The Money and Pensions Service has responded positively to WADA’s call for regional contracts to be extended, and confirmed that “from 1 February 2023, we will put in place further grants for our current regional providers whilst we continue to work with them and other stakeholders to shape our longer-term plans.”

Our survey of debt advisers reveals a staffing crisis as the cost-of-living crisis is deepening. We today call on the Money and Pensions Service to immediately extend and improve its grant agreements to aid recruitment to vacant posts.

In their current form the Government’s plans for the Statutory Debt Repayment Plan (‘SDRP) will not provide a workable debt solution for people looking for help and advice with unmanageable debt. The proposals would also fundamentally change, for the worse, the relationship between community-based, not-for-profit debt advisers, and the people they are engaged to help.

Following our successful campaign to stop a 50% cut to community based debt advice, We Are Debt Advisers, the Unite Debt Advice Network and Advice UK have today published a set of 14 demands which the Money and Pensions Service will need to meet if it is to restore trust across the debt advice sector and with its wider stakeholders.