Redhill.
At a meeting this week volunteer advisers at Citizens Advice Reigate & Banstead identified notable issues raised with the bureau this month.
Courts in the borough will close their doors for the last time in March. But already people facing eviction are required to travel to their hearing in Guildford – for some a difficult and expensive journey. The risk of eviction is significantly increased if a tenant doesn’t attend.
Benefits More requests for help with benefit problems are leading to increasingly complex cases. Often people who qualify for benefits are not aware of their rights. Also misunderstandings between claimants and decision-makers about expectations can take a long time to sort out.
Work Capability Assessments continue to cause claimants surprise and alarm (and our advisers!). The high number of successful appeals is evidence enough that change is needed. Often the problem is made worse by long delays that leave people with much reduced income.