Citizens Advice is calling on government to protect most vulnerable
Citizens Advice is mobilising every resource to protect our most vulnerable clients with the cost of living.
Many are living on a low income or with a disability. But the crisis has led more middle-income individuals and families to ask for help too.
We’re building up our services in Epsom & Ewell and supporting national Citizens Advice in asking government to protect the vulnerable everywhere.
CAEE Research & Campaigns Team
Responding locally
As local demand for help increases we’re strengthening our personal advice service, online information and fundraising.
New staff have joined our debt and money unit. We‘ve welcomed new volunteers to train as Advisers and Assessors but would still love to hear from you (or a friend) if you could lend hand. We’ve started Get help with the cost of living a new web page with the most up-to-date local support and information.
Another urgent present task is to enable and channel donations by generous residents to local people in greatest need. We are very grateful to Chris Grayling MP for his work with us and Good Company (Epsom & Ewell Foodbank) in setting up the Epsom & Ewell Energy Support Fund. Please read about it and help if you can.
And we’re just about to launch Project Wenceslas 2022. With the fantastic support of Epsom Rotary and Ewell Rotary, we’ll be asking local people who may not need their Winter Fuel Payment to donate and help less fortunate residents.
National campaigning
Recently you may have noticed the frequent appearances of Citizens Advice in the national media.
Armed with detailed evidence from Epsom & Ewell and local CAs everywhere, our representatives play an influential part in government policy-making. As we write, there is still uncertainty about policy. We are recommending three ways ministers could mitigate the crisis:
- Confirm that working-age benefits will keep pace with the cost of living by uprating with the full September Consumer Price Index.
- Reset the Energy Price Guarantee (due to end in April) to target those most in need.
- Deliver clear, consistent advice to the public on how to safely manage their energy use.
In the coming months we will update readers on our cost of living activity at local and national level.