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]
National Association of Welfare Rights Advisers (NAWRA) Conference in Dorchester on Friday 5th June
Advice Updates
CONSUMER
Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) – consumer travel advice: In light of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East, the CAA has published consumer travel advice. It covers:
- cancellations
- delays
- compensation
- jet fuel surcharges
You can read consumer travel advice for Summer 2026 on the CAA website.
Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) fake insurance warning: The FCA has warned young drivers about fake insurance. ‘Ghost brokers’ pose as insurance sellers, often on social media. These policies can be:
- entirely fake
- invalid because the fraudsters falsify details to bring the price down
- invalid because the fraudster cancels the policy after it’s bought
Drivers don’t know that they aren’t insured, which is illegal. The FCA advises:
- be wary of offers that sound too good to be true
- avoid deals only available through social media
People can use the FCA Firm Checker to confirm the firm is authorised.
You can read ‘Young drivers warned about fake insurance sold on social media’ on the FCA website.
You can find the FCA Firm Checker on the FCA website.
EMPLOYMENT
Fair Work Agency (FWA): The FWA has published a policy paper detailing its revised enforcement strategy. The document details the investigative and enforcement powers of the FWA, along with a reminder of its role to protect vulnerable and exploited workers (Modern Slavery), and the Employment tribunal penalties scheme.
You can read the Fair Work Agency enforcement strategy on GOV.UK.
Fire and rehire: The House of Commons (HOC) library has published a research briefing on the practice of dismissing workers in order to rehire them on worse terms and conditions. As you may be aware the Employment Rights Act 2025 will introduce changes to this practice from January 2027, which currently proposes to make such a dismissal automatically unfair unless the employer is experiencing financial troubles.
You can read the HOC briefing on fire and rehire on the House of Commons Library website.
BENEFITS
Successful legacy appeals scheme: The DWP has announced the launch of a scheme to address the judgment TD AD & R v Secretary of State for Work and Pensions [2020]. The court recognised that there was a cohort of claimants who claimed Universal Credit (UC) upon their legacy benefits terminating, but were unable to be returned to legacy benefits, despite the decision to end those benefits later being found to be incorrect and subsequently reversed via revision, mandatory reconsideration or appeal.
Within this cohort there is a small group of claimants who received less on UC than they did on legacy benefits despite experiencing no change in circumstances. This scheme compensates those eligible with a one-off payment. To be eligible, claimants must:
- have made a claim for UC within one month of their previous benefit ending and
- have a lower entitlement on UC compared to their legacy benefit, and
- not have had a change in their circumstances when claiming UC
The decision to terminate their legacy benefit must have been revised or successfully appealed against.
You can read more about the successful legacy appeals scheme and how to apply on GOV.UK.
Limited Capability for Work and Work Related Activity (LCWRA) element: From 6 April 2026 there are 2 rates of the LCWRA element: lower and higher. A protected group of claimants will receive the higher rate if they’re a pre-2026 claimant, meet the severe conditions criteria or are terminally ill.
At a recent stakeholder meeting it was announced that award letters won’t explicitly state whether a claimant is in a group that qualifies for the higher rate of the LCWRA element. This means claimants won’t easily know if there is a decision that could be challenged. Citizens Advice are working with the DWP to improve award letters.
Fit note pilots: The government has announced several pilots from July that will look at changing how and when fit notes are issued. The format being tested will include making referrals to support services instead of, or as well as, fit notes.
Trials will take place across:
- Birmingham and Solihull
- Coventry and Warwickshire
- Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly
- Lancashire and South Cumbria
You can find more information in the press release ‘Broken fit note system to be overhauled’ on GOV.UK.
IMMIGRATION
More children can use eGates to enter the UK: From 8 July 2026, children aged 8 and 9 years, who are at least 120cm (3ft 11in) tall and accompanied by an adult, will become eligible to use an eGate when entering the UK. Children aged 10 to 17 may already use them.
eGates are quick to use, as it only involves facial recognition and a passport scan. It can only be used if you:
- have a biometric passport
- don’t need a stamp in your passport – for instance you already have leave to remain or are entering as a visitor with an electronic travel authorisation (ETA)
You must be either:
- a British citizen
- an EU citizen
- a national of Australia, Canada, Iceland, Japan, Liechtenstein, New Zealand, Norway, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland or the USA
Prove your English (SELT) tests: A reminder that applicants taking the SELT English tests can use an expired BRP/BRC card to confirm their identity until 24 December 2026, as long as the test is taken within 24 months following the expiry of the card.
You can read guidance on how to prove your English language abilities with a SELT on GOV.UK.
Curtailing pre-settled status: The Home Office has now taken Citizens Advice off their template ‘minded to curtail’ letter as a source of advice. We had requested it because it was clear to us, and reinforced by guidance from the IAA, that advising on these would be above level 1.
FAMILY
Measures to help separating couples: The Ministry of Justice (MOJ) has announced measures to help support separating couples to come to an agreement about children and financial matters.
The family mediation voucher scheme, which was introduced in 2021, has now been extended for another year. The scheme provides financial assistance through a non-means tested £500 mediation voucher for eligible parties to take part in mediation.
You can read more about the scheme on the Family Mediation Council website.
Digital tools have also been introduced to help parties who are separated, or in the process of a divorce, to try to come to an agreement using a ‘make child arrangements’ planner.
You can find the child arrangements planner tool on GOV.UK.
This tool could be useful for a litigant in person looking to make an agreement with their former partner, outside of court.
You can read the MOJ press release at GOV.UK.
ENERGY
British Gas agrees settlement for unfair treatment of prepayment meter (PPM) customers: British Gas has agreed a settlement with Ofgem fund following an investigation into their unfair treatment of PPM customers. Ofgem’s investigation concluded that British Gas breached licence conditions and failed to meet supplier standards when dealing with customers in vulnerable situations. This affects customers in vulnerable situations who had contracts with British Gas from 2018-21. British Gas have agreed to:
- pay £20m to Ofgem’s Voluntary Redress Fund
- write off £70m of debt for vulnerable customers
- continue to provide the remainder of a £22.4 million voluntary support package British Gas launched in 2023, for PPM customers
- create a new Vulnerable Customers Debt Advisory Panel
Customers due to be paid compensation do not need to take any action and will be contacted directly by British Gas. Compensation will be credited or paid directly to affected customers.
You can read the statement about the British Gas settlement on the Ofgem website.
Research and Reports
Building healthier foundations: How to improve access to healthy housing for all: In this new report, Citizens Advice argue that housing is a core determinant of health and that improving access to healthy homes requires changes across design, standards, and policy. Read the report here.
Work isn’t working: Family, work and progression on a low income: This new IPPR report argues that most child poverty now exists in working households, because low-paid and insecure jobs haven’t delivered financial security, meaning welfare, skills, childcare, and job progression systems all need reform. It concludes that improving job quality and progression for low-income workers is essential to reduce poverty, alongside better social security and employment support designed around modern working families. Read the report here.
Upcoming Events & Training
Carers Week: Carers Week (8–14 June 2026) is a national awareness campaign highlighting unpaid caring and helping people identify if they have caring responsibilities. Unpaid carers are those who regularly support a family member, friend or neighbour with tasks such as shopping, attending appointments, personal care or providing emotional support. Across Dorset, unpaid carers will be recognised and encouraged to access support during the week, as local organisations come together to promote communities where carers feel valued, understood and supported. There are a number of events planned across Dorset – click here for the full list.
Accessible Volunteering: Opening the Door to More Volunteers, 02.06.2026, 10:00 – 11:30, online: This training led by Volunteer Centre Dorset introduces accessible and inclusive volunteering, helping organisations understand the barriers people may face and how small, practical adjustments can open volunteering to a wider range of individuals. It focuses on strengths based, flexible approaches that benefit both volunteers and organisations by building confidence, inclusion, and sustainable involvement.
This training is suitable for any organisations or groups that work with volunteers and wants practical, confidence building guidance on removing barriers, adapting roles, and creating welcoming pathways that benefit both volunteers and the organisation.
Funding
BH Coastal Lottery: The BH Coastal Lottery is a local fundraising initiative run by BCP Council, supporting small voluntary and community groups across Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole. The Small Grants Scheme provides funding to grassroots organisations delivering activities that make a real difference to local residents in BCP.
Constituted voluntary and community organisations (including charities and not-for-profits) with an annual income under £60,000, based in or delivering services to BCP residents are eligible to apply.
The following can be funded:
Ongoing activities or services that benefit BCP residents
Community-led work responding to clear local need
Projects that form part of your organisation’s regular delivery
Projects that promote volunteering
The following will not be funded:
One-off events or activities with no lasting benefit
Organisations funded in the last 12 months
Projects not clearly benefiting BCP residents
Deadline 14 June 2026.
BCP Crisis and Resilience Fund: The deadline to apply to the current round of this fund is midday on Thursday, June 4.
This programme distributes part of the funds allocated by the UK government’s Crisis & Resilience Fund to BCP Council. This is a three year scheme running until March 31, 2029. Organisations must work in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole and funded activities must benefit BCP residents. Priority will be given to those based in the area. This fund complements a range of services that are being supported by the UK government’s Crisis & Resilience Fund, delivered by BCP Council and partners. The ‘crisis’ element is being delivered largely through the Housing Payments scheme and the Crisis Payments scheme, offering support to individual households. These services will provide a safety net for those on low incomes who encounter a financial shock. See the council’s webpage on the Crisis & Resilience Fund for more information.