The Advice Dorset Partnership E news is published fortnightly on a Thursday, BUT if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a short supplementary edition. The E news is numbered from April, for some reason lost in the mists of time, so this is edition 1 of the new financial year!
As usual feel free to forward this email to colleagues and they can get in touch with us if they wish to go on the list. If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, and for all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership, contact Caroline Buxton on her Citizens Advice Central Dorset email: mailto:caroline.buxton
Jobs
Citizens Advice Central Dorset provides services across Weymouth & Portland, the Dorchester and Sherborne areas, and North Dorset. We currently have 2 vacancies:
Debt Caseworker able to work with clients providing a full and comprehensive range of debt advice under our MaPS (Money and Pensions Service) contract. You will be able to demonstrate experience of giving money advice at casework level within a quality based advice framework and deal with a full range of complex debt cases. The service you provide must comply with FCA Standards and as such you would need to be accredited or working towards achieving accreditation status. This is a full time role, salary £29,437, and can be a hybrid role, Dorset based / remote working. Read more here:
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Gillingham Foodbank Benefits & Debt Caseworker: This is a partnership project between Citizens Advice Central Dorset and Gillingham Foodbank, reaching out to those most in need in the Gillingham community by providing timely advice, information and support, particularly in the areas of welfare benefits and debt. The caseworker will attend the Foodbank on two mornings per week to work directly with those accessing its services. The successful candidate will be an experienced adviser who is used to working in partnership to produce positive outcomes for our clients. 10 hours/week, £14.11 per hour, fixed term until November 2024. Read more here.
Information updates
COST OF LIVING
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Cost of living payments 2023/4: Govt information on the various payments is here. People on means-tested benefits will get three payments totalling £900. The Govt has announced that eligible claimant families receiving tax credits, and no other means-tested benefits, will get the first Cost of Living Payment for the 2023 to 2024 tax year from Tuesday 2 May 2023. The £301 government payment will be paid automatically into most customers’ bank accounts between Tuesday 2 and Tuesday 9 May 2023 across the United Kingdom. The payment reference for bank accounts will be DWP COLP, along with the claimant’s National Insurance number. Read the Govt announcement here.
Energy Support: The last payment of the Energy Bill Support Scheme has been made to people who pay for their electricity by direct debit, standard credit or payment card, cheque, or a smart meter. People who have a traditional prepayment meter (PPM) should have got their vouchers by text message, email or post which are valid for 3 months. All vouchers must be used by 30 June 2023. If a voucher has expired, people should contact the supplier and ask for a new one before the scheme ends on 30 June. Some PPM customers will have received the discount automatically by special action message – they shouldn’t need to take any action. Read more on the EBSS here.
Energy bill support for non-domestic properties: Non-domestic properties (eg pubs, farms, community halls) which are not connected to the gas grid, or are high users of of heating oil (kerosene), can apply for £150 fixed payment for alternative fuel use support. Deadline 28 April; read more here.
BENEFITS
End of life rules change: Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Attendance Allowance (AA) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA) have now caught up with the already in-force changes to income-related benefits. From Monday 3 April, special rules benefit claims can be brought by those whose death is reasonably to be expected within 12 months (instead of 6 months). The press release is here. The SR1 form has now replaced the DS1500, and the guidance to clients, and their medical professionals, has been updated to reflect this – here.
Deductions from benefit for ongoing energy bills – consent required: From 1 April 2023 energy suppliers must get client consent before requesting new or increased deductions from benefits for ongoing consumption for energy. The Social Security Benefits (Claims & Payments) (Amendment) Regulations 2023 replace the temporary pause on energy suppliers’ ability to request new or increased deductions from means-tested benefits for ongoing fuel consumption which came in last year and ends on 6 April.
State Pension Age review: The second review of State Pension age has been published by the Government. It has concluded the State Pension age rise from 66 to 67 will take place, as planned, by the end of 2028. The Govt press release is here.
FAMILY
CAFCASS New course for separating parents: From 3 April the Children and Family Court Advisory and Support Service (CAFCASS) has introduced a new programme called ‘Planning Together for Children’. This new course will replace the existing ‘Separated Parents Information Programme’ (SPIP). These programmes are directed at families who are engaged in private law family court proceedings, for example applications for Child Arrangements Orders. Attendance at the programme can be ordered by the court or a CAFCASS family court adviser can refer the parties at any stage of the proceedings.
HOUSING
Illegal Eviction/Harassment: This can include a landlord for example changing the locks or cutting off the water. In a recent case the Local Authority prosecuted, then the landlord appealed; the appeal was dismissed. This was a case where the police had been called to the property by the tenant but on attending decided that it was a “civil matter” and left. The outcome is a reminder that unlawful eviction and unlawful harassment under the PFEA 77 are criminal offences and both local authorities and the police have powers to prosecute. Read more in Nearly Legal’s blog and for more information on illegal eviction visit Shelter’s website here.
IMMIGRATION
Applicants using incorrect application forms: The Home Office has changed its guidance on the variation of applications. If it appears to them that a valid form has been used for an application, but the applicant may have chosen the wrong route or category, or used the wrong application form, then they will contact the applicant to check, and the applicant will have 14 days to respond. The updated Govt guidance, with the catchy title Validation, variation, voiding and withdrawal of applications (accessible), is here.
OTHER
One touch and broadband switching: From 3 April there are new rules for a one touch switching process for landline and broadband residential customers, which make it easier to switch providers. Read more on how to switch from Citizens Advice, here. Ofcom is currently investigating broadband suppliers that have not yet implemented simpler switching – read more here.
Reporting online sales tactics: The Govt has a new online form as part of the Online Rip-off Tip-off campaign which allows people to report unfair online sales tactics. There is also more information about some common sales tactics that people might want to report on the campaign webpage.
Action Fraud: AF are highlighting a current scam whereby someone steals access to a WhatsApp user’s account. Read more here.
Events
Lloyds Foundation Racial Equity Fund webinar: A free information webinar and live Q&A panel will be held on 20 April 2023 (10:30 am to 12:00 pm) – see more details under Funding News, below.
Policy in Practice – Social safety nets: The importance of Local Welfare Assistance and Household Support Funds: Webinar – Wednesday 26 April, 10:30 – 11:45. The Govt has allocated £842 million Household Support Fund to councils in England. Councils must submit their plans for distribution of the Household Support Funds by 17 May. New research from Policy in Practice evaluates how discretionary Local Welfare Assistance schemes are delivered; to hear more register here.
DWP Disability Services Advocacy Team briefings: A few places remain on various briefings (covering PIP DLA and Industrial Injuries); dates and booking info are on the flyer below:
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Wessex Water – ‘Your Water, Your Say’: Online event, Friday 28 April 10 – 11.30am. Wessex Water are currently preparing their detailed plan for 2025 to 2030 and say: “The session will give an opportunity to hear how our plan has developed and ask us questions about it. Questions could cover: the service we provide, our impact on the environment, what will happen to your water bill, or whatever other topic is important to you”. Read more / register here.
Research reports etc
DWP publishes report on the effectiveness of sanctions: Following intervention from the Information Commissioner’s Office, the DWP have complied with an instruction to publish their draft report ‘The Impact of Benefit Sanctions on Employment Outcomes’. The report looks at the effectiveness of changes to welfare conditionality and sanctions from 2012 onwards. The main findings of the report are that sanctions are largely ineffective in increasing employment and decrease the movement of sanctioned claimants into higher paid work. This negative impact had a long-term effect on sanctioned claimants. However, the report suggests that these negative outcomes need to be balanced against the ‘likely positive deterrent effect that the sanction regime introduces’ which affects other benefit claimants. The DWP suggests that the fear of sanctions make all benefits claimants more likely to comply with work-related requirements. You can read the report here; other research has mirrored these findings, for example, analysis of ‘the effectiveness, impact and ethics of welfare conditionality from 2013-2018’ carried out by a number of universities – here.
TUC Report – workers’ experience of long covid: The Office of National Statistics (ONS) reported that, as of 1 August 2021, 970,000 people in the UK were experiencing self-reported Long Covid. This TUC report summarises the findings of a self-selecting survey of 3,097 people with Long Covid in September and October 2022 on their experiences of work. This found shockingly high levels of poor treatment by employers. One in seven respondents (14 per cent) had lost their job because of reasons connected to Long Covid, and 66% said they had experienced one or more types of unfair treatment at work. Read more here.
Housing Ombudsman investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing: The HO has issued a report following an investigation into Rochdale Boroughwide Housing prompted by the inquest into the death of Awaab Ishak and the coroner’s verdict which attributed the two year old’s death to exposure to severe damp and mould in one of the landlord’s properties. The report finds a cuture of ‘othering’ – a pattern of exclusion and marginalisation based on identities perceived as different – and focuses on the following 7 themes surrounding the landlord’s failures:
- failure to help residents who struggle to access services
- poor communication regarding issues of damp and mould
- failure to treat residents fairly
- poor record keeping
- no dedicated damp and mould strategy
- insufficient training
- failure to learn from mistakes
Read more here.
Shelter – impact of disrepair in the private rented sector: New research by Shelter indicates that private renters who complained to their landlord, letting agent or local council in the last 3 years were two and a half times (159%) more likely to be handed an eviction notice. Read more here.
Priced out of debt relief: The Citizens Advice policy team has published a report setting out how upfront fees for debt relief orders and bankruptcy prevent people getting the fresh start they need and leave them trapped in unmanageable debt. Applying for a DRO costs £90, while declaring bankruptcy costs £680; this simply isn’t affordable for people who need these kinds of options. Read more here.
Free school meals — a complicated slice of the benefits system: Free school meals help make sure that the children who receive them get at least one nourishing and hot meal per day. This support can help parents balance their budgets, and help children focus on school without hunger distracting from their work. But not all children in families that receive benefits qualify for free school meals – this Citizens Advice blog looks at this in more detail.
Charity Commission: Information about the changes introduced by the Charity Act 2022 is here – there are some changes coming in now about charity land, permanent endowments and charity names.
Funding news
Lloyd Bank Foundation Racial Equity Fund: This new £3 million funding programme will focus on supporting people experiencing racial inequity to break free from poverty and achieve their potential. Registered charities, charitable incorporated organisations (CIOs) and community interest companies (CICs) who are led by the communities they serve and with an annual income between £25,000 and £500,000, can apply for a three-year, unrestricted grant of up to £75,000. Alongside the funding, the Foundation will offer each charity or CIC a range of tailored additional support to help organisations to strengthen, be more resilient and develop further.
Deadline 31 May – read more here. A free information webinar and live Q&A panel will be held on 20 April 2023 (10:30 am to 12:00 pm). Registration is required and can be done via eventbrite.
Richard Davies Charitable Foundation: Grants are available for charitable organisations undertaking projects in Bristol, Dorset and South Gloucestershire. The funding is for a range of charitable activities, with a focus on supporting children/young people, the elderly and people with disabilities. Funding is at the discretion of the Trustees, and grants are usually been between £1,000 and £5,000. Information is available on the Charity Commission website.