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. However, if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a supplementary edition.
You can now subscribe to the newsletter (it is still FREE and 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 Thomas Hensher at Citizens Advice Central Dorset: [email protected]
Information Updates
BENEFITS
Carer’s Allowance: The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has announced a comprehensive review of the Carer’s Allowance system following an issue with overpayments. Previously, only 50% of alerts indicating potential over-earnings were investigated, leading to significant debts for carers. The DWP now commits to investigating 100% of alerts and is hiring additional staff to address the backlog. Currently, 144,000 carers are repaying over £250 million in overpayments.
DWP Easter Opening Hours: Jobcentre Plus offices and phone lines across the UK will be closed on Good Friday (18 April) and Easter Monday (April 21), reopening on Wednesday, 23 April. As a result, claimants who would normally receive payments on 19, 20, 21, 22 April will instead receive them on Thursday, 17 April. This adjustment ensures that recipients have access to their funds before the holiday period.
Universal Credit changes: With effect from 7 April 2025, the DWP introduced what it calls its the “Fair Repayment Rate” (FRR) regulations, which will, amongst other things reduce the overall deductions cap from 25% to 15% of the standard allowance. According to the government, approximately 1.2 million Universal Credit households currently with deductions are expected to see an average of £420 more per year.
COST OF LIVING
April Quick Links fact sheet: 2024 APRIL Factsheet
EMPLOYMENT
Introduction of Paid Neonatal Care Leave: As of April 6, eligible parents of babies requiring neonatal care are now entitled to up to 12 weeks of statutory neonatal care leave, in addition to existing parental leave rights.
National Insurance Changes: Since 6 April, employers’ NICs increased from 13.8% to 15% on employee earnings. Additionally, the earnings threshold for NICs liability decreased from £9,100 to £5,000 per year, meaning employers begin paying NICs at a lower earnings level.
Changes to Statuary Sick Pay: Since last week, the following changes have come into effect:
- Effective from 6 April 2025, the weekly rate of SSP rises from £116.75 to £118.75.
- Previously, employees were eligible for SSP starting from the fourth day of illness. However, as of April 2025, this waiting period has been eliminated, allowing employees to receive SSP from the first day of sickness.
- The Lower Earnings Level (LEL), which determined the minimum earnings threshold to qualify for SSP, has been removed. Consequently, all employees, regardless of earnings level, are now entitled to SSP from the first day of illness.
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HOUSING
Renters’ Rights Bill: The Renters’ Rights Bill 2024, currently at committee stage in the House of Lords, aims to enhance tenant protections. Key provisions include banning evictions during the first year of a tenancy, requiring landlords to provide a statement of terms, and prohibiting discrimination against tenants based on having children or receiving benefits. The bill is expected to become law in summer 2025.
IMMIGRATION
Ukrainian Permission Extension Scheme: Another reminder that the UPE scheme is open for Ukrainian refugees to apply for an 18-month extension to their residency in the UK. Ukrainians can only apply in 28 days before their current residency expires. Citizens Advice in Dorset can support applicants but we advise clients to book appointments to fall within the 28 day period far in advance of the 28 day window so that an appointment is available.
ENERGY
Energy Price Cap: From April 1 to June 30, 2025, the energy price cap for a typical household paying by Direct Debit has risen by 6.4% to £1,849 per year. This increase is primarily due to rising global wholesale energy prices.
Citizens Advice responds to collapse of Rebel Energy: An energy supplier with 90,000 companies has collapsed and ceased trading leaving worried customers. Citizens Advice, in its role as the official watchdog for energy consumers, has responded to Ofgem’s announcement about the failure of Rebel Energy.
Alex Belsham-Harris, Head of Energy Policy at Citizens Advice, said:
“The failure of Rebel Energy will worry its 90,000 customers. With energy costs and household bills rising, this only adds to an already stressful situation.
“Customers of Rebel Energy will still have gas and electricity, and the credit on domestic accounts will be protected. If you’re affected, you don’t need to do anything – Ofgem will appoint your new supplier who will contact you in the coming weeks. Don’t try to switch suppliers or cancel direct debits, as this can cause issues, and take a meter reading if you’re able to.”
Read the full press release here.
OTHER
Digital Switchover: The UK is transitioning from traditional landlines to digital phone services as part of a nationwide digital switchover. This change is scheduled to be completed by January 31, 2027, with some areas already undergoing the switch. The new system uses broadband connections instead of copper wires, offering more reliable and faster communication. According to BT, Dorset residents will be contacted by their service providers in autumn 2025. We have heard reports that there have been a number of scams related to the switchover, with scammers targeting vulnerable customers. CACD will begin awareness raising around the issue in May 2025.
CPAG Welfare Benefits handbook: Child Poverty Action have just published their 2025/26 Welfare Benefits handbook – it is an essential guide to navigating the UK’s social security system. If your organisation requires a copy, they can be ordered here.
Research and Reports
Unfair stamp prices hitting low-income households the hardest: A new report from Citizens Advice reveals that more than two thirds of people think 1st class stamp price increases are unfair.
Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at Citizens Advice, said:
“Royal Mail’s unfair price hikes are making post less affordable, and will hit low-income households and older people the hardest. People from these groups are more likely to be digitally-excluded and rely on mail.”
Read the full report here.
Fuel poverty is still with us: A new paper from CPAG presents a revised analysis of who will be affected by fuel poverty in January 2025, based on analysis of the ONS Living Costs and Food Survey. Read the report here.
A briefing on the Pathways to Work green paper: CPAG have produced a short briefing on the recent welfare reforms green paper. Read it here.
Deductions and sanctions for people on Universal Credit: This new report by Policy in Practice examines how deductions and sanctions shape household incomes, increase poverty and impact the ability to afford basic living costs, including rent. Read it here.
Unseen, unhoused, unacceptable: Porchlight, English Rural and Commonweal Housing have put together a report that calls for real change for people experiencing homelessness in rural locations. Read the report here.
Decade-long waits for affordable homes: Rural Services Network have written about families who are in desperate need of affordable housing and who face decade-long waits for homes. Read the report here.
Upcoming Events
Managing Well for Community Spaces, Thurs, 24 April from 10:00 (online): Dorset Community Action will be looking at what it takes to manage a community space and how to know that you are doing it well. Sign up here.
Citizens Advice Data Insights Tue, 29 Apr 2025 14:00 – 15:00 (online): With rising numbers of families struggling, Citizens Advice explore what their data reveals about children trapped in poverty. Sign up here.
Stop Loan Sharks Thurs, 22 May 14:30 – 16:00 (online) : Loan shark training that will provide advice on community safety, safeguarding, financial and emotional well-being. Sign up for the free event here.
Celebrating Women’s Health, Dorset Stakeholder Event: Thu, 24 Apr 2025 09:30 – 15:00 (Dorchester Baptist Church): Since the launch of the NHS England Women’s Health Strategy in 2022, partners in Dorset have been working together on the Dorset Women’s Health Programme. On Thursday 24th April 2025 they are holding a celebration event to showcase the work that has been achieved and to give people the opportunity to have their say about what happens next. Further details can be found here.
Bowel Cancer Awareness : April is bowel cancer awareness month and Bowel Cancer Awareness UK are holding online talks to raise awareness about the disease. For more information and to sign up for one of the April talks visit this page.
Funding
BCP Food and Energy Support Fund: This programme distributes part of the funds allocated by the UK government’s Household Support Fund to BCP Council. Grants of up to £12,000 will be awarded to applicants that are delivering community initiatives that support BCP households impacted by the rising costs of living. Organisations must work in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and priority will be given to those based in the area. For further details see here.
SWEF Enterprise Fund: The SWEF Enterprise Fund awards grants of up to £2,000 to young people in Dorset who are launching a new businesses or running a new business that is within its first two years of trading. See here for further details.
Talbot Village Trust: The Trust can fund projects of any size that support local residents. They support charities, faith-based groups, schools, universities and non-profits in South East Dorset. See here for further details.
