Citizen Advice Exeter were appointed by the Council in October 2019 to provide a city wide Independent Information Advice and Advocacy Service.
The purpose of the service is to:
– Ensure free, independent, confidential and impartial advice, information and advocacy is available to help people resolve the problems they face.
– Help address the widening inequality gap for Exeter communities in terms of health, income, employment and access to services.
– Work alongside the Council’s Housing Needs Team to support customers who are homeless or at risk of homelessness and are experiencing financial and budgeting difficulties
Below is a quarterly comparison of client enquiry areas:
Q1 | Q2 2022/23 | Q3 2022/23 | Q4 | % Change Q3 to Q4 | |
Clients | 2239 | 2278 | 2103 | 2406 | +14.4% |
Benefit enquiries | 2407 | 2749 | 2850 | 2819 | -1.08% |
Debt enquiries | 392 | 523 | 419 | 466 | +11.2% |
Housing enquiries | 370 | 411 | 401 | 351 | -12.4% |
Employment enquiries | 174 | 175 | 175 | 169 | -3.4% |
Citizens Advice Exeter April 2022 – March 2023 Advice Trends
Please note that the trends data below relates to the enquiries we have dealt with, and that we have a reduced number of volunteers since the Coronavirus pandemic which may impact some of the trend data.
Client enquiries
- We helped 9,026 clients directly with their advice and information needs.
Welfare benefits
Overall, we have seen a 24% decrease in welfare benefit enquiries. The main changes being:
- 17.5% decrease about tax credits
- 7.1% decrease about employment support allowance
- 5.6% decrease about income support
We also dealt with 2,043 new enquires about Universal Credit.
Debt
Overall, we have seen a 20.8% decrease in debt enquiries. The main changes being:
- 19.9% decrease about bankruptcy / DRO
- 11.4% decrease about water debt
- 8.4% decrease about unsecured loans
Employment
Overall, we have seen an 8.7% decrease in employment enquiries. The main changes being:
- 28.5% decrease about employment tribunals and appeals
- 26.8% decrease about terms and conditions
- 13.5% decrease about dispute resolution
Housing
Overall, we have seen a 12.4% increase in housing enquiries. The main changes being:
- 55.4% increase about private sector property
- 31.8% increase about threatened homelessness
- 11% increase about housing association property
Annual report for each City Ward Click to view
Alphington
Duryard + St James
Exwick
Heavitree
Mincinglake + Whipton
Newtown + St Leonards
Pennsylvania
Pinhoe
Priory
St Davids
St Loyes
St Thomas
Topsham