IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Money and Mental Health welcomes debt advice commissioning u-turn

14 February 2022

Today the Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) — the government body that has a duty to provide debt advice in England — has announced significant changes to its plans for the commissioning of debt advice services. 

Funding allocated to vital face to face services has been increased by 50% (to £30m) following an investigation by the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute charity (1) and months of campaigning from debt advisors, calling for MaPS’s original commissioning plans to be paused and reassessed. 

Helen Undy, Chief Executive of the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute, said:

“Today’s announcement is effectively a 50% increase in funding for face to face debt advice, compared to the plans announced before Christmas. This is absolutely the right thing to do, protecting vital services that are relied on by so many people, particularly those with mental health problems who can struggle to use online or telephone advice.

“We’re delighted that the Money and Pensions Service has listened to our research, and to campaigners who have been calling for this change.”

ENDS

For more information or to set up an interview, please contact Bronwen Dalley Smith, Senior External Affairs at Money and Mental Health, on 07947 683 256 or [email protected] 

 

NOTES TO EDITORS

(1) This research was based on in-depth analysis of the recommissioning documents, and interviews with MaPS and frontline advisers.

About the Money and Mental Health Policy Institute

The Money and Mental Health Policy Institute is an independent charity set up by Martin Lewis, and committed to breaking the link between financial difficulty and mental health problems. We conduct research, develop practical policy solutions and work in partnership with both those providing services and those using them to find what really works. www.moneyandmentalhealth.org