The Citizens Advice service helps people resolve their legal, money and other problems by providing free, independent and confidential advice, and by influencing policymakers.

Every Citizens Advice Bureau is a registered charity reliant on trained volunteers and funds to provide these vital services for local communities.

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• Our service strategy 2008-2011

Citizens Advice response to Treasury Committee report on consequences of the abolition of the starting rate of income tax

30-06-2008

Teresa Perchard, Director of Public Policy, Citizens Advice said:

“We strongly support the recommendations in today’s report calling for the Government to do more to compensate the 1.1 million households who will continue to lose out from the abolition of the 10p tax rate, and in particular the call for future policy to ensure the original 5.3 million affected won’t lose out in future.

“The call to establish a Poverty Commission is also a welcome move. The need to identify the changes needed to put money in people’s pockets to pay their fuel bills next winter is all the more pressing during this period of economic adjustment where the cost of living is rising faster than levels of income and benefits.

“But we also want to see much more activity by the Government to dramatically increase the take-up of benefits and tax credits by families in low paid work. As much as £9.9 billion* of benefits went unclaimed in the financial year 2006/07, the most recent year for which figures are available. And every year Citizens Advice bureaux provide advice on nearly 3.5 million problems relating to welfare benefit, tax credit, and debt.”

*Source: Department for Work and Pensions:
www.dwp.gov.uk

Notes to editors on Citizens Advice

1. The Citizens Advice service is a network of independent charities that helps people resolve their money, legal and other problems by providing information and advice and by influencing policymakers. For more information in England and Wales; www.citizensadvice.org.uk
2. The advice provided by the Citizens Advice service is free, independent, confidential, and impartial, and available to everyone regardless of race, gender, disability, sexual orientation, religion, age or nationality.
3. Most Citizens Advice service staff are trained volunteers, working at over 3,300 locations across England and Wales.
4. Advice and information  www.adviceguide.org.uk
5. Volunteer hotline 08451 264264 (local rate)
6. Citizens Advice Guide to your rights, second edition: January 2008 - over 600 pages of practical, independent CAB advice. An invaluable resource for any bookshelf - available from all good bookshops; price £11.99; ISBN: 9780141034089

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