Question about CAB and DWP funding

[Becca19962014]

I've heard we're going to get someone from CAB visiting the area where I live at least once maybe twice a month to help with benefits thanks to extra funding. However, this funding is solely from the DWP.

I'm confused about what this means. I thought they were independant? How can they help represent claimants if their funding is from the DWP? Are they allowed to help with other things or only what the DWP are paying them for?

We've been without any help for claiming at all for several years and I was pleased to hear this but now I'm not so sure.

My attempts to google didn't really help, it's not been set up yet so I can't ask them so I'm posting in case anyone knows the details here.

It sounds like you’re talking about Universal Support which used to be delivered by local authorities but Citizens Advice have been given the contract from April 2019. It’s only for claiming Universal Credit and there’s only help until a claimant gets their first correct payment. So it’s not help with any other benefits under that project unfortunately. It is funded by DWP but the CEO of CitA has said it will in no way stop the research and campaigns work on UC (or any other DWP issues).

More info here: www.gov.uk/government/news/citizens-advice-to-provide-support-to-universal-credit-claimants

Ah ok. Thankyou for the help.