is long, and impossible for many. These insights highlight the challenges facing people with debt and the need for government action.
Universal Credit Deductions: Impact and Recommendations
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/designing-out-deductions-how-to-address-the-welfare-debt-trap Benefit deductions mean that people receive lower benefit payments in order to repay debts. They arise largely from debts that claimants owe to government itself. This report details the impact that such deductions can have on people receiving Universal Credit, and outlines policies that can prevent and alleviate deductions. Deductions have been normalised: 2.25…
Where next for the Household Support Fund? Why the need for crisis support remains
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/policy/publications/where-next-for-the-household-support-fund-why-the-need-for-crisis-support/ We are seeing record numbers of people coming to us for local welfare advice. In the first 6 months of 2024, we had already supported over 50,000 people with localised social welfare issues – 17,200 more people than we helped over the first 6 months of last year, and twice as many people as…
Friends Against Scams.
https://www.friendsagainstscams.org.uk/ Friends Against Scams is a National Trading Standards Scams Team initiative which aims to protect and prevent people from becoming victims of scams by empowering people to take a stand against scams. What is Friends Against Scams? Friends Against Scams is designed to inspire action, highlight the scale of the problem, change the perceptions…