From Citizens Advice
Alongside the latest ONS employment and DWP data, Citizens Advice has released new figures showing it has supported more than a quarter of a million people with advice on Universal Credit since March. Seven in 10 seeking advice on benefits have never come to Citizens Advice before.
Alistair Cromwell, Acting Chief Executive of Citizens Advice, said:
“Our frontline advisers have helped more than 250,000 people with advice on Universal Credit since March. For many, it was the first time they’d needed support from the benefits system.
“The government was quick to boost Universal Credit by £20 a week in recognition of how hard this pandemic would hit. But this vital support is only in place until spring, the point at which the furlough scheme is also set to end.
“Making the uplift permanent will provide people with a long-term safety net as our economy and jobs market recover.”
Background information
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Since March 1 Citizens Advice has helped nearly 280,000 people with advice on Universal Credit*
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Seven in 10 people seeking our help on benefits, had never come to Citizens Advice before
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Throughout October, “redundancy” was the most-searched term on the Citizens Advice website
*actual number 278,949 from 1 March 2020 – 8 November 2020
UNIVERSAL CREDIT
Click here for Government’s website
Here are the first signposting notes you will see:
- apply for an advance on your first payment
- see your statement
- report a change in circumstances
- add a note to your journal
- see your to-do list
- see when your next payment will be
- see your Claimant Commitment
