Autumn fruitfulness for policy research but will clients be smiling?
Autumn 2024: fruitfulness for Citizens Advice policy research but still anything but mellow for many clients . A monthly newsletter policy update.
Research and Campaigns Team (2 minutes)
New government policies on housing, employment, social security, health and public services will affect everyone in time. For now our focus is local clients. Latest posts.
We hope the chancellor in her first Budget will improve life for those with unacceptably low living standards. We would like her to:
- allow local housing allowance uprating in relation to local market rents,
- reduce deductions from universal credit, and
- restore targeted energy bill support in some form.
Readers keen to follow the living standards Budget debate could spend a worthwhile lunch hour in the CA public webinar on 15 October. On offer: new national CA data, FT economics editor, Resolution Foundation. More and how to register.
Energy
The Winter Fuel Payment furore has again put energy costs in the spotlight. Even in prosperous areas people face ‘heat or eat’ decisions this winter: official figures show some 8% of Surrey households in fuel poverty. WFPs are now available only to people receiving pension credit or other specified benefits. Anyone who isn’t sure if they qualify should definitely check or risk missing out. Our advisers and online information can help.
Housing
Housing costs continue high on our agenda. Official figures reveal that Epsom & Ewell rents rose 10% in the year to August adding further to our housing problems. Average monthly payments were £1644, second only to Elmbridge (£1822).
We quoted the local housing crisis when explaining why we believe campaigning on behalf of clients and the community is an essential part of Citizens Advice.
Young citizens
Meanwhile we continue our campaign to show why Citizens Advice, even in its 80s, is relevant to young citizens. Our online information covers multitudinous issues with the option of following up in person, on the phone or by email. We posted details of help available to a generation under-served for private, trustworthy and accessible advice when moving on and moving out.
This CAEE blog is in our October Newsletter: Read the full newsletter here.