CAB sees growing demand for help with completing online forms

Caithness Citizens Advice Bureau is seeing a growing demand from clients who need help with filling online forms in order to access vital benefits.

The CAB teams in Thurso and Wick are asking the public not to come to their offices during the Covid-19 crisis but advice and support is still being given by phone, email and webchat.

Bureau manager Isobel Mackay said this week: "We’ve had an increase in calls in relation to completing forms online and want to highlight that we will support local folk with any concerns they have, as well as completion of forms."

Callers have asked for support in completing forms for benefits such as:

• Personal Independence Payments
• Disability Living Allowance
• Attendance Allowance

"CAB cannot provide a face-to-face appointment for the time being, but a telephone appointment can be carried out when a welfare rights officer will assist the client to complete the form," Isobel explained.

Staff in Caithness will be supporting the national advice helpline launched by Citizens Advice Scotland this week. The helpline is free to call on 0800 028 1456 and supplements the service already offered by Scotland’s 59 local advice offices.

The helpline is staffed by trained CAB advisers and anyone in Scotland can call it for free, impartial and confidential advice on any issue. It will initially operate from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Locally, advice can be sought by phone between 10am and 4pm on 01847 894243 (Thurso) or 01955 605989 (Wick) or by email at bureau@caithnesscab.casonline.org.uk

Caithness CAB support can also be accessed online at www.caithnesscab.org

In addition there is a general public advice website at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/caithnesscab

• Caithness CAB vows to help people through coronavirus
• Hundreds turn to Caithness CAB for advice during coronavirus crisis
• Citizens Advice Scotland launches new national advice helpline

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