The vital Salford support services making a positive impact for residents

As we mark National Financial Awareness Day, we're highlighting the work of free support services that are making a real difference to the lives of Salford residents.

Designed to help those who need them most, vital support services in Salford are providing residents access to free, confidential support from organisations like Salford Unemployed & Community Resource Centre (SUCRC) which Salford City Council supports, the council's Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service (WRADAS) and Citizens Advice.

These are the organisations who are making a positive impact for people across the city who are facing financial hardship and dealing with complex and often difficult administration processes that make it difficult for individuals to access the support they need to apply for or appeal benefits decisions.

The combination of austerity measures, coupled with cuts and freezes, rising costs of essentials like food and energy bills and cut backs in legal aid has intensified the pressure for many, leading to an increased need for support services.

The importance of these services, despite them being non-statutory and Local Authorities receiving no funding from central government to deliver them, is evident from clients who are seeking help.

A local resident shared their own experience having attended SUCRC asking for advice and support to appeal a Personal Independence Payment decision. They shared the challenges they had faced, saying that “This has caused so much unnecessary distress” and “feels very let down by DWP”. 

Having been in receipt of the Enhance Rate of Mobility Component since 2001, and with a report from their Consultant Spinal Surgeon stating that their condition will never improve, an assessment in August 2023 was followed by a notification that their claim for Mobility was reduced to the Standard rate.

A Mandatory Reconsideration was requested with help from SUCRC to support with an appeal. The decision on a new claim was rejected and a further appeal process requested, which following months of waiting was awarded in favour of the client. All of this took place while the client was undergoing treatment for cancer. 

Councillor Barbara Bentham, Lead Member for Neighbourhoods, Environment and Community Safety said: “These services are crucial for residents to get the support they need. When people become unwell, have a disability or lose their job, the last thing they need is the risk of being left without enough money to live on, put food on the table or a roof over their head.

“But, from the services we work with, we’ve heard from too many people who are experiencing mental health problems and have faced homelessness because of problems with their benefits.

“What people need is support and these services in Salford are vital, providing residents access to free, confidential help.”

The government has stated its intention to improve living standards and address child poverty, but concerns remain about the effectiveness of current policies and the impact of potential cuts that could make life harder for those already struggling.

Recently, responding to the government's announcement on welfare cuts, Dame Clare Moriarty, Chief Executive of Citizens Advice¹ said: “We need a benefits system that helps people solve their problems, not create new ones."

Some of the most common reasons people appeal against decisions are:

• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit (UC)
• Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Housing Benefit (HB)

For people experiencing similar circumstances, free advice and support is available from:

• Salford Unemployed & Community Resource Centre (SUCRC)
• Welfare Rights and Debt Advice Service (WRADAS)
• Citizens Advice Salford

¹ Citizens Advice responds to announcement on welfare cuts