Public

CAS has responded to the Independent Review of Personal Independence Payment. 

The response, based on case evidence and a survey of advisers in bureaux across Scotland, highlights the severe impact huge delays in PIP assessments are having on claimants.

CAS have responded to the The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) consultation on plans to introduce a price-cap on high cost short term credit products.

Leading charities gathered in the Glasgow City Chambers for The Working Together to Tackle Poverty Conference in March 2014.

The rise in payday lending in the UK has led to a concurrent rise in the number of credit brokers who offer to search for loans for consumers for a fee. Evidence from the citizens advice service indicates that consumers can experience significant detriment and hardship caused by the (often unintentional) use of a credit broker. While brokers can offer a legitimate service, many of the industry practices, including providing misleading information, sharing personal details with other brokers, offering customer applications for the highest commission, and refusing to offer refunds, are in urgent need of change. 

CAS responds to the final independent review of the Work Capability Assessment for Employment and Support Allowance benefit.

The summer 2014 Newsletter of Citizens Advice Scotland looks at the transfer of Consumer Futures, the Armed Services Advice Project and the #ChallengeIt campaign, amongst many other things.

A discussion paper by Angus Citizens Advice Bureau looking at the Department for Work and Pension's "Digital by Default" strategy.  In particular, the paper considers how this works for CAB clients in Angus, many of whom have difficulties with technology.

The report concludes that if the Government is to meet its target of moving 80% of all benefits claimants online, then it must take a multi-dimensional approach that takes into account the needs of the most vulnerable and marginalised members of our society to ensure that they are not offline and left behind.

CAS submitted written evidence to the Committee's inquiry on how local authorities are meeting their duties to people who may be homeless or threatened with homelessness since the abolition of the priority need test at the end of 2012.

Citizens Advice Scotland generally welcomes the approach set out within this consultation and believes it will provide SEPA with a clear policy and service delivery framework. We also believe that it could promote opportunities for SEPA to engage with communities as a Community Planning Partner to improve local outcomes.