Welcome to the website of Tynedale Citizens Advice Bureau

Tynedale CAB is INDEPENDENT and provides FREE, CONFIDENTIAL and IMPARTIAL advice to everyone regardless of race, sex, disability or sexuality.

The CAB Service aims to ensure that individuals do not suffer through lack of knowledge of their rights and responsibilities or of the services available to them, or through an inability to express their needs effectively.

It equally aims to exercise a responsible influence on the development of social policies and services, both locally and nationally.

CASE STUDY 1 Client is partially sighted and had not worked for eight years. He had been on incapacity benefit for this period. He was married living with his wife and grown up daughter. He approached the CAB after his incapacity benefit was stopped and he was only receiving a reduced rate of income support. He was helped to gather medical evidence and prepare for an appeal. The Bureau represented him at his appeal which was successful. The client was also helped in completing Disability Living Allowance forms. Subsequently he was awarded both care and mobility components increasing his income by £50 a week. He was also given details of organisation that give advice and help with aids for partially sighted people. He was also subsequently helped with completing renewal forms for his benefits (which have been renewed).

CASE STUDY 2 Client first contacted the bureau when he was 62, in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, due to ill health caused by diabetes. He also received a small occupational pension. He had previously been a farm worker. Client originally came to us for help under threat of eviction for arrears of £500. He was unable to raise this amount and Tynedale Council would not negotiate weekly repayments. After finding out his previous work history, we contacted an agricultural charity that was able to give him a one off grant of £250. As an ex serviceman a grant from a service charity was obtained for him. His arrears were paid off and he was therefore able to stay in his home. Tynedale Council agreed to remit some of his council tax arrears and he was helped to manage his financial affairs. He still gets into difficulties occasionally, but always comes for help to sort things out. Recently a farming charity (RABI) changed its constitution to enable ex-farm workers as well as ex farmers to be supported financially. This client fitted into their criteria and he was accepted, so now receives £120 per quarter. He also receives Christmas and birthday gifts and other help - for example his television rental is now paid for him.

CASE STUDY 3 Client had been running a local business for 7 years. Clients have 30 days to pay but they did not charge interest on overdue accounts. They were having increasing problems with late payments and bad debts. The client wanted to know if they could charge interest on overdue accounts. It was explained many firms do. Notice must be given and invoices reprinted or amended to reflect charges and policy on late payments. Client also advised to consider customer relations.

CASE STUDY 4 Client is single parent with four young children. She first contacted the bureau when her marriage broke up and she had to leave the marital home. She has mental health problems and was supported by Community Practice Nurse. She accepted a privately rented accommodation without having checked the pre-determination rent; as a result she was not awarded full housing benefit despite being on income support. A successful application to the council for reassessment followed. Client was assisted with financial planning, identifying priority and urgent bills. A successful application was made to a charity for school uniform. A further application to another charity resulted in an award of £150 for car costs as client lives in an area with little public transport. Client was offered a council house. A successful application was made for a Community Care Grant, as the council house was unfurnished. Help in covering gap between moving from one house to the other was arranged. Client was also assisted in gaining return of private rented accommodation bond. Further application to a charitable trust resulted in a £200 grant towards bedding and clothing for the children. Lack of money and problems of school holidays prompted a (successful) application for assistance with children's holidays. Another trust awarded a grant for music lessons for the youngest child. The client was helped with benefit calculations and implications for employment. The client is now in full time employment.