Many people are being asked to cope for the first time with claiming benefits online and budgeting with one monthly lump sum, including the money they need to pay their rent.

We’re are calling on the Government to allow people the choice of how they receive their benefits while they are given support to help them gain confidence and independence.

For decades Citizens Advice have asked successive governments to take action but so far very little has happened. Meanwhile, we’ve seen a 38% rise in problems with private bailiffs over the last five years.

We’re calling for tighter regulation of the bailiff industry, for creditors to work with people in debt and to make sure people are aware of their rights regarding bailiffs.

To make sure payday lenders are acting fairly, we are asking everyone who has taken out a payday loan to take part in our national survey.

Find out whether your lender is sticking to the rules at citizensadvice.org.uk.

Basic bank accounts should be available to everyone who wants one, but they are particularly needed for people with poor credit ratings or on low incomes, so they can better manage their finances.

Our campaign is calling for banks to agree on how they will provide basic bank accounts, and the minimum standards the accounts will meet. This must include agreeing ID requirements and access to the LINK ATM network.

Poorly designed rules make it difficult to determine who is fit for work and who isn’t. We are calling on the Government to make Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) fit for work. The Government is now deciding which companies will run the tests that determine people’s ability to work.

Without significant improvements we risk facing another five years of failure. Change is needed now to make sure the tests are fair, consistent and right first time.

Download our Annual Report here.

Printed copies are available upon request. Please email us to receive one.
tbadmin@bexleycab.org.uk

Find out more and apply here.

If you would like to support the foodbank, you can also make a donation.
Click here for details of the Bexley Foodbank.

One of our Benefit caseworkers took on a case for a couple with two disabled children under 10 who had had their Housing Benefit restricted as they were said to have too many bedrooms.

Housing benefit ruled they only needed one room for the children as they were both under 10. The couple argued the children needed separate rooms because of the extent of their disabilities.

Our caseworker took the case to appeal but was turned down but then referred the case to CPAG, who took the case to the Court Of Appeal and the case was successful.

Initially, the DWP were considering challenging the ruling in the Supreme Court. In March this year they announced they were dropping the appeal and have accepted this will now we enshrined in law. It will also impact on all the current debate on the so called ‘Bedroom Tax’.