More seek help with benefits than anything else
PEOPLE in Rhondda Cynon Taf are more likely to seek help with benefit enquiries than any other problem after “a particularly high number of people” had their payments stopped in the past year, it has been revealed.
The figures, which have been released by the Citizens Advice Bureau for Rhondda Cynon Taf (RCTCAB), show that 18,500 issues relating to benefits payments were made - more than any other issue.
And one local politician has called the issue a “national disgrace”.
Erika Helps, chief executive of RCTCAB said: “In the last financial year we saw a particularly high number of people who had their benefits stopped.
“By dealing with the whole person we make sure that other problems don’t escalate as a result.
“If you have an issue such as housing, employment or debt then Citizens Advice will help you find a way forward.”
Although the issue of benefits was the highest, many enquiries at the office, which runs faceto-face sessions in Pontypridd and Mountain Ash, also had a similarly high number of debt issues raised. Debt had 18,450 enquiries, while utilities and communications had 1,600.
Issues of relationships and family, and housing, got 750 enquiries each to the service that provides free, confidential and independent advice to help people overcome their problems.
Those 18,500 benefits enquiries came from 3,474 people in total, and Owen Smith, Labour’s parliamentary candidate for Pontypridd, said the news came as “no surprise” to him.
He explained: “I have people in my surgery every time telling me that they are struggling because the Tories have either cut their tax credits or changed their pension arrangements or cut other benefits.
“It’s the number one reason for working people being forced to use food banks.
“And it’s why Labour is determined to support local people and reverse the cuts if we win on June 8.”
Mick Antoniw, AM for Pontypridd, said “excessive use of sanctions and restrictions” imposed by the UK Government were the main cause of a “growing number of distressed constituents”.
He added: “The number of people turning to their elected representatives for help is increasing significantly.
“We work with bodies such as Citizens Advice which is funded by local and Welsh Government.
“Many people are confused by UK Government changes and restrictions and often don’t know how to challenge decisions.
“We do our best to help and represent them; many are people with disabilities and are some of the most vulnerable in our community.
“Government reductions and restrictions are in my view the biggest cause of poverty in our communities and often the only way to survive is to go to the local foodbank.
“The way many of these people are treated by the system is a national disgrace.”
A Department for Work and Pensions spokeswoman said: “Sanctions are only used in a very small percentage of cases.
“In the last year less than 1% of ESA recipients and 2% of JSA recipients were sanctioned each month.”