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, BUT if there is something urgent in-between we will send out a short supplementary edition.
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Information updates
BENEFITS
UC Managed Migration for those on ESA: On 19 April 2024, the Prime Minister made a speech that included the announcement to accelerate the movement of Employment Support Allowance (ESA) and ESA with HB claimants to UC. This will begin in September 2024 (not 2028 as in an earlier timetable…..). This Govt website is aimed at claimants, though please remember that people need to wait for a Migration Notice before making their claim; there is also a toolkit for stakeholders.
EMPLOYMENT
Unpaid work trials: Unpaid trial shifts are often used during recruitment, particularly in the hospitality and retail sector, where potential new recruits’ skills are assessed by the employer in a workplace setting. Although unpaid trial shifts are currently lawful, depending on the way that they are used, applying the National Minimum Wage (NMW) legislation could mean instead that the person doing the shift should be classed as a worker and be paid at the rate of the NMW. The Government has produced guidance, with worked examples, attempting to clarify when the NMW applies to work trials. Because legislation doesn’t define when an unpaid trial shift should attract payment of the NMW, individual circumstances and other factors will be taken into account by a court, tribunal or HMRC NMW enforcement team
HOUSING
Homelessness – LA’s duty regarding possessions: Clients that present as homeless may be concerned about what happens to their belongings once they are evicted, especially if they are going into temporary accommodation that is a hostel, hotel or is smaller than the accommodation they have left. This article -on adviser online – outlines when the local authority has a duty to protect a homeless applicant’s belongings.
IMMIGRATION
Ukraine bank accounts: Natwest has produced a specific bank account for Ukrainians with fee-free international money transfers; there is more information on a wider range of banks, their products, processes and required ID on the Ukraine Refugee Help website.
OTHER
Pensions and Divorce: AdviceNow have published a ‘survival guide on this topic- here. They say that if you are facing the end of your marriage or civil partnership it is really important not to overlook pensions. We want to help you deal with any pensions effectively, and with as little stress as possible. Sometimes people talk about splitting pensions or pension sharing on divorce. These terms can be confusing. But, try not to worry – this guide will take you step-by-step through what you need to do to reach an agreement, sometimes called a financial ‘settlement’. It also tells you what other help is out there so you can plan for the future.
Small claims mediation: As of 22 May 2024, small claims will now be automatically referred for small claims mediation if they are:
- for less than £10,000
- not issued online through Civil Money Claims Online
- not for personal injury or a road traffic accident
In such cases, there will be an automatic referral to a free hour-long telephone mediation session via a court appointed mediator. If in a housing context, this may be relevant to low value disrepair claims and tenancy deposit claims. Read more here.
Energy Efficiency: Immersion heaters are a common culprit when it comes to high electricity usage. Ensuring the controls are set correctly and the cylinder is well insulated can have a significant impact on a consumer’s electricity bills. Citizens Advice has updated its webpage on storage heaters to include new advice about using an immersion heater if you also heat your water with electricity. However, If you use an immersion heater with another type of heating, such as gas central heating or direct electric heaters (e.g. panel heaters), then follow the advice the Save money using your electrical appliances webpage.
Support for Carers: To meet growing demand for free legal information, AccessAva has been developed by Access Social Care to provide 24/7 independent legal support and guidance to people across England. It helps adults, families and carers who need health and social care support by offering legal information, guidance or a letter to help resolve social care problems (written and reviewed by lawyers), and prioritises a person-centred approach, takes the user through their situation and uses AI technology to learn from chatbot conversations. Read the press release from Carers UK here.
Microchipping cats: From 10 June it became a requirement for cats to be microchipped and registered on a database once they are 20 weeks old (there are already regulations for dogs being microchipped from 8 weeks old). There is a fine of up to £500 for people who haven’t microchipped their cats or dogs. The microchipping has to be done by a trained professional – GOV.UK has a list of databases that meet government standards. Read more from Cats Protection here.
Events
Launch – Ethnically Diverse Communities Project: The EDC Project is funded by the National Lottery Community Fund and is a partnership between Community Action Network (CAN), BCP Council, Dorset Community Foundation (DCF) and Dorset Race and Equality Council (Dorset REC). The project offers opportunities to EDC groups to be heard and to grow (through training opportunities, identify community needs, one-to-one meetings, events, etc). Come along to their project launch on 27th June at Bournemouth University Fusion Building, 6pm-8:30pm to share your communities voice and network with local groups. Book via eventbrite.
Small Charity Week – Monday 24 – Friday 28 June 2024: Small Charity Week amplifies, supports and connects small charities right across the UK. Join us to empower your team, access practical support, and make new connections – so you can make an even bigger impact. Read more here.
Learning Disability Week – 17 – 23 June 2024: This year’s theme – “Do you see me?” – is about challenging the barriers people with a learning disability face. Read more form Mencap.
Research, reports, consultations, etc
Citizens Advice — ‘Disability benefits: Lessons from the front line’: This new report outlines how the disability benefits system has failed to adapt to a world where disability and ill health are more prevalent and more complex in terms of the variation of impact on people’s lives, resulting in disabled people, and people with long-term health problems, too often not getting the support they need. Read more here.
Citizens Advice – June data insights: Today’s event was titled The Living Standards Election, with guest speakers Emma Revie, CEO of the Trussell Trust and Adam Drummond, Research Director, Opinium giving their insights into how the next government should address falling living standards, and if voters are confident the major parties have a plan. You can watch it here, and see the slides here.
Benefits debt deductions trapping people in poverty and debt: This report from the New Economics Foundation comments that the social security system in its current threadbare form is already unable to prevent people from being pushed into poverty, and debt deductions undermine it further, intensifying the hardship that struggling families experience. Read more here.
UK Finance fraud report: UK Finance has released its 2024 annual fraud report – here – along with a summary of its headline figures:
- Criminals stole £1.17 billion through unauthorised and authorised fraud in 2023, a 4% decrease compared to 2022.
- Banks prevented a further £1.25 billion of unauthorised fraud through advanced security systems.
- 76% of APP fraud started online and 16% started through telecommunications networks.
Don’t forget CAN’s State of the Sector survey – here.
Funding news
Community wellbeing and mental health fund: This fund re-opens on 24 June, and will provide grants of up to £10k for a 6 – 12 month period, for community based non-clinical services and activities to adults age 18+ focusing on wellbeing and mental health. Grants will be awarded to support things such as early intervention services and activities that support people in community based settings to improve their wellbeing and mental health.
Read more on the Dorset Community Foundation website. The fund will close on 2 August.
Ofgem Energy Industry Voluntary Redress Scheme: Known as the Energy Redress Scheme, this is funded through voluntary payments from energy companies who may have breached rules. Energy Saving Trust, an independent organisation, manages the allocation of payments for the scheme, which has been in place for six years.
Registered charities in Great Britain can apply now for a Main Grant or a Small Project Grant, which aim to:
- Support energy consumers in vulnerable situations.
- Deliver benefits to the types of consumers that were negatively impacted by the specific issues that triggered redress payments.
Read more here. Closing date 8 July 2024.