Welfare benefit enquiries up by a further 8% as impact of reforms continue to take hold

Local charity Exeter Citizens Advice Bureau today publishes its latest advice trend statistics, which show that it has helped 610 people directly with advice on 2,436 problems so far this financial year.

There was an eight per cent increase in enquiries about welfare benefits and tax credits; such as employment and support allowance, disability living allowance and problems with housing benefit.

The average value of debt per client stood at £9,312; with the average amount owed to each creditor standing at £2,701, an increase of £409 or 17% on the previous year.

The charity is welcoming a reduction in the levels of other types of enquiry; including debt, employment, housing and relationship problems, which are returning to levels closer to those seen before the recession in 2008/09. 

Exeter CAB Chief Executive Steve Barriball, said: “This is evidence that the human impact of the on-going economic difficulties are far from over for people who have lost their jobs or their homes, or both. Yet, there are hundreds more people effected by the welfare reforms, or struggling with debt and poverty, that we want to be able to assist.”

Steve continued: “We welcome some of the reforms that the Government is bringing in to simplify the benefits system and to ensure that work pays. However, we are now starting to see the impact on households who are struggling to cope with reduced incomes, and on people who are uncertain about their future entitlements and what this will mean for them financially.”

Steve finished by saying: “We are committed to provide the advice people need for the problems they face. However, we can only continue to do this if the bureau has the necessary resources and we need to increase public and business donations to that end. Anyone wishing to support our work can donate on-line by going to the Donation Support section of our website (www.exetercab.org.uk)”  

Alternatively, donations can be made in person at the Bureau offices on King William Street in Exeter.

The top five advice issues so far this year are:

Benefits and tax credits
1 April 2012 – 31 May 2012: 1015
1 April 2013 – 31 May 2013: 1099
Percentage change: +8.2 %

Debt / money
1 April 2012 – 31 May 2012: 746
1 April 2013 – 31 May 2013: 720
Percentage change: -3.4%

Relationships
1 April 2012 – 31 May 2012: 80
1 April 2013 – 31 May 2013: 68
Percentage change: -15.0%

Housing
1 April 2012 – 31 May 2012: 118
1 April 2013 – 31 May 2013: 93
Percentage change: -21.1%

Employment
1 April 2012 – 31 May 2012: 178
1 April 2013 – 31 May 2013: 103
Percentage change: -42.1%