DWP staff cuts 'extremely worrying' - CAB

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The axe taken to the DWP by chancellor Gordon Brown in the Budget is a cause of great concern to staff at the Citizens Advice Bureaux as evidence suggests many people are already not getting the required levels of service from the DWP.

The CAB says it often has to deal with the fallout from cases mishandled by the DWP, which DWP staff themselves tell customers are caused by existing staff shortages. This is particularly difficult for those on social security benefits or other vulnerable people, the CAB adds. "For many benefits, clients already experience delays of two to three months and many millions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed every year because people lack the help and advice they need to make a claim," the CAB says. Last year, the DWP was severely criticised over significant delays in handling and proc...

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