Welcome to this week’s E News on the Citizens Advice Dorset website. Just a reminder that the Advice Dorset Partnership is a network of organisations providing advice and support to residents of Dorset and Bournemouth Christchurch and Poole. It is managed by Citizens Advice and is open to any organisation which provides information, advice and support/guidance to local residents.
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.
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Job opportunities
More info on the Kushti Bok Co-ordinator role is here.
Information updates
COST OF LIVING
September Quick Links fact sheet:
2024 SEPT Cost-of-Living-Crisis-factsheet
Household Support Fund (HSF) extension: The Government has announced a further six-month extension of the HSF, until the end of March 2025. Read the press release here. We don’t yet have details of local schemes.
BENEFITS
Winter Fuel Payments: As you will be aware, the decision to restrict these payments to pensioners receiving a means-tested benefit has been confirmed. Please note this is not just Pension Credit, the WFP is also available to those who get:
- Universal Credit (UC)
- Income Support (IS)
- income-based Jobseekers Allowance (ibJSA)
- income-related Employment Support Allowance (irESA)
- have an award of child tax credit or working tax credit of not less than £26 in respect of the tax year 2024-25
so long as they satisfy the other eligibility criteria.
Pension Credit claims: The DWP are reporting that Pension Credit (PC) claim rates have more than doubled since it was announced that Winter Fuel Payments (WFP) will be restricted this year. Citizens Advice report hearing of substantial delays in PC claim processing times, particularly in cases with an international element, and such an influx may make this worse. There have also been queries on whether Savings Credit only Pension Credit is enough and the answer is yes. The regulations define entitlement to a ‘relevant benefit’. For PC this is given as ‘state pension credit under the State Pension Credit Act 2002’. Savings Credit is part of state pension credit under section 3 of that act.
Applications for Pension Credit can be made on the How to Claim page here or over the phone by calling 0800 99 1234 (Monday to Friday 8am to 6pm).
Universal Credit Migration: As well as information on the Govt website, you may find the summary of the process from the Low Incomes Tax Reform Group – here – helpful.
EMPLOYMENT
Workplace pension and auto-enrolment: The Pensions Act 2008 requires that all employers automatically enrol eligible workers into a suitable workplace pensions scheme and fund a minimum level of pension savings (without reducing pay or benefits elsewhere) of at least 8% of qualifying earnings, with a minimum employer contribution of 3%. Employers must auto-enrol workers and make contributions to a pension scheme when the jobholder is classed as a ‘worker’ and:
- aged between 22 and State Pension age
- earns at least £10,000 per year
- usually works in the UK
The Govt guidance for employees is here. If an employee wants to make a complaint about auto-enrolment issues, this is done via the Pensions Regulator.
OTHER
Access to cash: The Financial Conduct Authority’s (FCA) new access to cash rules come into force on 18 September. The rules will affect any decision to provide (or continue to provide) cash services and are intended to promote access to:
- free to use withdrawal and deposit services for personal current accounts
- withdrawal services for businesses
- availability of ‘assisted cash’
- services allowing for reasonable mix of both coins and banknotes to be deposited or withdrawn
Clients who struggle to access cash can be advised that if they contact their bank this should now trigger an assessment of the availability of access to cash service in their area. Read more on the FCA website here.
Events, training etc
SAVE THE DATE: Advice Dorset Partnership Briefing – Thursday 24 October 9.30 – 1, Dorford Centre, Dorchester. This event will include updates on cost of living support and benefit issues, plus energy advice and updates from other projects including the Dorset Gypsy Roma Traveller Advocacy Project. Booking form coming out shortly!
Pension Credit week of action – 16 to 22 September: The DWP has launched a Pension Credit take-up campaign, following changes to the eligibility rules for Winter Fuel Payment (WFP). Pensioners not currently getting Pension Credit should be encouraged to check whether they may be entitled to it along with other pension age benefits. The qualifying week for WFP will be 16 to 22 September 2024, so 21 December is the last date on which a fully backdated Pension Credit claim could bring about eligibility for WFP. Read the press release here.
Tackling poverty- Practical steps to increase incomes and support families this winter: This Policy in Practice webinar is on Wednesday 25 September, 10:30 – 11:45. As the cost of living crisis continues to affect millions, addressing affordability is more crucial than ever. In 2024, nearly a third of adults are struggling financially, with over 1 in 5 living in poverty. Despite the significant support available, an estimated £23 billion in benefits goes unclaimed each year due to stigma and the complexities of the welfare system. This webinar will explore practical strategies to maximize the nation’s incomes and boost financial resilience. Register here.
Stop Loan Sharks event- Thursday 26 September, 10 – 12.30 in Yeovil. Yeovil Chamber Of Commerce have teamed up with the Illegal Money Lending Team, England to give employers and employees in Somerset in-depth information about loan sharks, key things to look out for, the relevance of loan sharks for your work place and a better understanding of the impact a loan shark may have on your community. More info in the flyer:
Invite – Stop Loan Sharks – Yeovil 26-09-24
Leonardo Trust: Working with Ark Medical Solutions the Trust are offering a Carer Emergency First Aid Workshop, specifically designed for Carers supporting a loved one at home. The workshop will cover topics such as choking procedures, falls, wounds and basic life support. Those attending will receive a free first aid kit to take away. Read more in the flyer.
6197 TLT Carer First Aid Workshop Flyer AgeUK
Introduction to safeguarding course: Tuesday 1 October 9.30 – 2, Wareham. This training session provides an introduction to safeguarding for Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) groups in Dorset. Developed in partnership with Dorset Council Communications & Engagement team, it is part of a pilot programme for VCS groups across Dorset. Cost £5.94 includes networking lunch. Book via eventbrite.
Reports, research, etc
Final report of the Grenfell Tower public inquiry: Phase 2 of the inquiry, published last week, looked into how the tower could become such a death trap and enable fire to sweep through it in such an uncontrolled way. The report concludes that there are failings across a wide range of institutions, entities and individuals over many years, and makes many recommendations. Of particular relevance to those providing advice is the report’s conclusions regarding the Tenant Management Organisation (TMO) which managed the building on behalf of the local authority. The TMO is heavily criticised for the way in which it dealt with the residents in the years prior to the fire – the mistreatment of the tenants by the TMO is a particularly stark example of poor practice by a social landlord Read the report here.
CPAG – Managed migration 6: This is the latest in a series of reports on the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) managed migration programme, where people are moving from older benefits to universal credit (UC). The report covers and makes recommendations on:
- progress to date, and what the numbers don’t show about ‘successful claims’
- the (lack of) information available to claimants to help them make their claim
- the tax credits cliff edge (tax credits are due to close in April 2025).
It also introduces the experiences of four people going through managed migration, and the challenges they are facing. Read more here.
Joseph Rowntree Foundation – A Minimum Income Standard for the United Kingdom in 2024: The Minimum Income Standard provides a vision of the living standards that we, as a society, agree everyone in the UK should be able to achieve. This report sets out what households need to reach it in 2024.
Funding news
BCP Ward Improvement Fund: Are you a small group, based in the BCP area, with an income of less than £20K per year, looking for funding, to help run a community activity? The BCP Ward improvement fund will be opening for applications on the 9 September and will be closing on the 14 October 2024. Read more here.
Communities against cancer: Grants of between £500 and £2,500 are available to help community groups act against cancer. If you support any of the following, the grants are for you:
- People with learning disabilities
- People on low incomes
- People experiencing mental health challenges
- People from minority ethnic groups who may face health inequity, including Black and Asian communities and Gypsy, Romany, and Traveller communities
- Deprived communities
Communities Against Cancer are holding monthly online information sessions (book here) from September – December to find out more.
Community support small grants – Trusthouse Charitable Foundation: Single year grants between £2,000 and £10,000 are available to charities and not for profit organisations for core costs, salaries, running and project costs. Projects must have a focus on Community Support and address urban and rural deprivation in the UK.
If you are located in a rural area, you must be in the bottom 50% most deprived areas according to the Index of Multiple Deprivation. Your annual income must not exceed £250,000 and you can secure 50% of the total project costs. This is a rolling programme with no deadlines – read more here.