Surrey Welfare Rights Unit

2023/24 was a year where we saw an increase in the complexity of the enquiries referred to us. For the staff and volunteers that we support across Surrey and the surrounding areas, we know how hard it is to keep up with constant legislative changes. During this year we saw the arrival of Managed Migration to Universal Credit. There was initial confusion regarding how the DWP were interpreting the transitional rules, and what that meant for the advice sector who strive to advise their clients fully and accurately. We anticipate further bumps in the road as Managed Migration picks up pace during 2024/25.

Apart from dealing with complex queries, and delivering a significant number of training courses, we also upped our research and campaigning activity. We forged stronger links with the welfare policy team at Citizens Advice, and drafted targeted web information for people with lived experience who are involved in service development, and parents and Carers of children and young adults who are in transition age 14-25.

We responded to the Government’s consultation on sickness benefits, and were pleased to see that many of the draconian proposals were dropped. There is still widespread concern that disability benefits will be targeted next. After the General Election we will be keeping a close eye on what social security proposals any new Government makes, and how these could affect local vulnerable people.

Our Impact Report 2023/24 can be downloaded here.