Independent advice sector must not be compromised by contracting out benefit delivery

Commenting on today’s speech by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, The Rt Hon John Hutton, Child Poverty Action Group’s Chief Executive , Kate Green, said:

“Voluntary sector organisations provide vital independent advice services to benefit claimants. But an organisation cannot deliver benefits and provide independent welfare advice at the same time. Before making any decisions on contracting out benefit delivery and employment support to the voluntary sector, the Government must fully assess the impact on access to independent advice.”

 

Notes to Editors

CPAG is a member of the End Child Poverty campaign.

CPAG provides expert services to welfare rights workers to raise their knowledge and awareness of benefit rules and welfare entitlements so as to equip them to provide independent advice to their clients and to ensure people in need of welfare support are receiving their full entitlement. We provide our services through:

• specialist training to advisers
• second tier specialist advice to advisers
• publishing welfare handbooks and online resources for advisers

For further information please contact:
Tim Nichols
CPAG Press Officer
Tel. 020 7812 5216 or 07816 909302
press@cpag.org.uk