Citizens Advice Westminster’s Summer newsletter

Published: 3 August 2022

Cost of living crisis

A key focus at the Westminster Advice Forum was the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, with organisations reporting increasing demand for grants to support families and the impact of food and fuel poverty including for those in work.

Our Research and Campaigns team regularly analyse evidence forms completed by Advisers fill in when they see a client with a major problem which is part of a wider issue. The emerging trends have been:

Poor administration and systems within the statutory bodies such as DWP. These cause delays which often put the clients in debt which is then hard to get out of.
This is made worse by the digital divide. When online Universal Credit deadlines are not met this has led to overpayments and demanding repayment schedules, leading to more debt.
Online housing forms are also challenging for some clients and resulted in one client missing out on a vital transfer to a different accommodation.
Benefits not covering basic costs of living leading to requests for food bank vouchers, and the impact that the financial struggle is having on the mental health of clients.
Clients being harassed by creditors and in one case illegal charging of interest on rent arrears by a private landlord