At the Wyre District Citizens Advice Bureau we can provide advice on a wide range of subjects some of which are listed below. Please click on the subject below to read more about how we can help;

Social Security Benefits

Debts

Consumer Rights

Employment

Legal

Tax

Immigration

Family and personal

If you think we can help you on other subjects please contact us. Our phone number and address can be found by clicking on this link; Contact us

Advice

The Citizens Advice Bureau service is independent and provides free, confidential and impartial advice to everybody regardless of race, sex, disability, sexuality or nationality. It is the largest advice-giving network in the UK, with over 2,000 outlets and 22,000 volunteers. We help people deal with nearly six million problems every year, in bureaux, by phone and email, at outreach sessions in places like GP surgeries and courts - even in people's homes.

Our clients and volunteers come from all walks of life. We are committed to providing an independent advice service. and volunteering opportunities, to the whole community.

Bureaux act as a one-stop-shop for clients. Advisers provide up to date advice and information using our unique electronic information system, link clients up with other services and agencies, help write letters and complete forms, negotiate with creditors, make phone calls on the behalf of clients and represent them at tribunals.

The problems we are most often asked about concern employment, debt, housing or benefits, but we will help people who come to us with any enquiry including consumer rights, legal matters, and immigration.

Advisers don't tell clients what to do, but explain their options and the possible outcomes of different courses of action. Clients are encouraged to make their own decisions and act on their own behalf. We enable clients to manage their own problems by focusing on their needs as individuals.

Advice and information can also be found on the CAB Service's Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/.

If you need further advice or information and you live in the Wyre area, you can contact us in person, by phone or in writing.

If you do not live in the area we cover, the Advice Centre website includes a UK-wide directory of local CAB with their contact details and the services they offer http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/.

Social security benefits

If you are unsure about your entitlement to benefits we can advise you.
We can help with:

• Income Support and Minimum Income Guarantee.
• Housing and Council Tax benefits.
• Social Fund
• Sickness and disability benefits i.e. Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance.
• Invalid Care Allowance.
• Joblessness Allowance.
• Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Persons Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

We will help you fill in claim forms and assist with reviews and appeals.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website. http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/

Debt

We can advise you on all aspects of debt and the course of action open to you. We offer specialist help with preparing a financial budget statement, negotiation with creditors and representation at county court and repossession hearings.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/.

Consumer Rights

If you are unsure about your consumer rights, we can advise you and help you to decide what to do next.

We can also give you practical help by negotiating with shops and traders, help you to write letters, phone or fax companies on your behalf, help you with forms and small claims procedures at the county court.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/   or the Consumer Direct website http://www.consumerdirect.gov.uk/

Housing

We can advise you on all aspects of housing including: rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, tenancies, housing benefit, rent problems, including establishing 'fair rents', advice on eviction and problems with neighbours.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/ or the Shelter website http://www.shelter.org.uk/.

Employment

If you are unsure about your employment rights, we can advise you according to your written contract. If you don't have a written contract we can advise you about your statutory rights including the minimum wage and holiday pay. We can give advice about benefits or tax credits you are entitled to when in work. We can also advise on race and sex discrimination at work.

We can give you practical help by helping you make a claim for unpaid wages, checking redundancy payments are correct, advising on changes to terms and conditions, advising on your employee's individual rights and identifying possible claims for unfair dismissal.

If necessary we can advise you on making a claim to an employment tribunal.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/.

Legal

We can help you gain access to justice, advise you on your entitlements under the community legal service, pursue compensation for accidents and injuries and give advice and guidance about going to court.

Many people believe that they need to see a solicitor about legal matters. We can help you decide whether you need a legal representative or not, which could save you money.

If necessary, we can refer you to a legal representative who has specialist knowledge concerning your particular problem. We hold the Community Legal Services Directory of all the specialists in the area.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/ or Legal Services Commission Website http://www.legalservices.gov.uk/.

Tax

We can give advice on tax problems, including income tax, tax credits, inheritance tax and council tax.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/ or the Inland Revenue website http://www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/.

Immigration

We can give advice on many aspects of immigration such as: visitor visas, fiance(e)/spouse visas, student visas, settlement visas, work permits, immigration status, welfare benefits, asylum seekers and refugees.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/ or Immigration Advisory Service website http://www.iasuk.org/.

Family and personal

We can advise you on all aspects regarding the family, including: separation and divorce, maintenance and child support, parents rights and responsibilities, birth and adoption, change of name, what to do when someone dies, wills and probate.

If necessary we can refer you to a counsellor, a mediator or make an appointment to see a family lawyer.

For further information you may wish to visit the CAB Adviceguide website http://www.adviceguide.org.uk/.

We gratefully acknowledge the support of:-

	Wyre Borough Council
	Wyre Housing Association
	Lloyds TSB Foundation
	Big Lottery Funding