Debt queries ‘on the increase’

The amount of residents in Staffordshire seeking debt advice has increased, it has been reported.

Hanley’s Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) dealt with an extra 1,000 people in the first three months of 2009, who were seeking advice on how to deal with financial issues such as redundancy and bankruptcy, reports the Sentinel.

The rise in those needing help amounts to a 15 per cent increase, compared to the same period in 2008.

Simon Harris, chief executive of the region’s CAB, said: “We’ve seen a similar increase for employment problems to about 500 in the first quarter, and employment benefits queries have risen by about 25 per cent.”

He added that one in three queries are regarding debt, while questions about claiming benefits accounted for 25 per cent.

Earlier this month, Citizens Advice welcomed the government’s decision to provide more support for people on low income in the way of tax credits and benefits measures.

The new support was outlined in Alistair Darling’s Budget.

By Jamie Price