At Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead we’re proud to play a full part in the national Citizens Advice network.
Now an evaluation of the full impact of the network across the country is available. By any standards it’s an impressive picture.
It’s essential the public and policy-makers understand the national impact.
But what really matters is the help given to so many unhappy individuals whose lives are improved by our efforts. Here’s one true story from the Reigate & Banstead bureau in Spring 2015.
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Working with a vulnerable client and a local authority to sort out a problem.
A young mother who had been abused by her now dead husband was facing eviction by her private landlord for non-payment of rent. She has limited literacy skills but with the help of her social worker was able to apply to the local authority for housing benefit. When she received no response, her sister who is her live-in carer contacted the bureau.
Our adviser was assured by the authority that they would help with a fresh online application if our client went to their offices at a quiet time. This didn’t work however. No benefit was paid and the family was evicted.
The family had since found alternative accommodation and now asked us to help with registering this change in circumstance to allow benefit to be paid to the old and new landlords. We pointed out it wasn’t enough for the authority to signpost online facilities to an applicant with limited literacy and computer skills. Our intervention led them to provide direct support to our client in arranging backdated benefit for the old tenancy and a new entitlement for the one just starting.
The family were now secure for the first time in months. They were pleased with the outcome the bureau had secured and happy with the support provided by the council.
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