| answer text |
<p>The Government recognises the vital role that advice services play in helping people
in problem debt and vulnerable circumstances.</p><p> </p><p>To help people in problem
debt, the Government continues to maintain record levels of funding for free-to-client
debt advice in England, bringing the 2022-23 debt advice budget for the Money and
Pensions Service (MaPS) to over £90 million.</p><p> </p><p>MaPS is the single largest
funder of debt advice in England. It works alongside partners across the UK to make
debt advice easier and quicker to access, and to improve standards and quality across
the sector.</p><p>MaPS recently concluded a debt advice commissioning exercise with
the primary aim of increasing the volume of debt advice available, as well as ensuring
that such advice meets clients’ needs and proactively targets vulnerable and underrepresented
groups. These contracts, once signed, will be starting from 1 February 2023.</p><p>
</p><p>To help people access debt advice, MaPS launched MoneyHelper in 2021, a consumer-facing
service which provides free and impartial guidance for people across the UK. This
includes budget planning and bill prioritiser tools, practical tips for engaging with
creditors and a Debt Advice Locator Tool, which helps people find free, high-quality
debt advice in their local area or via the telephone and online.</p><p> </p><p>MaPS
has also developed the Money Advisor Network pilot which enables a range of organisations
including Job Centre Plus, local authorities and financial service providers to refer
people for free to MaPS funded debt advice. The individuals referred can either proceed
immediately to debt advice, request a call-back at a more convenient time or schedule
an in-person appointment.</p><p> </p>
|
|
