1. Wiltshire Citizens Advice Carers Project
Helping Carers with Benefit and
Debt issues
14th December 2017

2. ABOUT OUR PROJECT The Carers Project has been running for 5 years
We have a team of 2:
1 full-time caseworker
1 part-time administrator
Carers are referred to the project in various ways
From Carer Support Wiltshire
Self-referral
Referral from other agencies i.e. Alzheimers Society
Referral from our Core Service at Wiltshire Citizens Advice

3. THIS IS WHAT WE DO We help clients with Benefit and Debt issues
Apply for grants from charities for essential household goods
Help with utilities and energy tariffs for example Wessex Water TAP forms
We provide advice and information free of charge
We do not share information with any other organisations without Carer consent
We offer telephone advice, face to face appointments, or Home Visits if Carers cannot get to one of our offices

4. HELP WITH BENEFITS
Maximise income by doing full benefit entitlement checks
Completing Sickness and Disability application forms for example PIP, DLA and AA and help with appealing benefit decisions
We triage all incoming enquiries to make sure we prioritise cases so that we see Carers with urgent issues first
We go out into the community and attend Carers Clinics with partnership organisations
We work closely with Carer Support Wiltshire and other agencies to provide the best support for Carers

5. Universal Credit Wiltshire is now a full service UC area.
Most changes of circumstance and all new claims with very few exceptions will trigger a UC claim.
Includes carers premium but not carer's benefit
Replaces 6 Means Tested Benefit
Income Support
Job Seekers Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance
Child Tax Credit
Working Tax Credit
Housing Benefit

6. LOOKING AHEAD
Closer working links with Adult Social Care and the FAB team to understand how we can best help Carers who come to us for help as a result of increased care charges
Offer more direct support to young carers in a place that is comfortable and familiar to them. A location like Chippenham College could be ideal to have an outreach service for young carers to access for help with benefits or debt issues
Approach schools to let them know about the Carers Project and to develop a partnership with the Wiltshire healthy schools scheme to help us access young carers in the schools system

7. HELP WITH DEBT
Advice on how to deal with debt issues and provide solutions
Prioritise Carers with urgent debt issues i.e priority debts such as rent or council tax arrears
Create Financial Statements and budget sheets for Carers to help negotiate with creditors
Provide Debt Relief Orders
If we cannot help due to high demand on our project we signpost carers to StepChange or the National Debtline

8. EMERGING ISSUES
Enquiries from Carers about financial assessments and their care charges being increased to the extent they cannot afford to pay for essential care
As a project we are aware that their are a lot of young carers who are not getting the support they need at present. Referral services tell us that young carers are increasing in numbers

9. Key Differences Claim and manage your claim online
Paid to 1 household member
First payment made after 1 month + 1 week from January 2018

10. Wiltshire Picture 1,855 Universal Credit Households
42 with carers entitlement
40 with limited capability to work
Summer 2018
Carer’s Allowance 4,385