Welcome to this week’s E News on the Citizens Advice Dorset website. 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. However, if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a supplementary edition.
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If you would like to send anything out via the bulletin, and for all other enquiries about the Advice Dorset Partnership, contact Thomas Hensher at Citizens Advice Central Dorset: [email protected]
BENEFITS
Autumn Budget 2025: You may have seen the announcement in the Autumn Budget that the 2 child limit will be removed from April 2026. This proposal, and other benefit changes, are outlined below. Many of these changes are light on detail in the Budget Statement, so the specifics may not be known until later:
- the 2 child limit in Universal Credit (UC) is to be removed from April 2026
- an increase in the maximum amount of UC childcare costs of £736.06 for the third and subsequent children
- the surplus earnings threshold will remain at £2500 from April 2026
- an adjustment to the earnings disregard for Housing Benefit (HB) and UC from Autumn 2026, for those in temporary or supported accommodation
- merging the administration of pension-age HB and Pension Credit from Autumn 2026
- restricting the ability to purchase Class 2 or 3 National Insurance contributions for those living abroad from April 2026
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Review of Carers Allowance Overpayments: The government has now published both the independent review of Carers Allowance overpayments and their response. The Work & Pensions Minister Stephen Timms confirms in a written statement that some carers would not have known they were accruing overpayments “…because it was not clear how their earnings would affect their entitlement, and this lack of clarity was due to issues with operational guidance. The Government accepts this and we will act to put it right”. Carers who received earnings-related overpayments between 2015 and summer 2025 will have existing repayments cancelled and the DWP will “…pay back any debts it should not have pursued in the first place”.
You can read the press release on GOV.UK.
HOUSING
Renters’ Rights Act Roadmap: The government has now produced a roadmap for implementing the Renters’ Rights Act 2025. The government will introduce the reforms in three stages to balance the urgency of change with the need for clear guidance and practical readiness.
Phase 1 begins on 1 May 2026 and delivers the core reforms for the private rented sector (PRS). These include:
- abolition of Section 21 “no fault” evictions
- the vast majority of new tenancies and existing tenancies in the PRS will become assured periodic tenancies
- reforms to the section 8 possession process, with updated and new grounds for possession
In addition, phase 1 includes a range of further measures: covering rent increases, rent in advance, anti-discrimination protections, pets, and rent repayment orders. Readers can refer to the full Phase 1 roadmap for the complete set of changes. Please note, reforms to the social rented sector are expected in phase 2.
Ahead of phase 1, new investigatory powers for local authorities go live on 27 December 2025. Draft rules for written tenancy information will be published in January 2026. Landlords must provide existing tenants with an “Information Sheet” or written terms for verbal agreements by 31 May 2026. Tenant guidance and a public campaign will begin in April 2026.
Phase 2, from late 2026, introduces the mandatory PRS Database. The new PRS Landlord Ombudsman will be established in stages, with full mandatory landlord membership expected in 2028.
Phase 3 will introduce a Decent Homes Standard (DHS) for the PRS, with implementation proposed for 2035 or 2037, alongside Awaab’s Law and minimum energy efficiency reforms aiming for EPC C by 2030 (subject to consultation).
You can find the full roadmap on GOV.UK.
IMMIGRATION
Consultation on Earned Settlement Opens: The Home Secretary has opened proposals for consultation on earned settlement. The consultation will close on 12 February 2026. The proposals would be implemented in stages from April 2026.
The proposals include:
- a baseline period of 10 years for settlement
- a 15-year period for low paid and low skill health and care workers
- a 20-year settlement path for refugees
- delaying settlement for those who contribute less or claim benefits
- no eligibility for benefits for those who gain settlement after the new rules start
FAMILY
Spotting Signs of Economic Abuse: Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA) has written a short quiz to help people, and advisers, spot the signs of economic abuse. You can take SEA’s quiz on their newsletter.
UTILITIES
Price Cap Announcement: From 1 January to 31 March 2025, the new Ofgem price cap means a household with typical energy use on a variable dual gas and electricity tariff will pay:
- £1,758 a year if they pay by direct debit
- £1,894 if they pay by standard credit (on receipt of their bill)
- £1,711 if they have a prepayment meter
- prices are worked out per unit of energy used. If consumers use more they will pay more. The exact rate and standing charge will depend on the region where the consumer lives. The change means an increase of £20 per year across all payment methods compared to the previous price cap
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DESNZ Announce Grants for Heat Pump Installations: On 18 November, DESNZ confirmed a new grant of £2,500 for households for the installation of Air to Air Heat Pumps. DESNZ also confirmed a £2,500 grant for households for the installation of heat batteries. This will be provided by deducting the grant from the amount charged by the customer upfront. This is part of the existing Boiler Upgrade Scheme. Rules will also be relaxed around installing heat pumps with other forms of electric heating. Full details of the details of the grant and application criteria will be announced in 2026.
CONSUMER
Parcel League Table: Research for the fifth Citizens Advice parcel league table found that more than a third of people (37%) faced issues with their most recent delivery.
Toy Safety Fact Sheet: Toys from reputable brands are made to be safe. Toys sold by unknown sellers or on an online marketplace can be dangerous. You can read the Child Accident Prevention Trust’s (CAPT) toy safety fact sheet to get advice on buying toys safely on the CAPT website.
Online Pricing Practices: The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is investigating the pricing practices of 8 companies. They’ve also issued advisory letters to 100 businesses about their use of additional fees and online sales tactics.
You can read ‘CMA launches major consumer protection drive focused on online pricing practices’ on GOV.UK.
Counterfeit Goods Trends: The UK Border Force has published a report covering 3 years of border enforcement activity for 2021-2023. It shows:
- a spike in counterfeit medical products during the pandemic
- fashion items such as clothing and accessories as the most seized types of articles
- the majority of counterfeit items consistently originated from China, Hong Kong and Turkey
- enforcement agencies are increasingly targeting higher-value counterfeit products including fake automotive parts, and electrical articles, which pose greater safety risks to consumers
Research and Reports
The Unhealthy State of Homelessness 2025: Homeless Link have produced a report on new insight drawn from Homeless Health Needs Audits (HHNAs) undertaken across 14 local authority areas between 2022-2025. Sadly, health inequalities are worsening. Read the full report here.
How Prevalent is Individual Conflict at Work in Great Britain in 2025? Acas research shows the annual cost of conflict in Great Britain is £28.5 billion. This survey looks at the causes of conflict and who is experiencing it, illustrating personal and organisational factors and industry differences. Read the report here.
Upcoming Events & Training
Dorset Community Action Event: Managing Risk – A Workshop for Trustees of Community Spaces, Monday 8th December 2025, 13:00 – 15:00, Online: The risks that face your organisation can seem insurmountable at times. There is a way of looking at them, however, that helps you to look at how you can make it less likely that they will happen and/or reduce their impact if they do. This session will look at techniques for ensuring that problems with financial matters, challenges with running the organisation and much more are nipped in the bud. £5 admin fee. Sign up here.
Dorset Community Action Event: Networking Meeting, Wednesday 10th December 2025, 10:00 – 11:30, Online: With Paula Bennetts Programme Director at the Voluntary and Community Sector Assembly (VCSA). The UK Government launched the Neighbourhood Health Centres from September 2025. These centres will provide NHS and wider support services in local communities, with a focus on improving access, tackling health inequalities, and reducing pressure on hospitals. Village halls and community centres could play a vital role in this rollout, especially in rural areas where access to GPs and hospitals is limited. The group will be discussing how Village Halls can get involved in shaping this initiative in Dorset. Sign up here.
Brunch Bites: Cyber Security Practical Tips, Wednesday 10th December 2025, 10:30 to 10:55, Online: In this practical session, Qlic IT will share actionable insights to help your charity strengthen its cyber security and stay protected against today’s evolving threats. From password best practices to advanced protection methods, this bite-sized webinar will equip you with the knowledge and tools to boost your organisation’s cyber resilience. Book your place here.
Funding
Neighbourhood Fund: The Neighbourhood Fund supports local community groups whose work addresses local issues, social problems, poverty and disadvantage. Of particular interest are groups supporting older people and groups supporting people experiencing mental health challenges.
Grants of up to £5000 are available. The current round of this Fund opened on November 24, 2025 and the deadline to apply is midday on January 16, 2026. See here for full application details.
DCF Bursary Scheme: The DCF Bursary scheme supports students living in Dorset age 16-25, who are in vocational (job-related) courses at selected colleges and sixth forms. Applicants must live in a household with income of less than £35,000 or have other challenges. Grants are up to £1000 and support essential course costs such as travel and equipment (not course fees). See here for full application details.
SWEF Enterprise Fund: The SWEF Enterprise Fund awards grants to young people in Dorset who are in need of financial support to launch or develop a new businesses that is within its first two and a half years of trading. The Fund offers Start-up Grants of up to £500 and Business Grants of up to £2000. See here for full application details.
