Citizens Advice reports an increase in enquiries – particularly concerning urgent debt advice and disability benefits

Submitted by ATarr on Wed, 01/09/2010 - 9:43am

Between April and June 2010, Citizens Advice Bureaux across England and Wales dealt with 6% more benefits problems than they did in the same period last year. 

Figures released today show that from April to June this year, the overall rise in welfare benefits enquiries was mainly due to large increases in requests for advice on sickness and disability related benefits:

  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) rose 77%  (from 25,528 problems in Q1 09/10 to 45,257 in Q1 10/11)
  • Carers Allowance rose 17%  (from 11,558 problems in Q1 09/10 to 13,488 in Q1 10/11)
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA) rose 11%  (from 98,380 problems in Q1 09/10 to 108,742 in Q1 10.11)

The proportion of enquiries about urgent debt (i.e. those where the consequences of not paying are most serious) also rose significantly:

  • Water supply debts rose 18% (from 18,191 in Q1 09/10 to 21,395 in Q1 10/11)
  • Council tax arrears rose 7% (from 36,953 in Q1 09/10 to 39,460 in Q1 10/11)
  • Telephone debts rose 7% (from 18,323 in Q1 09/10 to 19,613 in Q1 10/11)
  • Rent arrears to private landlords rose 18% (from 5,628 in Q1 09/10 to 6,621 in Q1 10/11)

Gillian Guy, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice said:

“Over the last two years we’ve had longer opening hours and seen more people due to extra funding to help in the recession. However, this funding is due to end soon which will reduce the number of people we are able to help .

“Demand for CAB services is at a record level and although the recession is technically over the effects will be felt among households of all types for a long time to come.”

For more information visit CAB’s website:

http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/press_20100826