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.
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: Just a reminder that there are two vacancies at CACD:
- Full time Debt Caseworker. Closing date 11 May.
- Gillingham Foodbank Benefits and Debt Caseworker. Closing date 4 May.
Read more here.
Information
COST OF LIVING
Cost of Living Payments: Govt information is here. From 25 April to 17 May, households receiving DWP means-tested benefits will receive the first 2023/24 Cost of Living Payment of £301. The payment will automatically be paid into the bank accounts of those eligible meaning they will not need to do anything to receive the money.
CoL Stakeholder Toolkit: The Cost of Living Stakeholder Toolkit – here– includes information that organisations need to communicate the Cost of Living Payments, with a range of resources including suggested newsletter and social media copy, FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions), Easy Read information sheet and a British Sign Language video.
Code of Practice on involuntary prepayment installations: Ofgem reports here that all suppliers have now signed up to the updated Code. The Code says – amongst other things – that suppliers and their contractors must: Make at least 10 attempts to contact a customer before a PPM is installed, carry out a site welfare visit before a PPM is installed, and refrain from all involuntary installations for the highest risk customers.
BENEFITS
Online proof of child benefit (CB) entitlement: DWP guidance for local authorities informs them that since 28 February 2023, parents and carers have been able to obtain proof of CB entitlement using an online system. Proof may be needed for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support claims, and other services. Rather than having to call or write to HMRC, a claimant can download the information using the HMRC app or via GOV.UK. The evidence can then be printed or saved in a document and used to support claims for other benefits or support.
DWP guidance on changes to benefit cap limits in Universal Credit (UC): The new benefit cap rates are:
- For couples and lone parents, £22,020 outside London and £25,323 in London
- For single people without children, £14,753 outside London and £16,967 in London
The new rates apply in any UC assessment period beginning on or after 10 April 2023. Read the information here, and for more guidance on how the benefit cap works go to Citizens Advice here.
Universal Credit -support [loans] for mortgage interest [SMI]: Universal Credit claimants will be able to access help towards mortgage interest on their home or certain home improvements worth up to £200,000 after three months on Universal Credit. Previously support was only available after 9 months. However, people need to be aware this support is in the form of a loan, which is designed to help claimants with the interest on mortgages or loans for certain home improvements, such as repairs or improvements to keep their home habitable or to adapt them for people with disabilities, whilst they are on Universal Credit. Even if claimants reject the offer of a loan initially, as long as they are still eligible, they can start claiming it at any point. The loan needs to be repaid when claimants sell their home, though no one will be asked to sell their home in order to repay it. Also the DWP will charge interest on the SMI loan – this means people will pay back more than they borrowed – but it could be cheaper than other ways of borrowing money. Read the press release here, and Citizens Advice information on this issue here.
EMPLOYMENT
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) guidance on reasonable adjustments: Guidance from ACAS recognises that impairments to mental health are a disability issue, and provides examples of what reasonable adjustments might be along with advice on how to make and respond to requests. Read more here.
Government guidance on positive action: Positive discrimination is treating a group more favourably because of their protected characteristic, and in most cases it is unlawful (there are some statutory exceptions). Positive action is taking measures to address barriers to the participation of particular groups in employment, for instance, mentoring schemes for target groups, and it is lawful. There’s new government guidance for employers who want to put positive action measures in place – here.
OTHER
DOMESTIC ABUSE
Domestic Abuse – controlling or coercive behaviour: The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (Commencement No. 1) Regulations 2023 have brought into force section 68 Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (DAA) from 5 April 2023. These changes extend the criminal offence of controlling or coercive behaviour by amending the definition of ‘personally connected’ in line with section 2 DAA. This means that family members or former partners no longer need to be living together, as previously was the case, to come within the scope of the offence. This will strengthen the law governing post-separation abuse, but will only apply to behaviour on or after 5 April 2023.
HOUSING
‘No win no fee’ disrepair claim dangers: Disrepair has historically been a difficult area of housing law to pursue legal action, due to restrictions on Legal Aid funding. A way to tackle this has been an increase in law firms offering conditional fee arrangements (‘no win-no fee’). There have been recent reports of firms cold calling social housing tenants and persuading them to pursue claims where there may be no merit. The concerning point is that if clients pursue a claim and lose they may end up being liable for costs. A conditional fee agreement means that the solicitor will receive no fees if the client loses their case. They may, however, have to pay the legal fees and expenses of the other side, although the solicitor may discuss insurance to cover this eventuality. A report on this trend is on the Local Govt Lawyers website, here, and people should always be advised to check that any firm offering legal advice is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
Holiday and Passport scams: The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) has warned that scammers are targeting holiday makers. In particular, scammers create social media and online ads which advertise fabricated holidays at tempting prices. Potential victims are asked to pay by cash, bank transfer or other unusual payment methods – and often don’t discover the holiday is fake until they attempt to travel. Scammers are also taking advantage of disruption caused by UK Passport Office strikes by offering bogus fast track passport services. Read more here.
OTHER
Voter ID campaign: The Government has introduced a requirement for voters to show photo ID when voting at a polling station at some elections. This new requirement will apply for the first time at the local elections taking place in some areas of England on Thursday 4 May 2023. NB: there are no Dorset Council elections in 2023, but there are elections in BCP.
Anyone who does not have an accepted form of photo ID will be able to apply for a free voter ID document, known as a Voter Authority Certificate. Organisations working directly with voters, including local authorities and charities, can play an important role in supporting voters to ensure they have photo ID ahead of the elections. The Electoral Commission has created partner packs for organisations in England. They are designed to help raise awareness, and to support people to apply for a Voter Authority Certificate, ahead of the local elections in May 2023. The packs also include information on voter registration.
Changes to Royal Mail redelivery service: From 2 May, if there is no one at home to take a parcel that won’t fit in a letter box, or if something needs a signature, posties will automatically redeliver the next day. If there isn’t someone there to receive the post the next day, Royal Mail will leave a ‘something for you’ card and the delivery can be rescheduled, delivered to someone else, or collected from the post office. Read more here.
LOCAL NEWS
Public Health Dorset – RUOK? Shareable graphic resources which signpost young people to a range of mental health support – here.
Dorset Council SignVideo service: SignVideo is an online video interpreting service that connects users with a qualified BSL interpreter and relays their query to a customer advisor. SignVideo can be accessed on a Smartphone or tablet using the SignVideo app, or on a computer when visiting the Council’s contact-us page. Users will first need to set up an account and once signed in then select ‘Dorset Council’ from the directory. They will then be connected to a BSL interpreter who will translate their query to one of our customer advisors. Read the press release here.
Energy and Money Saving Booklet: A Dorset edition of this booklet, commissioned by Dorset Council, has now been produced by Ridgewater Energy. It contains lots of hints and tips for saving money, and information on other support available. It is online here and paper copies are available. The BCP version is here.
Events
Suicide First Aid Through Understanding Suicide Intervention: Organised by Dorset Public Health – Thursday 25 May, 9:30 – 17:00, on line. This full day workshop aims to equip staff with the skills needed to provide interventions to those expressing suicidal ideation. Please only book if these skills are essential to your job role and you have completed level 1 e learning (Either Zero Suicide Awareness or PHE We need to talk about suicide). More info and booking on eventbrite.
The Big Help Out: To mark His Majesty The King’s Coronation thousands of organisations across the country are getting together to give people the chance to help out in their local communities. Starts on Monday 8 May; read more about the national initiative here, and local information here: Dorset and BCP.
Citizens Advice – May’s Cost of Living briefing: 11 May 2023, 11am-12pm. Tom MacInnes, Chief Data Analyst and Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice will be joined by special guests Carys Roberts, Executive Director at Institute for Public Policy Reform (IPPR) and Paul Johnson, Director at Institute for Fiscal Studies (IFS). Book via eventbrite.
Drop-in Dementia Awareness Event: Help & Care are running a Dementia Awareness Event on Monday 5th June at Bridport Town Hall. People are welcome to drop-in between 10.30am and 12.30pm to find out about support available locally and have a friendly chat. There will be professionals present and people living with dementia. For more info contact: [email protected] or [email protected].
Research, reports, blogs etc
Citizens Advice responds to latest broadband social tariff figures: Matthew Upton, Acting Executive Director of Policy & Advocacy at Citizens Advice, said: “Social tariffs put money back into people’s pockets. But as it stands, a shocking 95% of eligible households are together missing out on a £200 saving each year. That’s £824 million of support going unclaimed. These latest figures show firms are still moving at a snail’s pace. As they only have to offer these tariffs on a voluntary basis, they clearly aren’t incentivised to promote discounts. If this current rate of uptake continues, it will take 25 years before they reach everyone eligible”. Read more here, and for advice on what social tariffs are available and who qualifies, go to Ofcom.
FCA on overdrafts: The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has carried out a review of the strategies firms use with repeat use overdraft customers. Their findings include details of good and poor practice and highlight the need to plan for the new Consumer Duty. Read more here.
CPAG Survey on the ‘two child limit’: The two-child limit restricts child allowances in universal credit (UC) and tax credits (worth up to £3,235 a year) to the first two children in a family, unless the children were born before April 2017 when the policy was introduced. On the sixth anniversary of the two-child limit, a Child Poverty Action Group (CPAG) survey finds widespread suffering and hardship among families affected by the policy with parents struggling to meet children’s basic needs as living costs soar. Read more here.
Funding news
Triangle Trust: This fund has re-opened. For round one, proposals must be aimed solely at supporting young people (aged 11 to 25 years) with criminal convictions. Funded projects should follow a ‘Sport 4 Development’ approach. This refers to the intentional use of sport and physical activity to attain specific social development objectives, in this case to reduce rates of reoffending. Read more here.
Nationwide Building Society Community Grants 2023: Housing-focused charities can apply to the annual community grants programme from Nationwide Building Society, focusing on:
- Preventing people from losing their home.
- Helping people into a home.
- Supporting people to thrive within the home environment.
This year, the awards have increased in size, meaning that grants of £10,000 to £60,000 are now available. Nationwide will fund between 50% to 100% of the total cost of a project.
Registered charitable organisations can apply, providing they have been running for three years and have an annual income of at least £25,000. The fund can support core costs (up to 20%), staff costs, small-scale capital costs, activity costs and development and capacity building costs. Applications are reviewed, discussed, and voted on by a regional Community Board made up of Nationwide members and colleagues who live and work in the 11 regions of the UK. The funded projects will also get community and volunteering support.
Applications open on 25 April 2023 and close on 26 May 2023 (1pm). Read more here.
Women’s Urgent Support Fund: Smallwood Trust, with funding from the National Lottery Community Fund, has opened the first round of its £3 million funding programme aimed at emergency provision for women most impacted by the cost-of-living crisis in England. The first round sees a total of £1 million available, which will be awarded in grants of £15,000 to £60,000 over three years. It is expected that around 20 grants will be made.
The fund is open to frontline voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that are women-led with an annual turnover of less than £1 million. The funders particularly welcome applications from smaller sized organisations. The programme will provide emergency funding which helps to meet the following objectives:
- Women affected by the cost-of-living crisis and poverty gain confidence, tools, skills and support to build their financial resilience and improve their mental health.
- Vital frontline jobs/roles and services are safeguarded or enhanced by the additional funding, allowing organisations to meet the increased need for their services.
Deadline 19 May; there are some Q&A webinars coming up – more information here.