Reforms not enough. Energy suppliers are working on reforms required by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) and Ofgem to protect customers from overcharging. They need to. The CMA reports the annual rip-off is £1.4 billion. But already the reforms look too timid and too late. The Sun (1) claims to have seen a secret industry […]
Resolution Foundation: restore work allowances. Working families on low-to-middle income have not fared well for years. In advice to the chancellor* ahead of the Autumn Statement (23 November) Resolution Foundation points out that their average incomes were no higher in 2014-15 than 2004-05. The prime minister says her government will work for everyone. Resolution shows that […]
Consultation on 2 child limitation. As set out in the Welfare Reform and Work Act 2016 the government will limit child tax credit and the child element of universal credit to 2 children from 2017. There will be exceptions however. The Department of Work and Pensions and Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs have now jointly […]
Awareness. Expertise. Experience. TalkSelfEmploy is a blog facilitated by Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead. We’re asking self-employed people, business owners/managers and experts to help us: Raise Awareness. Promote Expertise. Share Experience. Self-employment is great. It suits many people, their families and style of work. The longer they do it, the better it gets. But starting can be difficult and lonely. There […]
Fighting exploitation. The Uber court judgement (enthusiasts only) challenges the freedoms many gig economy workers love. Some of them use the Uber model to top-up their income from another job. Others, including students, use it to earn extra cash. But the focus on tech business and digital communication risks moving attention away from the continuing […]
Essential. Enjoyable. District Training Day is a highlight of our calendar here at Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead. Should we get out more? In fact nothing is more essential to our volunteer advisers than feeling confident on the big issues. On 2nd November some of the biggest were on the agenda. With 50 colleagues, expert speakers and sun shining we had a great day. Above all it […]
For mutual benefit. At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead we work with many groups to get the best outcome for people who ask us for help. One is Surrey Choices who serve people with a learning or physical disability or mental health need and older people living with dementia who may be vulnerable. It’s really about colleagues sharing expertise for mutual benefit. For example last month our training manager Helen led a session for […]
Disability benefits reform. “More personalised” work capability assessments are promised by work and pensions secretary Damian Green. The reform is expected in a DWP Green Paper along with other measures to help people with disabilities into work. The announcement is a welcome response to campaigning by Citizens Advice and others. At CA Reigate & Banstead we’ve strongly backed the call for change. In […]
What we did. A few snapshots anyway. Big Energy Saving Week Sudden death advice Volunteer Fair Social media Film review (wot?) Housing questions October CARBS
Categories July-September 2016. Latest on the problems we’re helping people solve in Reigate & Banstead. Benefit and tax credit enquiries are increasing with loss of the GetWise benefit project funded by Surrey County Council. This is particularly relevant to Personal Independence Payment appeals and Employment Support Allowance applications. We expect this area of enquiry to increase with the introduction […]