Publications

Briefing prepared for all Scottish MPs ahead of a Westminster Hall debate on Universal Credit and debt.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) supports the Scottish Government's ‘safe and secure transition’ approach, but would like to see commitments to a number of short and long-term improvements to Disability Assistance, once it replaces PIP, Attendance Allowance and DLA.

Our series of briefings, 'Voices from the Frontline', demonstrates the impact of changes to the UK social security system on people in Scotland. This latest briefing considers the barriers to maintaining Universal Credit claims online.

The Scottish Government has established the Infrastructure Commission for Scotland to provide independent, informed advice on the creation of a 30-year infrastructure strategy to meet the country’s future economic growth and societal needs. To support this, the Commission issued a call for evidence. 

CAS welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Scottish Government’s consultation on local connection and intentionality. In 2017/2018, CAB advised on 9,700 issues relating to homelessness. 2,189 of these issues were related to homeless assessments, processes and procedures, including the local connection and intentionality rules.

Citizens Advice Scotland has consistently raised a substantial number of issues associated with the rollout of Universal Credit that have caused stress, detriment or hardship to CAB clients. The rising level of in-work poverty during the last five years has also been a concern for CAS. 

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Social Security Advisory Committee's call for evidence on the Universal Credit Claimant Commitment.

People can be vulnerable at different stages in our lives.  When we are, we are likely to need water, light and heat more than ever. In this country we  are entitled to receive extra help, such as receiving additional support during a power cut. However receiving this support relies on people being registered for it.

In 2018, CAS commissioned Ipsos MORI Scotland to investigate the experiences and perspectives of Scottish consumers in vulnerable situations with regard to additional support provided by essential service providers, and how could the customer experience and process of registering across sectors for additional forms of support be improved. 

Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to Citizens Advice Scotland has responded to the FCA's CP18/42: High-Cost Credit Review: Overdrafts consultation.