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:[email protected]
Job opportunities
Citizens Advice Central Dorset – Gillingham Foodbank Welfare Benefits & Debt Caseworker: 10 Hours per week / 2 mornings a week. Salary: £14.11 per hour (£7,337 Actual / £27,148 FTE). This position is for a fixed term until 1st November 2024.
This is a partnership project between Citizens Advice Central Dorset and Gillingham Foodbank. It will reach out to those most in need in the Gillingham community by providing timely advice, information and support, particularly in the areas of welfare benefits and debt. Read more here.
Dorset Race Equality Council – Chief Officer: DREC works across Bournemouth, Dorset and Poole to challenge racism and achieve a fairer and just society. The Chief Officer (CO) leads the work to liaise with the different groups, public bodies and minority ethnic communities. The CO reports to the Chair of Trustees and is responsible for implementing the strategy and aims of Dorset REC. The role involves fundraising, training, public speaking, managing a small team and supporting case work. The CO will make a positive contribution to fostering good relationships and tackling discrimination and unfair practices.
Hours: 22 hours per week / 0.6 FTE (flexible working hours are essential); fixed- term for a period of 6 months – a secondment may be considered. Salary in the range £36k – £38K pro-rata. Closing date 31 March. Read more here.
Information updates
COST OF LIVING
EBSS – Vouchers for traditional PPMs: We are aware of people who are NOT redeeming their vouchers. This information may be of help to your clients – feel free to copy/circulate etc (it’s from an adviser online article):
If you use a traditional prepayment meter, where you top up at a shop or Post Office, you’ll get the £400 in vouchers which must then be redeemed in a shop or Post Office, your supplier will tell you where to use the voucher. You might also get automatic credit when you top up, your supplier will give you more detail. You’ll get 6 vouchers or automatic credits, one per month. You’ll be sent the vouchers in the post, by email or by text within 11 working days of the start of each month so it’s worth checking your spam folders just in case. If you haven’t received the voucher, you should contact your energy supplier. Each voucher must be redeemed within 3 months or it will expire.
EBSS for those who won’t automatically get it: As you know some people have not had the £400 rebate because they don’t have a direct relationship with an electricity company, eg.they live in a park home. If you have clients in this situation that need to apply for funding from the EBSS, the Govt’s portal for applications has just opened here. People can also apply by phone by calling 0808 175 3287. There’s no direct link to the portal to avoid potential scams around the applications. People need to put in an email address and a bank account, and may need to upload proof of address if they don’t pay Council Tax.
Ofgem confirms smart meter switching to prepayment mode is paused: Ofgem has written to suppliers (here) to confirm that all of the following are paused until 31 March:
- Forced installation of prepayment meters (PPMs)
- Smart meter mode switching unless the client agrees
- New court applications for warrants to instal a PPM
Also, on 21 February 2023 Ofgem issued a press release which called on suppliers to check their recent forced and remotely switched PPM installations, and to consider removal and compensation where rules weren’t followed. The regulator has also announced:
- the terms of reference of the urgent investigation into British Gas
- the scope of the in-depth market compliance review into how PPMs are handled across the market
- a launch of urgent work with stakeholders to look at what further protections may be needed within the rule, regulations and guidance around PPMs
Energy Price Cap from April 2023: Martin Lewis on MoneySavingExpert has managed to explain fairly clearly why the price cap is falling but energy bills are still going to rise from April by around 20%: Currently, the price cap is £4,279/year, with the Energy Price Guarantee (EPG) discount bringing the price for a typical household down to £2,500/year, with the Government offsetting the difference. In April, the EPG is set to rise by 20% to £3,000/year, at the same time as the £400 energy bill support ends, so households will feel an even bigger impact. This is despite falling wholesale costs meaning the cost to the Government of subsidising bills will be a lot less than it budgeted for. And the the video of Martin is worth watching too…..
Cost of Living Payments 2023 to 2024: The government has announced further Cost of Living Payments to be made between spring 2023 and spring 2024. These payments are:
- £301 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during spring 2023
- £150 for people on an eligible disability benefit, to be paid during summer 2023
- £300 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid during autumn 2023
- £300 for pensioner households, to be paid during winter 2023 to 2024
- £299 for people on an eligible low income benefit, to be paid in spring 2024
Further guidance will be published when more details have been announced, including the qualifying dates.
BENEFITS
Specified accommodation – Housing Benefit review: People who live in ‘specified accommodation’ still claim Housing Benefit (HB) even if they claim Universal Credit for other elements. Over the next year, local authorities will undertake a review of their HB caseload due to a wider aim of improving data around specified accommodation. They have been asked to look at every single case and confirm what category of specified accommodation it is (i.e. temporary, supported, exempt). This review may result in challenges being made to HB awards where the local authority does not believe the accommodation meets the definition. As a result, there may be more queries from clients on the subject. This adviser online article –Defining specified accommodation – examines the legal definitions, case law and guidance to help advisers establish whether a client’s housing is likely to be specified accommodation
Mental Health and Benefits Handbook: Developed in collaboration between CPAG and Mind, this book is a comprehensive guide to social security benefits for people who have a mental health problem or who are struggling with their mental health. Whilst it is aimed at benefits advisers it may also be helpful for carers, families and other professionals such as social workers and housing officers. It is free to access – here.
RELATIONSHIPS
Minimum age for marriage increases to 18: From 27 February 2023, the Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Act 2022 has come into force and the minimum age for marriage or entering a civil partnership in England and Wales has now increased to 18. Previously it was possible to marry at 16 or 17 with parental consent or an order from the Family Court. These changes do not affect the validity of marriages entered into before 27 February 2023. The new law means marriages which take place abroad (or in Scotland or Northern Ireland) where one of the parties is aged under 18, will not be legally recognised here where one of the parties is domiciled in England and Wales. The changes also amend Section 121 Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014 to strengthen the law around forced marriage, by making it an offence to do anything to arrange the marriage of a child, with or without force. Read the Govt press release here.
Domestic Abuse – Ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately): This is a codeword scheme that provides a safe, discreet and confidential way for victims of domestic abuse to access immediate help from their local pharmacy or jobcentre. The scheme allows those at risk of, or suffering from, domestic abuse to receive emergency help and support from a trained staff member who will guide them to a safe and private space, where they can help a victim call the police or support services, or loved one. Currently in Dorset and BCP most Boots branches offer this service, and it is being rolled out to Jobcentres (not in our area yet). Read more here.
This is part of a range of measures to protect victims of domestic abuse, which also include tougher management of the most dangerous domestic abusers, and controlling or coercive behaviour put on a par with physical violence. Read the press release here.
UKRAINE
Michael Gove – letters to guests and hosts: These summarise the current position with the Homes for Ukraine Scheme.
IMMIGRATION
EU Settlement Scheme – court decision: A recent High Court decision said that people with pre-settled status cannot lose or be denied permanent residence rights just because they don’t make a second application to the EUSS before the expiry of their pre-settled status. The Gov will not be appealing this. However, the judgement did not say that EEA citizens don’t need to apply to the scheme at all, so those without any status from the Scheme, and joining family members, will still need to apply. The Home Office has also said: “Those with pre-settled status are encouraged to apply for settled status as soon as they are eligible, so they can obtain secure evidence of their right of permanent residence in the UK.” BBC news covered this here.
Derivative rights to reside under EUSS: The guidance on derivative rights to reside under the EUSS has been updated. A ‘derivative right to reside’ exists to protect the rights of children to stay in the UK in certain situations. Both the child and the child’s primary carer have a derivative right to reside for as long as necessary to ensure that the child’s rights are protected. The updated guidance explains how applications made to the EUSS from persons with a derivative right to reside will be assessed. This came into force on 17 February 2023 and will be applied immediately in all cases. Read the Home Office guidance here.
HEALTH
Lower cost prepaid prescriptions for HRT: People needing ongoing prescriptions can pay in advance to save money. From 1 April 2023, prepayment certificates for hormone replace therapy (HRT) will cost just £18.70 for 12 months. Read more on help with health costs on the NHS website here.
LOCAL
Prejudice Free Dorset / Dorset Police: Dorset Police are seeking members of the community to help them improve the service they deliver through Stop & Search. They’re looking for people to join a Stop & Search Scrutiny Panel, which is made up of members of the public and representative of the local community. The panel will watch body worn video footage and then give their feedback on how the police are using their stop and search power. Anyone who wishes to become involved in the Independent Scrutiny Panel as a community representative, contact Dorset Police Stop Search by email.
Events, training etc
Dorset – Embedded Digital Champions: If you work or volunteer in a role where you help Dorset residents, you can sign up for embedded digital champion training to help customers access your services online – read more here. Two options for training available in March:
- The 2-week programmes are suitable for any front-facing employee, they include guest speakers and move at a steady space.
- The 2.5 hour workshop covers similar content to the 2-week programme but is more fast paced, without guest speakers and is best suited to those who feel confident in their own digital skills.
Dorset Police / BU – “Let’s Talk About Equality, Diversity and Inclusion”: Monday 6th March 18:30 – 21:30 Guest speaker Teddy Burton, who has a huge amount of experience in challenging systemic discrimination, will be speaking alongside several societies within Bournemouth University, especially those from underrepresented groups, to help provide an insight about their lived experiences and views on policing. Venue: Bournemouth University Marconi Lecture Theatre, Kimmeridge House, Talbot Campus Bournemouth University Bournemouth BH12 5BB. Book via eventbrite.
International Women’s Day – 8 March: Celebrate women’s achievement – Raise awareness about discrimination – Take action to drive gender parity. This year’s theme – #EmbraceEquity. Read more here.
Citizens Advice – March Cost of Living Briefing: 21 March, 3 – 4pm, will be live streamed from the House of Commons. We’ll be bringing our real-time data insights into the heart of government and hosting a panel discussion on the key issues facing policy makers and civil servants. 2023 is shaping up to be the year of a debt crisis……. Register via eventbrite.
Reports, research, etc
Housing Statistics from the second half of 2022 are beginning to show the effects of the cost of living crisis:
Mortgage and Possession statistics: Possession claims data from the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) shows a 42% increase in claims issued by landlords for the period October-December 2022, compared to the same quarter in 2021. Possession orders rose by 135% and there was a 103% increase in the number of warrants issued. A 23% increase was also seen in mortgage possession claims, with a 50% increase in possession orders and an 88% increase in warrants
Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities data: The DLUHC snapshot on rough sleeping in England for autumn 2022, shows a 26% increase in rough sleepers counted on a single night in England in November 2022, compared to the previous year. Their statistics on statutory homelessness for July to September 2022 also shows that the number of households threatened with homelessness due to service of a section 21 notice was up by 34.4% compared to the same quarter in 2021
Citizens Advice – Cost of Living dashboards: The most recent dashboards are here. The focus of the February briefing was on housing – you can view it here. Between September and December of last year, accelerated possession orders (Section 21 evictions) increased by nearly 150% compared to 2021.
Damp, cold and full of mould: This Citizens Advice research has found more than half (58%) of private renters are living in damp and draughty rented homes – and it’s affecting their health. Key findings:
- 1.6 million children are currently living in privately rented homes with damp, mould or excessive cold.
- 30% of renters in the private sector say they can’t heat their home to a comfortable temperature, increasing to 45% of disabled tenants.
- Private sector tenants in the least efficient homes are paying an extra £950 a year just to keep warm. With energy bills set to rise again in April, this could go up to terrifying £1,190 more a year.
Read more here. There is also an Adviser Online article on this topic: Damp & mould in rented housing: who is responsible and what can you do about it?
Reboot – Building a housing market that works for all: This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report looks at the weakness in the current housing system: House price inflation on the scale we have seen over the last 20 years is fundamentally incompatible with rising homeownership and better housing outcomes. It’s also the driver of our dysfunctional housebuilding system, poverty, wealth inequality and wider economic distortions that result from ploughing so much of our national wealth into housing market speculation.
Funding news
Postcode Local Trust (West of England): Opens 1 March and closes very quickly!! Funding for smaller charities and good causes in the West of England to make a difference to their community for the benefit of people and planet. Funded by the players of People’s Postcode Lottery, the Postcode Local Trust offers grants of between £500 and £25,000 to not-for-profit organisations with an income of less than £1 million in the most recent financial year. The funding is for projects across the west of England that have a clear alignment with one of the Trust’s 2023 themes:
- Improving mental wellbeing
- Enabling participation in physical activity
- Enabling community participation in the arts
- Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty
- Supporting marginalised groups and tackling inequality
- Improving biodiversity and responding to the climate emergency
- Improving green spaces and increasing access to the outdoors.
Read more here. If you miss this one, make a note in your diary – next one opens 1 June.
Magic Little Grants: LocalGiving has announced that it will launch its annual Magic Little Grants scheme for the sixth year. Not-for-profit groups and organisations must be in their first year of operation or have an annual income under £250,000 in order to apply for a one-off grant of £500. Schools are eligible to apply if they are a registered charity.
The funding is for projects that fall within one of the following themes:
- Providing support to improve mental health.
- Enabling participation in physical activity.
- Enabling participation in the arts.
- Preventing or reducing the impact of poverty.
- Supporting marginalised groups and tackling inequality.
- Improving biodiversity and responding to the climate emergency.
- Improving green spaces and increasing access to the outdoors.
Funding can be used to launch new projects, support existing ones, or cover core costs associated with ongoing work. Successful applicants can expect to hear the outcome within six weeks. Read more here.