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.
Please can you now subscribe to the newsletter (it is still FREE but in future you will get an automatic notification when it is published) – and do encourage colleagues to subscribe too. The Subscribe option is at the bottom of this page!
If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, and for all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership, contact Caroline Buxton at Citizens Advice Central Dorset: [email protected].
Job opportunities
Faithworks is a local charity which finds solutions around food, debt, homelessness and social isolation. They have a two job vacancies: a Financial Resilience Coordinator, and a Nourish Larder Coordinator. Closing dates 19 /20 December; read more here.
Information updates
COST OF LIVING Quick Links fact sheet for December:
2024 DEC Cost-of-Living-Crisis-factsheet
BENEFITS
DWP fix for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claimants migrating to Universal Credit (UC): There has been a problem for ESA claimants claiming UC under managed migration. Many of those in the support group were wrongly being asked to submit fit notes and look for work, even though this group should automatically have limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) from the beginning of their UC award. The DWP has now said that it’s provided a fix for this group of claimants. The DWP stated that the fix would apply to UC claims made from 25 November 2024 onwards. See also a new Citizens Advice report on ESA to UC migration, and a CPAG briefing, under the reports section below.
Pension Credit (PC) backlog: In 3 written answers the DWP confirms that:
- in mid November there were 91,200 outstanding PC claims
- average clearance times for claims at this time was around 65 working days
- 500 DWP staff have been brought into the PC claims department to assist
Benefits and eVisas: C0ncerns have been raised about the termination of benefits: instructions to DWP staff are that they should:
- not terminate awards on 31 December because of expiry of a BRP/BRC alone
- support refugee customers to evidence their status where they have no identity document
- check status directly with the Home Office and take no action without first giving individuals the opportunity to provide evidence of immigration status, including using a share code
IMMIGRATION
Electronic Travel Authorisation – roll out: An Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) becomes compulsory for travel to the UK as a visitor from 8 January 2025 for all non-visa nationals from outside of Europe. This includes 6 million a year from the USA, Canada, and Australia. Applications in advance for an ETA can be made from today. An ETA is a type of pre-travel security check conducted by the UK government and costs £10 to obtain online. Read more here.
SCAMS
Self-assessment deadline scam warning: The 31 January tax return deadline is approaching. Last year customers reported 150,000 scams to HMRC – half of these were fake tax rebate claims. HMRC is reminding people that HMRC will never leave voicemails threatening legal action or arrest, or ask for personal or financial information over text message. HMRC will not make contact by email, text, or phone to announce a refund or ask someone to request one. Anyone due a refund from HMRC can claim it via their online HMRC account. Read the Govt’s press release here.
SEASONAL ADVICE
Christmas on a budget 🎄: How to have a magical festive season that doesn’t cost the earth – read these tips from We are Citizens Advice.
LOCAL
Wessex Water Partnerhub: read the latest news here.
Ridgewater Energy – Energy & Money Saving Booklets – updated: Ridgewater Energy have worked in conjunction with a number of organisations to develop an Energy & Money Saving Booklet, tailored to the BCP Council and Dorset Council area. Commissioned by BCP Council and Dorset Council, the booklet contains a number of hints & tips for every day guidance, methods to help reduce your energy use, tools to manage your budget & energy usage and a list of local organisations that can assist you. The booklets are available here, along with information on other schemes such as the Dorset Home Upgrade grant and LEAP.
Events
Data Insights focus on Gender: Last week’s Citizens Advice Data Insights event put the spotlight on gender issues, and speakers included Jess Philips MP. You can watch the event on youtube here.
Energy Support Sessions: If you didn’t manage to attend the recent session run by Ridgewater Energy and Citizens Advcie the recording are here;
Reports, research etc
Citizens Advice report on problems with ESA to UC managed migration: ESA migration is being accelerated even though many of the ongoing problems with managed migration haven’t been resolved. Continuing with current timetables risks people being told to move to UC without the right safeguards in place. Read more here.
CPAG – Managed migration 7: This is the final in our 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 plans for completion, gaps in the enhanced support journey, and adjusting to UC. Read more here.
MIND – the big mental health report 2024: We’ve brought together data about mental health problems, stigma and discrimination, alongside real people’s experiences, into one annual report, to give a full picture of the state of mental health right now. The current mental health crisis is one that cuts across all areas of life – from housing, to benefits, employment and more. This report paints a picture of worsening mental health across England and Wales and services struggling to keep up with demand. Read more here.
Precarious employment in the UK report: A significant minority of people working in the UK do so in insecure employment, categorised by uncertain hours and employment rights abuse. New research commissioned by the director of labor market enforcement has produced an initial report into the scale and impact of employment right breaches affecting ‘precarious workers’. It estimates that approximately 10 to 11.7% of the UK workforce are in precarious employment (identified by factors such as low income, non-traditional work, a small workplace, and/or immigrant/ethnic minority background), and identifies a group of around 8% of the workforce as ‘increasingly precarious’, meaning that as they age they are more likely to fall into and remain in precarious employment, rather than improve their situation or move in and out of precarious work. The study will continue into 2025 and inform the government’s labour enforcement strategy. Read more here.
Funding news
Community Power – The National Lottery Community Fund: The Fund are looking for 10 to 15 partners to work with them in the development stage of their Community Power fund. By community power, they mean local communities being able to influence and change the places they live. As well as the services they use, and decisions that affect their lives.
The Fund have committed to a £100 million, 10 year Community Power fund and aim to launch the broader programme in 2026. For this development stage they have up to £1.2 million funding available over one year. This work will shape how the Community Power fund runs in the future.
As a partner you’ll deliver activities in and with communities to increase their agency, power and control. This can be new or existing work. You’ll also work with the Fund, and the other partners, to understand what works to increase community power. Including what the barriers are. And what support and learning is needed to improve community power activities over the long term.
The deadline for expressions of interest is 8 January 2025. Read more here.
Dorset Council Capital Leverage Fund: Round 5 will close at midnight on 12 January 2025. It’s for any local groups that would benefit from a capital grant to improve, adapt or refurbish a community facility or space. Town and Parish council’s, Foodbanks, village halls and those projects that support climate and environmental work are also able to apply.
Those “not for profit” groups who meet our criteria and grant fund eligibility can apply for a grant of 20% of their total project costs (up to a maximum of £25,000). Applications meeting our criteria will be considered at Grants Panel on January 29th 2025 with decisions around the middle of February. Read more here.
Dorset Community Foundation Neighbourhood Fund: The Neighbourhood Fund offers grants of up to £5000 to small community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage. There is particular interest in activities supporting older people, and activities supporting people experiencing mental health issues. Groups with annual expenditure over £250,000 will not usually be considered by the panel. The deadline for applications is 17 January 2025. (12:00). Read more on the Dorset Community Foundation website here.