Social Security Benefits and tax credits - recent activity

Social security benefits and tax credits are the biggest area of concern for CAB clients. Enquiries about different benefits account for one third of all queries dealt with by the CAB Service in Scotland.  Problems range from complicated application forms and difficulty understanding who is entitled to different benefits, through to helping clients appeal against decisions made by the Department for Work and Pensions and HM Revenue and Customs.

Because social security benefits and tax credits are such a big issue for our clients, working to achieve change in this area is also a major part of our social policy work. Visit our publications homepage to find out more and see what other work we've been doing in this area.

Currently:

• After many years of lobbying from CAS, clients will soon be able to call the DWP absolutely free from any telephone. The DWP has been in negotiation with a number of mobile telephone operators as well as the Telephone Helplines Association about creating a free phone service for DWP clients calling a 0800 number. This move will save our clients much needed money and is a key success for the Scottish CAB Service.

• The Scottish Campaign on Welfare Reform (SCoWR), a coalition of over 40 key Scottish charities, has written a Manifesto for Change asking for support from leaders of all the main political parties in the development of a fairer welfare system.

Since November 2005, CAS has been the only Scottish organisation represented on the HMRC's tax credit consultation group.  CAS works with the Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland to administer the Scottish Social Security Consortium, a forum for voluntary organisations with an interest in social security issues.

Contact us to find out more about our social policy work.