Citizens Advice

I’m not satisfied with how my employer is handling a workplace issue. What can I do?

If you’ve tried resolving the issue informally, then it’s worth taking a formal approach. Your company’s grievance process could be found in a company handbook, an HR manual or your contract. If there is no process, then try using the ACAS Code of Practice.

First, send a letter to your line manager outlining the grievance and suggesting solutions. Remember to keep copies of all correspondence.

Your line manager should then arrange a meeting at a time that suits you to discuss the grievance. You are entitled to bring a colleague or trade union representative with you to the meeting.

Following the meeting, your employer will tell you what they have decided to do about the issue. If you do not agree with the decision, you write a letter to a more senior manager appealing against it. The solution after the appeal is final.

If you find the solution unacceptable or your employer ignores your grievance, you can consider an employment tribunal claim or using mediation.

Note that for both making a claim and raising a grievance there is a time limit within which you can make a claim. This time limit is three months minus one day from the last time the thing you are complaining about last happened.

If you need help with your grievance, you can get advice from Citizens Advice BANES by contacting our Adviceline Mon to Fri 9.30am – 2.30pm by calling 0344 848 7919 or freephone 08082787897.

My financial situation is precarious. Should I declare bankruptcy?

Bankruptcy can have severe implications on your life and what you are allowed to do, so should not be undertaken lightly. However, it is one way of clearing debts and there is no minimum amount of debt for you to be eligible, though it will cost you £680 to declare bankruptcy.

Before choosing bankruptcy, consider whether you are OK with your debt problems being public or with being barred from certain professions that don’t employ people who have been bankrupt. Also, think about if you are expecting a financial upswing from a compensatory payment or inheritance which could be used to clear debts.

Additionally, you will likely be barred from bankruptcy if you have access to a pension pot bigger than your debt.

Official authorities will investigate your past and present financial behaviour, which could lead to a “bankruptcy restriction order” if they find dishonest or reckless behaviour, or fine you or send you to prison if they identify a “bankruptcy offence”.

Considering all of this, bankruptcy might be an option if all of the following apply: you can’t see a way to pay your debts; you don’t have many belongings of value and your home has no equity; your situation is unlikely to improve; you live or carry out a business in England or Wales, or have done so within the past three years and don’t live permanently in another European state, excluding Denmark.

For more information about dealing with debt, visit our debt solutions webpage: www. citizensadvicebanes.org.uk/ solutions/debt-solutions.

I’m on Pension Credit. Do I have to inform anyone if there’s a change to my circumstances?

If you get Pension Credit you should report most changes of circumstance to the Pension Service, which will pass the information on to your local authority. However, you must still report the following changes to your local authority.

The changes you must report are related to a few aspects. You must report any changes involving non-dependants in your households. Non-dependants are adults who live with you.

You must declare if you are going to leave England, Scotland and Wales for more than four weeks. If you intend to be away from your residence for more than 13 weeks you must also declare this.

If you only get savings credit and not the guarantee part of Pension Credit, you must report changes in the members of your household and changes involving your dependant children to your local authority.

You must also report any changes to your capital which may take it to over £16,000 and any change in your partner’s income or capital if they aren’t included in your Pension Credit claim.

You can report a change in circumstance by contacting your local authority. You should report changes within 21 days, or as soon as possible after the change happens.

The change might increase your payment and you might miss out on extra money if you tell the local authority late.

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