An independent Fife charity that provides free expert advice and assistance fielded more than 1,200 enquiries during the first 12 weeks of Universal Credit, it has emerged.
Citizens Advice and Rights Fife (CARF) has been inundated with requests for help since the controversial Universal Credit system was rolled out in the region last December and has warned there appears to be no let up in demand for services as it heads into its 21st year of existence.
The scale of the issue has been thrown into sharp focus following the publication of CARF’s annual report, which revealed that the organisation assisted almost 15,000 clients with complex benefit issues, tribunal representation and debt advice in the past year.
CARF says its work contributed over £11.5 million to the Fife economy in 2017/18, almost 3,500 forms were filled out across the year and volunteers contributed over 24,000 hours of their time to the organisation.
But it is the impact of Universal Credit that continues to dominate the agenda and has placed the organisation under “significant strain”.
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“Welfare reform is not without complication and organisations across Fife, including ourselves, are seeing first-hand the problems people now face,” said Norma Philpott, CARF’s chief executive.
“There are well-recognised difficulties with the Universal Credit system including a significant waiting period for the first payment.
“However, it is not only Universal Credit which has inherent difficulties.
“Changes to disablement benefits have resulted in increased amounts of resource-intensive work, for example, where we represent clients at benefit tribunal and this, coupled with the long process for appealing, has placed the organisation under some significant strain.
“CARF will continue to raise issues and campaign for social policy change in these areas alongside local and national partners.”
Like all third sector organisations, CARF relies heavily on the commitment of its volunteers and, in the age of welfare reform, Mrs Philpott said the need for additional resource is “paramount” to help maintain the high standards.
“Whilst we expect to be in high demand in the coming months and years, we will endeavour to put clients at the heart of our services and continue to deliver work that improves life for the people of Fife,” she added.
Tom Vrolijk, CARF chairman, paid tribute to the work of the charity’s 71 paid members of staff and 120-strong volunteer pool, adding: “We are a strong and established entity and very good at what we do on a day-by day basis which is why our customers and stakeholders trust us.
“Whilst the future is challenging, it also provides opportunities for CARF to deliver joint services for the good of Fife”.
