Introducing WorkWell…
WorkWell is a prevention service aimed to support those most recently out of work due to sickness to return to work, or those in work who are at risk of being signed off sick.
WorkWell will be delivered locally by Citizens Advice South Worcestershire from both our Malvern & Evesham offices.
Eligible residents now have the opportunity to work alongside an experienced work and health coach, who’ll be able to provide advice and connect them to helpful services and support networks.
WorkWell is available for anyone who is:
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16+ years old
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Lives or is registered to a GP in Herefordshire & Worcestershire.
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Has the right to work within the UK
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Someone experiencing barriers to employment due to health conditions/disabilities
Whether you are currently unemployed, self-employed or recently unemployed you can refer yourself to the scheme by contacting your GP or by clicking on one of the referral links in the Herefordshire and Worcestershire Integrated Care System website.
Find out more: https://www.hwics.org.uk/our-services/workwell
Moving to Universal Credit – “Managed Migration”
The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is in the process of moving claimants still on legacy benefits to Universal Credit.
The legacy benefits are: means-tested Jobseekers Allowance; means-tested Employment Support Allowance; Housing Benefit; Income Support; Child and Working Tax Credits. You can’t usually make a new claim for these “old” benefits.
This process is called Managed Migration and has been taking place over a number of years. If you are contacted what you will need to do depends on what’s in the letter.
If the letter gives a deadline for you to claim Universal Credit, it’s a “migration notice”. The deadline should be at least 3 months after the date the notice was sent. You should claim Universal Credit by the deadline in the letter otherwise your benefits will stop.
If your letter doesn’t have a deadline, you don’t have to claim Universal Credit unless you want to – even if the letter says you’ll have to claim Universal Credit in future. It’s important to remember that you won’t be able to go back to your old benefits after you claim.
Your old benefits will stop after the deadline given in the letter. If you claim Universal Credit before the deadline, DWP might pay you extra to stop you being worse off. This is called “transitional protection”. This means that if you’d get less on Universal Credit than your old benefits, you’ll get an extra amount to make up the difference. The DWP will reduce the extra amount over time – so you’ll eventually just get what you normally would on Universal Credit.
If you don’t claim before the final deadline in the letter (which can sometimes be extended) you may lose any transitional protection granted so it is important to respond to the letter.
If you need help moving on to Universal Credit, you can talk to an adviser. Contact the Malvern office on 01684 563611, email: enquiries.malvern@citizensadvicesw.org.uk or the Wychavon office on 01386 712100, email: enquiries.wychavon@citizensadvicesw.org.uk.
Help paying your mobile, phone or internet bill
Social tariffs are cheaper broadband and phone packages for people claiming Universal Credit, Pension Credit and some other benefits. Some providers call them ‘essential’ or ‘basic’ broadband.
They’re delivered in the same way as normal packages, just at a lower price. Amid rising living costs, Ofcom is encouraging companies to offer social tariffs to help customers on low incomes.
Click here to find out more.
Help with Energy Bills
Rising energy bills are at the front of everyone’s minds. But how can you be more energy efficient and save money? And what support might you be entitled to for rising energy bills? Click here to find out more.
Ukrainian Crisis Response
Local authorities and support services are in a state of preparedness for when the situation in Ukraine creates the need for local support. Click on the links below to see what is happening in your area:
Malvern Hills District Council
Wychavon District Council
Appointments
We are no longer offering drop-in sessions so face-to-face appointments must be pre-booked.
The Worcestershire Adviceline is also available Monday-Friday from 10.00 am to 4.00 pm on 0808 278 7891
Our volunteers will be providing advice by telephone and email as follows:
Malvern
To speak to an adviser, please ring 01684 563611 or email enquiries.malvern@citizensadvicesw.org.uk
This service is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday from 10.00 am to 3.00 pm
Wychavon
To speak to an adviser, please ring 01386 712100 option 1, or email enquiries.wychavon@citizensadvicesw.org.uk
This service is available Monday, Tuesday, Thursday from 10.00 am to 1.00 pm
Need help to Claim Universal Credit?
Our Help to Claim advisers can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on the phone, or online over chat.
Our advisers can help you:
- work out if you can get Universal Credit
- fill in the Universal Credit application
- prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment
- check your first payment is correct
You can read our online advice on Universal Credit at any time.
You can contact an adviser through our free Help to Claim phone service. Advisers are available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday:
Ask for a translator if you need to get advice in a different language.
Relay UK – if you can’t hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say:
Relay UK (England): 18001 then 0800 144 8 444
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it. Find out how to use Relay UK on the Relay UK website.
For more information see: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/
