CAP has responded to a call for evidence by the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) who are seeking to understand the effect that the closure of face-to-face public services during the Covid-19 pandemic had on the accessibility and delivery of debt advice in the UK. We shared our reflections on how the closures impacted clients and how we adapted our service delivery model. We highlighted how early signs show that many clients’ budgets will become unsustainable as a result of the removal of the £20 Universal Credit uplift. We also urged MaPS to ensure stability in the provision of face-to-face debt advice, invest in debt advice marketing campaigns and continue to help people recognise problem debt before the point of crisis.
