The stories that clients share with us at Plymouth CAB give us a unique insight into the problems faced by people in Plymouth.

With over 20,000 clients each year, this is the kind of evidence that is hard to ignore; it becomes all too apparent when policies and services cause people issues.

We see it as our responsibility to speak up for our clients and create a public debate around these issues. You can support our campaigns to change things for the better.

Urgent Action: Lobby your MP about support for disabled people within universal credit

Now is the time to make sure your MP is aware of how universal credit will leave certain groups of disabled people without adequate levels of support.

Act now! We want the Government to reconsider the detail of how support for disabled people is structured in universal credit, before the regulations are tabled in Parliament in December 2012.

Our new report, “Holes in the safety net”,  outlines the impact of these changes on particular groups and makes recommendations which we believe will more effectively achieve the Government’s aims for Universal Credit, than the proposed structures, and could be done at no extra cost.

We need to increase parliamentary pressure on the Government.  Please write to your MP, and ask them to write to Lord Freud, the Minister for Welfare Reform, requesting that he reviews the proposed provisions in the regulations, and consider our recommendations.

This needs to be done as soon as possible, as the Government are currently considering the regulations and now is the time to highlight to them the impact these changes will have on some groups of disabled people.  Once the regulations are tabled in December, there will be little room for amendment, as MPs can vote only to accept or reject the regulations in their entirety.

We have prepared a template letter which you can use to send to your MP - Click here

Is your Payday lender acting fairly?

We have new pages on Advice Guide which allow you to check whether your payday lender is acting fairly and responsibly and sticking to the charter. The pages will also help to establish whether you may have grounds for a complaint, and take you through the complaint procedure including template letters

http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/england/news/whats_new_dec12_payday_loans_new_rules_for_lenders.htm

Justice for All

Justice for All is the campaign for free legal advice. Citizens Advice in playing a leading role in coordinating the campaigning alliance of over 3000 charities, advice and legal organisations, trade unions, community groups, politicians and members of the public.

We fear many people will be cut off from the help they need as multiple funding streams to CAB, Law Centres and other independent advice agencies are being cut at the same time. Over half a million people will lose out on advice through cuts to legal aid alone, and local authority support is also under threat in many areas.

Justice for All needs stories from everyday people to show how important free legal advice is. If you are willing to share your story through the media to help the campaign, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

More information and campaigning actions for the public are available on the Justice for All site at:  www.justice-for-all.org.uk/Take-part

Welfare Reform

We have already seen some big changes in the welfare system and there are more to come.  To find out more about these changes visit: http://www.turn2us.org.uk/information__resources/benefits/news_and_changes.aspx

Worried about what these changes will mean for you?  We are here to offer advice and support through the changes, we also offer workshops on managing your budget which can help if your income is falling or you are struggling to manage debts.  For more information on these workshops contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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