Advice Dorset Partnership E News No 8: 3 August 2023

03/08/2023
Home - ADP News

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: Two roles – more info for both is here.

Outreach Caseworker – Portland and Westham: 19 hours per week, £14.96 per hour This is a partnership project between Citizens Advice Central Dorset, Portland and Westham Food Banks and the Portland Library. It will reach out to those most in need throughout the Portland communities by providing timely advice, information and support, particularly in the areas of welfare benefits and debt. The caseworker will attend the Foodbank on two mornings per week to work directly with those accessing its services. We are therefore looking for an experienced Welfare Benefits, Debt and General Advice Caseworker who can provide a flexible approach to the needs of our clients. Closing date 17 August.

HR Development Manager: 15 hours/week, £14.96 per hour. You will be responsible for overseeing the recruitment and staffing of paid staff, trustees and volunteers. This will include drafting recruitment materials, processing applications, conducting interviews, and maintaining accurate personnel records. In addition to managing staff, you will also play a key role in the recruitment and retention of volunteers. This will involve processing volunteer applications, organising interviews and training sessions, and maintaining accurate volunteer records. You should have relevant experience in an HR role and be proficient in using ICT across a range of applications. Effective oral communication skills, an ordered approach to your workload, and the ability to prioritise tasks, meet deadlines, and keep accurate records are also essential. Closing date 17 August.

Information updates

COST OF LIVING

August Fact Sheet:

AUGUST-2023-Cost-of-Living-Crisis-factsheet

UKRAINE

The Ukraine Extension scheme can now grant further leave to Ukrainians who enter the UK up to 16 November 2023, with a deadline of 16 May 2024 for applications.

Driving: Following on from Ukrainians being allowed to drive for 3 years in the UK on their Ukrainian licences, any personal vehicles brought in from Ukraine don’t have to be registered or MOT’d for 3 years after importation.

BENEFITS

Universal Credit – work-related requirement increase for caregivers: A 24 July press release confirms an increase of jobcentre requirements for parents and caregivers on Universal Credit (UC), with more planned to follow. Beginning immediately, claimants responsible for young children will be instructed to engage at least 50% more than they are now. Those with a one-year-old will be asked to attend a work-focused meeting ‘every three months instead of the current every six months’. Those with two-year-olds will start meeting their work coach ‘every month instead of the current every three months’. Affected claimants will be told of the increase at their next work coach appointment. Further changes are planned from the Autumn. Failure to engage with these measures could result in sanction. Read the press release here.

Universal Credit managed migration: The DWP confirms that managed migration to Universal Credit (UC) will be rolled out to further regions from September 2023, and although Dorset and BCP are not on the list you may assist clients from neighbouring areas such as Wiltshire add Hants. The full list is:

East Scotland
Cumbria and Lancashire
South West Wales
Essex
Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire and Rutland
Devon, Wiltshire, Hampshire and the Isle of Wight

In addition, from September 2023 the DWP will bring some claimants on DWP benefits and Housing Benefit into its discovery phase, and send letters to all Tax Credit claimants who’ll be subject to managed migration.

HOUSING

Housing Loss Prevention Advice Service (HLPAS): HLPAS is funded via the Legal Aid Agency (LAA) and from 1 August will offer early legal advice to anyone at risk of losing their home (for both renters and homeowners). Individuals can get free legal advice, and representation at court, regardless of their financial circumstances. The aim is to provide access to early legal advice to give the opportunity to stop problems from escalating to court action.

To access support, individuals will need to have written evidence that someone is seeking possession of their home. This might be a notice seeking possession or a letter from a creditor. Help is available for problems such as: rent and mortgage arrears, disrepair and other housing conditions, welfare benefits, debt. Read more here. On a postcode search Shelter comes up as our local provider.

EMPLOYMENT

Contractual changes: A recent EAT judgement [the Jackson case – see para 30] has a useful summary of the options available to an employee when their employer imposes a contractual change without either their consent or firing and rehiring the employee. In short, an employee can:

resign and claim constructive unfair dismissal
accept the new terms
refuse to work under the new terms in which case the employer may decide to dismiss them
work under the new terms but sue for breach of contract or any shortfall in wages
work under the new terms but argue they were unfairly dismissed from their previous role

TRAVEL

Wildfires in Europe: Extreme heat in Europe is causing devastating wildfires. Holidaymakers should check for travel warnings before they set off. Even if there are no travel warnings, if wildfires are in the area people should check with their tour operator, travel agent or airline as the holiday or flight might not go ahead. Govt (FCDO) advice is here.

Cancelling a holiday: Where a package holiday hasn’t been cancelled, people can cancel for a full refund if at the time of their planned departure there are unavoidable and extraordinary circumstances at their destination or its immediate vicinity, and it significantly affects the performance of the package or travelling to it. FCDO advice against travelling is likely to meet this test.

Wizz Air: The CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) has taken enforcement action against Wizz Air after complaints by passengers that their rights had not been met when flights were delayed or cancelled. Wizz Air is re-looking at passenger claims over flight disruption dated from 18 March 2022 onwards. Read more here.

IMMIGRATION

As noted in E News 7, changes are detailed in Robert Jenrick’s Statement; in summary:

EU Settlement Scheme: The Home Office may now extend pre-settled status (PSS) without a valid application. PSS will be extended automatically for 2 years, some 1-2 months before expiry. Next year, they hope to make automatic residence checks with HMRC/DWP and grant settled status ‘application-free’ in many cases. Also:

joining family members cannot apply if they’re an illegal entrant
the EUSS closes on 9 August for initial applications for ‘Surinder Singh’ family members of qualifying British citizens, and Zambrano cases (carer of a British child)

Other immigration changes from 7 August 2023:

allows the partners of adult dependent relatives (ADR) with visas to accompany them if they are the parent or grandparent of the sponsor. The partner need not have a care need. The ADR’s application will be refused unless the other partner also applies for a visa
the minor children of ADRs may apply for leave as a child under Appendix FM
the grounds to lift or not impose a ‘no public funds’ condition on a Hong Kong (BNO) or private life visas now include exceptional reasons – e.g. disability
the shortage occupation list for skilled worker visas now includes bricklayers, masons, carpenters and joiners, plasterers, 3-year experienced deckhands and otherwise unclassified fishing and building trades
Seasonal Agricultural Workers – sets hourly wage as £10.42 with a minimum of 32 hours per week, £10.75 for poultry workers
citizens of Dominica, Honduras, Namibia, TimorLeste, and Vanuatu are added to the visa national list from 19 July 2023 and will now need a visit visa before travelling

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

Update to Controlling or Coercive Behaviour Statutory Guidance: The government has responded to the results of a 2022 public consultation on Controlling and Coercive Behaviour. The criminal offence of controlling and coercive behaviour was established in 2015 by section 76 Serious Crime Act 2015, and the Domestic Abuse Act 2021 created a statutory definition of domestic abuse including controlling or coercive behaviour, and removed the requirement for the victim and perpetrator to be ‘living together’, consequently amending the criminal offence. As a result, and following the consultation, the statutory guidance has been further updated, in particular clarifying behaviours that could be controlling or coercive, differentiating controlling or coercive behaviour from other offences (including stalking/harassment), and ensuring that all victim groups are represented in the guidance – here.

OTHER

Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) – Vevor products: The OPSS is urging consumers to check any Vevor products they may have recently purchased, directly from the company’s online marketplace or through others, following more than 90 recalls and safety alerts. OPSS has issued an Important Safety Message, where consumers can check the affected items, ranging from welders and drills to waffle makers and milkshake machines for both business and domestic use. Vevor customers with affected products should follow the instructions on the Vevor webpage to return the product and receive a refund. They should stop using affected Vevor products immediately. Read the Govt info here.

Service leaver’s Adjustment Passport: The Adjustments Passport is aimed at Armed Forces Personnel who need adjustments, with the purpose to aid the Service Personnel who are transitioning into civilian employment, regardless of why they leave service, this will include:

Those being medically discharged for reasons which include the need for aids to employment.
Those medically discharging for unrelated reasons but who still require aids to employment.
Those leaving the service for other reasons (Welfare/Discipline/End of Engagement etc) who may need aids to future employment.

The passport provides a transferable record of any workplace adjustments the service leaver may require, such as changes to working hours or specialist equipment, making it easier for them to transition into work, progress and move between jobs. Read more here.

Royal Mail – ‘old’ stamps: If you still have soen non-barcoded stamps they can be exchanged for new barcoded versions through the Stamp Swap Out scheme – read more here.

LOCAL

Dorset Home Upgrade Grant: Dorset Council and BCP Council have launched the Home Upgrade Grant, which is designed to improve the energy efficiency of homes across Dorset. The scheme enables homeowners and private renters to access funded energy saving measures such as loft & cavity wall insulation, external wall insulation, heating upgrades, air source heat pumps and solar panels. Main criteria / eligibility:

Live in lower energy rated homes (EPC D to G)
And heat their homes with a fuel other than mains gas such as; electric heaters, oil and LPG boilers and solid fuel heating.
And either have a household income under £31k, in receipt of a qualifying benefit, or live in a specific Lower Layer Super Output Area.

More information (including postcode check) is here. Information and other energy efficiency schemes and the Energy & Money Saving booklets are available on the Ridgewater Energy website here.

Events and consultations

Dorset Council Housing Strategy Consultation: This was launched on 24 July. There is a short introductory video, plus a link to the online survey, here. They are keen to hear from as many Dorset Council residents as possible so they are encouraging you and those you support to set aside just 10 minutes during the consultation period to help them home in on housing.

Dorset Council VCS strategy: The Council aims to set out how they will enable a thriving, sustainable and dynamic voluntary and community sector to flourish and help improve the lives of individuals and communities in Dorset over coming years. To develop this strategy they need to explore how the council are currently working with the VCS. This survey is aimed at those working within or with voluntary and community sector organisations, including people who volunteer. Deadline: 16 August.

Disability Action Plan – Consultation: The Government has launched a consultation on its Disability Action Plan, which brings together ideas and action across Government to make disabled people’s lives easier. It will be open until 6 October. Read more here.

Citizens Advice Cost of living – September briefing: Thursday 14 September 12 – 1pm, register on eventbrite. The data from the July briefing is here, and the recording here.

Reports, research, newsletters etc

Damp and mould in social housing report: The Regulator of Social Housing (RSH) has issued a final report – here – following its request to all large registered social housing providers in England for evidence about the extent of damp and mould issues in their homes. The RSH request followed the coroner’s November 2022 report into the death of Awaab Ishak in Rochdale. In February 2023, the RSH published an initial findings report. On 28 June 2023 they published their final analysis, with the chief executive summarising, ‘…landlords cannot afford to be complacent. There are lessons to be learned…it is vitally important that landlords look at how they manage the condition and quality of their tenants’ homes in the round.’

Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) warns of increase in ‘hybrid scams’: FOS has published its data on fraud and scam complaints from the 2022/23 financial year – which are up by almost a fifth compared to 2021/22. FOS is now seeing increasing numbers of complaints about ‘hybrid scams’ which are a combination of more than one scam. Read more here.

JRF – Inadequate UC and barriers to work: This Joseph Rowntree Foundation report draws on growing evidence to show how inadequate income can act as a barrier to work. Read more here.

Policy in Practice – £19 Million report: This report continues to receive coverage, appearing in the July IRRV Insight magazine. In the article Tylor-Maria Johnson identifies the most underclaimed benefits. Read more here to discover four reasons why benefits go unclaimed, three actions for policymakers, two actions for organisations and one action for families

Fuel Bank Foundation: The number of people helped by fuel poverty charity Fuel Bank Foundation has topped one million, as demand for support continues to rise in the face of higher energy costs. The charity, which provides emergency fuel vouchers to people who can’t afford to top up their prepayment meter, has seen a year-on-year increase in the number of people turning to it for help since it was set up in 2015. Read more here.

Citizens Advice blog on inflation measures: Although inflation has fallen slightly, there are flaws in the figures used, which means we’re telling the wrong story about the crisis. Read more from Morgan Wild, head of policy at National Citizens Advice, here.

First annual report of Domestic Abuse Commissioner: The DAC role was established by the Domestic Abuse Act 2021, and this report sets out the work done so far. This includes mapping of domestic abuse support services, work to provide oversight in the family justice system, and work to improve the policy response to victims and survivors with insecure immigration status and no recourse to public funds (NRPF). Read more here.

Stop Loan Sharks – spring newsletter.

IMLT-Spring-Newsletter-2023-

Funding news

The National Lottery – Cost of Living Fund: The Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the National Lottery Community Fund have launched the new £75 million Community Organisations Cost of Living Fund. The fund is the first portion of funding from a total pot of £101.5 million announced by the Chancellor at the Spring 2023 Budget. The funding is for frontline charities and voluntary, community and social enterprise (VCSE) organisations that are experiencing increased demand for critical services and increased costs in delivering them. The main priority is to fund organisations supporting low-income households and individuals. Grants available from £10k to £75k. Closing date 16 October. Read more here.

Screwfix Foundation: Registered charities and not-for-profit organisations (including specialist not-for-profit schools) can apply for grants of up to £5,000 for projects that improve, fix, and repair buildings, homes and facilities specifically used by people in need across the UK. To be eligible, applicants must be supporting people in need in the UK by reason of financial hardship, sickness, disability or other disadvantage or distress and be looking for funding to fix, maintain and improve properties or community facilities. Next deadline 10 August. Read more here.

Govt’s new Find a Grant service: This allows you to search government grants. You can use this service to: