Two true stories. One short message. One. A young single mum living with her 2 children in a housing association property has lost £30 pw from housing benefit. She must find work if she is to manage her weekly rent payments. She is keen to do so but is likely to struggle. She must factor […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
Two benefit claimants in Newcastle and the 21st Century.
Perverse Independence Policy? We’ve been helping someone whose job is at risk. We often have to, unfortunately. But in more and more cases the risk seems linked to government policy. This person was required to have a Work Capability Assessment – a normal step in moving from Disability Living Allowance to Personal Independence Payment. The result […]