BANBRIDGE & DISTRICT BANBRIDGE & DISTRICT CITIZENS ADVICE CITIZENS ADVICE

BUREAUBUREAU

THE CHARITY FOR YOURTHE CHARITY FOR YOUR COMMUNITYCOMMUNITY

Joan Davis

Manager

MONEY/DEBT ADVICEMONEY/DEBT ADVICEAIMS: AIMS: The Money & Debt Advice service aims to provide a Free, Confidential, The Money & Debt Advice service aims to provide a Free, Confidential,

Impartial and Non judgmental service to the publicImpartial and Non judgmental service to the public

OBJECTIVES:OBJECTIVES: The Money & Debt Advice service is client focusedThe Money & Debt Advice service is client focused

Empowering each individual to break the cycle of credit Empowering each individual to break the cycle of credit dependencedependence

Assist each individual to resolve their difficulties in a way that Assist each individual to resolve their difficulties in a way that restores self-confidence and dignityrestores self-confidence and dignity

Assist each individual to regain control of their situation and Assist each individual to regain control of their situation and prevent a recurrence of their financial difficultiesprevent a recurrence of their financial difficulties

Assist in the area of preventative budgeting Assist in the area of preventative budgeting

SERVICE PROVISION FOR SERVICE PROVISION FOR MONEY AND DEBT ADVICEMONEY AND DEBT ADVICE

A ONE OFF GENERAL MONEY AND DEBT ADVICE A ONE OFF GENERAL MONEY AND DEBT ADVICE SERVICESERVICE

A PREVENTATIVE BUDGETING ADVICE SERVICEA PREVENTATIVE BUDGETING ADVICE SERVICE

AN ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICE WHOSE GOAL IT IS AN ONGOING SUPPORT SERVICE WHOSE GOAL IT IS TO EMPOWER THE INDIVIDUAL TO TAKE CONTROL TO EMPOWER THE INDIVIDUAL TO TAKE CONTROL AND RESOLVE THEIR DIFFICULTIESAND RESOLVE THEIR DIFFICULTIES

A CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE WHERE COMPLEX A CRISIS INTERVENTION SERVICE WHERE COMPLEX DEBT CASES MAY BE RESOLVEDDEBT CASES MAY BE RESOLVED

SELF HELP PROCEDURAL SELF HELP PROCEDURAL GUIDE GUIDE

Self help route for clients who are confident and capable of Self help route for clients who are confident and capable of managing their own debt situation.managing their own debt situation.

It is important that we do not take over a situation that the client is It is important that we do not take over a situation that the client is capable of dealing with themselves as this goes against our aim of capable of dealing with themselves as this goes against our aim of empowering the clientempowering the client

It is considered that the following client categories are not suitable It is considered that the following client categories are not suitable

for immediate referral to the self-help programme:for immediate referral to the self-help programme:

Clients who have multiple debt with at least one or more priority / Clients who have multiple debt with at least one or more priority / statute debtstatute debt

Clients with serious health problems which renders them Clients with serious health problems which renders them incapable of conducting their financial affairsincapable of conducting their financial affairs

Literacy, numeracy, learning or other difficultiesLiteracy, numeracy, learning or other difficulties

Complex Debt ResolutionComplex Debt Resolution Identify the nature and extent of personal debtIdentify the nature and extent of personal debt Identify priority and non-priority debts, recognise and Identify priority and non-priority debts, recognise and

respond when emergency action is neededrespond when emergency action is needed

Check for each personal debt the extent of clients’ liability, Check for each personal debt the extent of clients’ liability, where this may be challenged and progress with approval where this may be challenged and progress with approval of clientof client

Advise on maximising income and where appropriate assist Advise on maximising income and where appropriate assist client in making claims for welfare benefits backdated client in making claims for welfare benefits backdated claims and appealsclaims and appeals

Assist the client to analyse household spending, draw up an Assist the client to analyse household spending, draw up an appropriate financial statement of income and expenditure appropriate financial statement of income and expenditure based on client’s needs and priorities.based on client’s needs and priorities.

ANDAND Calculate where there is any available income, with offers of Calculate where there is any available income, with offers of

payment to creditors on a pro rata basispayment to creditors on a pro rata basis

Explain the means available to creditors for collection and the Explain the means available to creditors for collection and the consequences of non payment to include debt enforcement consequences of non payment to include debt enforcement procedures and practicesprocedures and practices

Identify, discuss and agree with the client suitable strategies for Identify, discuss and agree with the client suitable strategies for responding to their personal debt e.g. using consumer law and responding to their personal debt e.g. using consumer law and insolvency procedures (IVA & Bankruptcy), request debt written insolvency procedures (IVA & Bankruptcy), request debt written off, negotiate repayments and appropriate methods of payment off, negotiate repayments and appropriate methods of payment with creditorswith creditors

On completion of successful negotiations the file should be On completion of successful negotiations the file should be closed and reviewed if the client notifies the adviser of a change closed and reviewed if the client notifies the adviser of a change in circumstances. in circumstances.

HOW MUCH?HOW MUCH? Citizens Advice report warns that many now face a

lifetime of debt New research by national charity Citizens Advice suggests

that many people turning to them for help are sinking deeper into overwhelming debt from which it will take them a lifetime to escape

A recent report published by CAB revealed debt clients owe an average of £13,153 - almost a third more than they did three years ago, and the equivalent of 17.5 times their total monthly household income. It will take them an average of 77 years to pay off the money they owe at a rate they can afford.

BY WHOM?BY WHOM? 67 YEAR OLD WOMAN OWING £14,000, CREDIT 67 YEAR OLD WOMAN OWING £14,000, CREDIT

CARDS AND LOANS,IN RECEIPT OF BENEFITSCARDS AND LOANS,IN RECEIPT OF BENEFITS

COUPLE WITH 4 CHILDREN, EXPECTING 5COUPLE WITH 4 CHILDREN, EXPECTING 5THTH BABY, BABY, £138,201.00 PRIORITY DEBTS PLUS £25,788 NON-£138,201.00 PRIORITY DEBTS PLUS £25,788 NON-PRIORITYPRIORITY

COUPLE BOTH IN EMPLOYMENT,NO CHILDREN, COUPLE BOTH IN EMPLOYMENT,NO CHILDREN, £26,514 IN NON-PRIOITY DEBTS£26,514 IN NON-PRIOITY DEBTS

SINGLE MAN, COLLEGE LECTURER UNTIL SINGLE MAN, COLLEGE LECTURER UNTIL DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, RENT ARREARS DIAGNOSIS OF SCHIZOPHRENIA, RENT ARREARS £6290, NON PRIORITY DEBT £3763 £6290, NON PRIORITY DEBT £3763

HELPHELP

10% OF OUR WORK IS DEBT 10% OF OUR WORK IS DEBT RELATED, VARIES ACROSS CAB RELATED, VARIES ACROSS CAB NETWORKNETWORK

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