Thousands living in debt - Citizens Advice Bureau

Shropshire's Citizen's Advice Bureau said the announcement of changes to benefits was a concern for many

Up to 16,000 households in Shropshire may be getting into debt and struggling to pay their bills, the county's Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) has estimated.

It also said the recent government announcement regarding changes to benefits was a concern for many.

The charity's chief officer Jackie Jeffrey said: "A lot of people that we support and help have a long term fitness or a disability, so it would be quite understandable that people are worried."

She said support was available, but it was difficult to navigate and she said it could be "a really complex system".

Ms Jeffrey said the biggest number of queries the Shropshire CAB had received concerned the Personal Independence Payment (PIP).

It is currently paid to more than 3.6 million people who have a long-term physical or mental health condition in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

There are two elements - a daily living component and a mobility component. Claimants may be eligible for one or both.

Under the government's proposals, assessments for the daily living part will be tightened.

The Office for Budget Responsibility said it will affect around 800,000 people.

The government has also announced changes to a number of other benefits.

Ms Jeffrey said she also wanted to make people more aware of the financial help and advice they could receive.

For instance, she said, "A lot of people don't apply for council tax support, so its making people aware of the benefits that they are entitled to."