Citizens Advice Cymru submission to the ELGC Committee Inquiry into COVID-19
Citizens Advice Cymru submission to the ELGC Committee Inquiry into COVID-19 317 KB
Citizens Advice Cymru has helped more than 20,000 people in Wales since thelockdown began. Our network of 19 Local Citizens Advice offices across Wales isdelivering advice by phone and online during the lockdown. We’re continuing tomonitor data from our website and local advice services to understand people’sconcerns during this crisis.
No one knows yet what the full impact of the outbreak will be. However, we estimatethat 4 in 10 households (42%) in Wales have already lost income as a result of theCoronavirus crisis. The consequences of the outbreak have been extensive and are likely to be ongoing. Whilst national and local government has taken significant steps to protect people from the impact, our advisers continue to help clients through a time of considerable financial hardship and uncertainty.
It is vital that the Welsh Government uses its powers through the devolvedsettlement to take timely and effective action. Our research has identified three keyareas within the portfolio of the committee where we believe more must be done toensure people do not fall into greater hardship.
1. Council tax debt: where people fall behind on council tax as a result of thepandemic, they still face escalation of debts and strict enforcement. Localauthorities, with the support of the Welsh Government, must use theirpowers to protect those struggling with payments in order to preventlonger-term hardship.
2. Housing and rent arrears: current protection from evictions comes to anend on 25th June, leaving households vulnerable if they have fallen behindon rent during the lockdown period. Welsh Government must extendcurrent pauses on evictions to prevent a cliff-edge for tenants who havefallen behind.
3. Tackling poverty: The extent of poverty in Wales has left manyhouseholds vulnerable in the face of the financial shock posed by theCoronavirus outbreak. Welsh Government should act swiftly to ensurepeople living in or at risk of falling into poverty are aware of supportavailable to them.