Rushmoor CAB, believes that this is a very important part of our work. If we can get laws, policies, or procedures changed, it can improve the situation for our clients and for the community as a whole.
We look at local and national issues, and we carry out Social Policy work in a number of ways.
A good example is given below under the section "Involving Clients in Social Policy Work" where we ask that you complete a national survey organised by the Disability Benefits Consortium.
The meetings we attend include:
We were involved in the setting up of the Well Being Centre in Frimley, which is providing statutory and voluntary services for Mental Health service users. We have a representative on the Centre’s Operational Group, which is helping plan its develpment.
For many years we pointed out the problems some clients had getting the compensation awarded by Employment Tribunals. Citizens Advice highlighted the problems in their report Justice Denied.
In May 2009 the government announced that they would introduce tough measures to improve the payment of tribunal awards. These measures should mean that claimants have a much better chance of receiving the money they have been awarded.
Better protection for tenants
We have seen the effect the recession has had on many people and have highlighted some concerns. We have seen tenants who have had to leave their homes at very short notice because their landlord has failed to pay the mortgage on the property.
Citizens Advice reported on these problems and a MP has now introduced the Protection of Tenants Bill which would, if it became law, give the courts power to grant a 2 month breathing space for tenants before the property could be repossessed. This bill has widespread support and if it becomes law would benefit many tenants.
Improvements in the Doorstep Selling of Gas and Electricity
Over the years bureaux have reported many cases involving the mis-selling of gas and electricity on the doorstep. On 19 January 2010, tougher new rules were introduced which force energy salespeople to provide customers with much more information about the new terms they are offering.
Citizens Advice is part of the Disability Benefits Consortium (DBC), a national coalition of over 30 different charities and other organisations. The DBC is committed to working towards a fairer benefits system, and are asking the public to take part in a new survey which aims to find out more about disabled people’s experiences of claiming benefits.
It includes questions about what people think about work, and if they have ever claimed Employment and Support Allowance – the new benefit for people who cannot work due to ill health or disability. The survey also asks questions about Housing Benefit and Disability Living Allowance to find out more about how people use these benefits.
The survey will take around 15 minutes to complete and can be accessed online by clicking here. The deadline for completion is 20th October.
2. Support our Fair Welfare Campaign
Complete the survey about your experience of back to work support. The Citizens Advice Fair Welfare campaign is calling for a just, efficient welfare benefits and tax credits system. It is a broad campaign incorporating several separate objectives for change.
Complaining directly to an organisation is one of the best ways of campaigning for change.
To help clients make complaints, we have added three links to some specific organisations, and intend to add others as we deem appropriate.
Our first link Consumer Direct is operated by the Office of Fair Trading (OFT) in partnership with Local Authority Trading Standards, and offers general advice on how to make a complaint, including template letters.
British Gas under 'Reason why you are contacting us', select 'Make a Complaint'.
DWP - Department for Work & Pensions Link to Complaints & Appeals