Citizens Advice Middlesbrough

Citizens Advice Middlesbrough (@advicembro.bsky.social) We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem.

Keep checking back here to see what we're doing locally - campaigning Middlesbrough Council and MPs (to name a couple) - to try and change the policies and systems which impact you all.

Let’s keep menopause on the agenda!

#MenopauseAwarenessMonth may be coming to an end, but we’re committed to continuing to raise awareness & changing statistics like this one:

➡ 1 in 4 of those experiencing menopause symptoms consider leaving their job

⤵️

Check if you need to tell HMRC about additional income Check whether you need to report and pay any tax on income you make apart from your main job or earnings.

Made over £1,000 a year from a side hustle? You need to tell HMRC and register as self-employed. It’s the rule and helps you avoid any tax surprises 💷 For more info, see GOV.uk: “Check if you need to tell HMRC about additional income.” www.gov.uk/check-additi... #UK #SideHustle #SelfEmployed #HMRC

Tom MacInnes, Director of Policy at @citizensadvice.bsky.social, said:
“The Renters’ Rights Act marks a huge step forward for private renters, who for too long have had few protections while landlords have held all the cards..."

buff.ly/KmNGWmf

Text above a silhouette of an adult with arms crossed and a bag over their shoulder reads 'When we met *Dionne, she'd had a run of bad luck, including losing money through a scam and borrowing from a loan shark. Her debts spiralled, and afraid to answer calls from creditors, she was expecting bailiffs any day.

✅ The Power of Expert Debt Advice

Dionne's story shows that it's never too late (or too early!) to seek support, and how high-quality, free debt advice can help anyone regain control, no matter how complicated things feel.

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Citizens Advice's National Red Index, published yesterday reveals that 4 million people are in negative budgets. The report argues the Autumn Budget should provide utility bill support, increase the LHA, & remove the two-child benefit cap to ease family pressures.

buff.ly/Ne8Hrgc

The Resolution Foundation Housing Outlook Q4 2025 • Resolution Foundation In 2012, Local Housing Allowance (LHA) levels were linked to the 30th percentile of local rents and automatically revised to reflect market changes. However, since the systematic link with market rent...

Spot on from Hannah Aldridge on Local Housing Allowance www.resolutionfoundation.org/publications...

LHA *desperately* needs to be uprated this year. But we also need to change how this decision is made

An individual reading documents at a table with a coffee cup beside them. Text overlay stating "If you get texts about Winter Fuel Payments, this is a scam. Remember payments are made automatically, you don't need to do anything."

⚠️ Scam warning!

If you receive a text about Winter Fuel Payments, it is a scam.

Winter Fuel Payments are automatic, you do not need to register or sign up.

Find out more ⤵️
https://bit.ly/2X31puV

Image shows a green icon of a cloud with rainfall. Text reads, 'Preparing for storm Benjamin'.

Heavy rain and strong winds are forecast across parts of England and Wales 🌧️

Our advice can help you get ready in case of a power cut ⤵️
https://bit.ly/4oB33O0

You can also call 105 to report a power cut and get support from your electricity network.

Citizens Advice data dashboard A Flourish story by Vicky Leigh

The cost-of-living crisis is still here - for the people we help it really hasn’t gone away. The latest data is available through our interactive dashboard.
public.flourish.studio/story/2586672/

Before you click 'buy' on that online bargain, you should check:

✅ Is there a UK address?
✅ Is the return policy easy to find on the site?
✅ What do independent reviewers say?

Be #ScamAware and stay on the lookout for dropshipping scams ⤵️
bit.ly/42KC1uU

Millions in households in England and Wales are stuck in the red, says charity Citizens Advice says 4 million people spending more on essentials than they earn amid ever-increasing bills

📈 4M people are now in a negative budget. Over half of our debt clients are in the red, with average debt nearing £10k.

This is a policy failure. The government must act, with the Autumn Budget targeting bill support, raising Local Housing Allowance, & ending the 2-child limit⤵️

shorturl.at/YCvl9

New way to report loan sharks! If you’ve borrowed from someone who: ⚠️ Gives no paperwork ⚠️ Threatens or intimidates ⚠️ Keeps your valuables or adds endless charges — they could be a loan shark.

🚨 The Stop Loan Sharks team has launched a WhatsApp service to make it easier for people to report illegal lenders and get confidential help.

💬 Message 07700 102773 (Mon–Fri, 9am–5pm).
No logo, totally discreet.

You’re not alone.🌐 stoploansharks.co.uk

#StopLoanSharks #LoanSharkAwareness

It’s important you deal with rent arrears as fast as you can.

You might get evicted if you don’t pay.

Our advice can help ⤵️
bit.ly/3ILOlUq

Citizens Advice Middlesbrough (@advicembro.bsky.social) We give people the knowledge and confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem.

Keep checking back here to see what we're doing locally - campaigning Middlesbrough Council and MPs (to name a couple) - to try and change the policies and systems which impact you all.

Top 5 scams you need to know It pays to stay #ScamAware

🤔 Do you know how to spot scams?

Scam tactics are constantly evolving & getting trickier.

💡 This Scams Awareness Week we’re sharing simple tips to help you stay #ScamAware & protect yourself.

Head over to our website for our advice ⤵️

🚨 The 2025 Autumn Budget presents a critical opportunity for the Chancellor and Prime Minister to turn the tide on the living standards crisis. @citizensadvice.bsky.social submission outlines the measures we believe they must take as a matter of urgency.

tinyurl.com/2erz7uxw

Graphic for Citizens Advice featuring the text "We Are Citizens Advice" and "We are the People's Champion" with a blue silhouette of diverse people including individuals, a couple, families, and a person in a wheelchair.

We’re here with practical advice that you can really trust.

Whoever you are, whatever your problem.

We are Citizens Advice, the People’s Champion.

🚨UC SCAM WARNING🚨 please share with your family & friends.

No more waiting on the 5 week wait This autumn, the government has the chance to take action on one of Universal Credit’s longest-standing problems: “the 5 week wait”.

Last week @citizensadvice.bsky.social published a new blog calling on the government to use the autumn budget to tackle the 5 week wait, one of the longest-standing problems with UC.

wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/no-more-wait...

It's important to get the new support conversation for disabled people right...

@kslharrison.bsky.social shows the way, in a new paper for @citizensadvice.bsky.social👇

No more waiting on the 5 week wait This autumn, the government has the chance to take action on one of Universal Credit’s longest-standing problems: “the 5 week wait”.

💬The 5-week UC wait must end: @citizensadvice.bsky.social urges the government to act in the autumn budget. 13% of UC households are repaying loans only needed because of this wait.
Read the new blog:
wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/no-more-wait...

Let’s talk about debt How can you get support?

More and more people are coming to us for help with debt.

Whether it’s credit cards, loans, or everyday bills piling up, financial stress can feel impossible to escape. But help is available.

We can help ⤵️
bit.ly/4h3a1Zv

#DebtAdvice #DebtHelp #CitizensAdvice #WeCanHelp

On Air and In the Know: Sharing Advice Across Greater Manchester Since April, Citizens Advice SORT Group has been taking to the airwaves on Roch Valley Radio's popular community slot, sharing advice with...

🎙️Since April, our advisers have been taking to the airwaves! On @rochvalleyradio.com, we’re helping tens of thousands across Greater Manchester understand scams, energy support, benefits, and more.
Read our latest blog ⤵️
shorturl.at/UJRDZ

Hate crime Get help and advice on hate crimes and hate incidents. Find out what a hate crime is, how to check if you’ve experienced one and report it to the police.

A hate crime support service can support you whether you want to report it to the police or not.

Our advice can help you understand the process, so it doesn’t feel so daunting ⤵️
#HateCrimeAwarenessWeek
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/law-and-cour...

How to make work pay for disabled people 3 steps the government must take

📢 Work should pay — for everyone. But for many disabled people, it doesn’t. @citizensadvice.bsky.social latest insights show how the system is failing and what needs to change.
🔗 Read more

Text reads Each year we help tens of thousands of people. That gives us a unique perspective on where policies and systems work- and where they fall short.

In September our advisers reported a range of unfair issues including: -people unable to contact council services by phone- leaving those offline without access to vital support, tenants overcharged on energy by landlords, and threatened with eviction if they complain.- Errors during managed migration to universal credit leaving people hundreds of pounds worse off.

We record these issues through evidence forms so we can: spot problems early, show the real impact on peoples lives, expose unfair systems and policies. This evidence helps us improve local services, influence national policy and push for fairer, more accessible support.

Policy and advocacy are at the heart of everything we do. Every piece of evidence strengthens our voice and helps ensure services work better for the people who need them.

❤️ Policy and advocacy are at the heart of what we do.
Swipe through to see some of the unfair issues we recorded In September, and see how we use evidence to improve services, influence policy, and push for fairer processes ⬇️

We have a large network of local charities - all members of our national body - so we’re always at the heart of our local communities. We rely on the dedication of our volunteers and staff who help us to be there for anyone who needs us.

From actionfrauduk: Never send money to someone you haven't met in person.

Romance fraudsters build trust, then ask for cash - often with emotional and convincing stories.

Find out more: buff.ly/HiLdEtc

#RomanceFraud

An image of Tracy from Citizens Advice Blackpool in a white frame. Text underneath reads: 'Tracy champions compassionate leadership'. The Citizens Advice logo sits in the bottom left with the text 'We Are Citizens Advice. The people's champion'

“I love feeling part of something so vital”

Our service is full of passionate people who work tirelessly to help as many people as possible.

People like Tracy.

Read Tracy’s story ⤵️
https://wearecitizensadvice.org.uk/tracy-champions-compassionate-leadership-9e6e720e5941

#WeAreCitizensAdvice