OVER the past year demand has increased for Citizens Advice in Winchester with people turning to the service with a growing complexity and number of needs.

The impact report for 2021-2022 saw a rise in financial support, with people predominantly needing help with accessing benefits and combating debt.

In total, 53 per cent of people needed help with benefits, a 20 per cent increase from the previous year while people wanting to access universal credit rose from one-fifth to one-third.

More than 4,700 people received support from the Winchester branch, with an average financial gain of £323 per person increasing from £245 in the previous year.

Business development manager Louise Walton said: “The key takeaway is the evolution in demand. As the cost-of-living crisis deepens, one of the first things we do is talk to people about benefits and whether they’re eligible to any other support and we’re expecting to increase.

“Plenty of people who work are entitled to universal credit. It’s not always a lot but it can gateway people to other funds like the cost-of-living support.”

“Pension credit is another one that is widely unclaimed due to those eligible being digitally excluded. We’re working with our partner organisations that are supporting older people to get the message out.”

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Other groups disproportionately affected by the cost-of-living crisis included disabled people, single parents and social housing tenants. Although, as affordability declines the advisors expect to see a rise in private renters needing their help.

From October to December 2021, the service helped more than four times the number of people facing food or fuel poverty compared to the same period the year before.

The service also saw a higher complexity and range of needs. On average, each person had three separate issues they sought advice for, up from two the previous year.

Louise said: “Part of it is our approach as we always aim to supply support as holistically as we can. We try to work out if there are any other areas that we can help with and issues are often interlinked.

“The increasing complexity takes up more adviser time and reflects that it’s more difficult to find solutions. Because of the cost-of-living situation simpler solutions have often already been exhausted.”

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The business development manager said a negative budget proved the hardest issue to tackle as once eligibility for benefits and cost-cutting techniques were looked at some people still found themselves with a negative income.

Nevertheless, the team was overall happy with the report and believes they have the resources to meet the current demand. Louise concluded: “So many people are saying that Christmas is cancelled for financial reasons and a lot of people will be making sacrifices and we’re not quite sure yet what this is going to lead to.

“The increase in demand is a worry but we’re doing everything we can to meet that demand by increasing staff capacity and supplying training to our partners. We want our impact report to show that we have been able to help with the volume of people that come to us and their specific issues.”

To view the full report go to citizensadvicewinchester.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Annual-Review-2021-to-2022.pdf.