WIREDGOV

Public spending cuts will leave vulnerable worse off

Citizens Advice Chief Executive Gillian Guy said:

”Yesterday’s spending review points to hard times ahead for people that rely on public services. The changes will increase the public’s need for advice and support. Cuts, particularly to local authority spending and legal aid are likely to have an adverse impact on our clients, and increase demand for our help.

“In our submission to the Spending Review, we urged the Government to focus on tackling costly bureaucracy and poor standards of service rather than resort to hitting the vulnerable the hardest through rash spending cuts. Despite some welcome announcements today, including protecting pensioners and increasing cold weather payments, slashing social housing will force more people into the private rented sector, which is expensive and very poorly regulated.

“Housing benefit has already been cut back and the extraordinary decision to raise single room rate to 35 year-olds will lead to an explosion of homelessness, and will hit single working people on low incomes as well as the single unemployed. The measure to restrict contribution-based ESA to 12 months betrays people who have paid contributions all their working lives and become sick or disabled.

”We advise millions of people every year, who are often on very low incomes or rely on welfare benefits and public services. They told us that their top priorities for the spending review were simplification of welfare benefits, free to use government helplines and affordable housing. We welcome the announcement that the welfare benefits system will be simplified to make it easier to understand and navigate. In the meantime we urge the government to maintain and continue to improve service standards and ensure the new system is designed with the needs of service users in mind.“

Notes to editors:

1. The Citizens Advice service comprises a network of local bureaux, all of which are independent charities, and national charity Citizens Advice. Together we help people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales see http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/aboutus.htm
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality. For online advice and information see www.adviceguide.org.uk
3. Citizens Advice Bureaux in England and Wales advised 2.1 million clients on 7.1 million problems from April 2009 to March 2010, an 18% increase on the previous year. For full 2009/2010 service statistics see: http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/pressoffice/press_index/press_20100517.htm
4. Out of 22 national charities, the Citizens Advice service is ranked by the general public as being the most helpful, approachable, professional, informative, effective / cost effective, reputable and accountable. (nfpSynergy’s Brand Attributes survey, May 2010).
5. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at around 3,300 service outlets across England and Wales.
6. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)