Chris Evans MP

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR ISLWYN

Chris Evans MP

MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT FOR ISLWYN

Help & Advice

One of my functions as your MP is to provide help, support and advice when you need it most. Whether you are experiencing problems with receiving benefits payments, difficulty getting answers from public organisations or you are looking for advice on where to take a complaint or any other issue, my office staff can help.

Below, you will find an A-Z list of common issues and complaints I receive. If you click on the headings, you will find some advice and the contact details of professional organisations and charities which may be able to help you. If you are unsure, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Benefits, Including Job seeker's allowance and Universal Credit

There is a range of useful information on the Benefits section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website, which includes further sections on Housing Benefit, working and child tax creditsJobseeker’s Allowance (JSA). It also includes information on Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children, and Personal Independence Payments (PIP).

If you have recently become unemployed, you can find information on how to make a claim for Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) here.

Information relating to Universal Credit can be found here.

Caerphilly County Borough Council

Information relating to the services provided by Caerphilly County Borough Council can be found on the council’s website.

If you are experiencing an issue or problem with local services, your first contact should be with your local County Councillor. You can find your councillor and their contact details, please use this website.

Crime and Policing

To report a crime as a victim or a witness, please call 101. In an emergency where you require immediate assistance you should always call 999.

The Safer Caerphilly Partnership can provide information and advice relating to local policing matters including anti-social behaviour.

If you would like to make a complaint about policing, you should contact the Gwent Police Professional Standards Department.

For more help and advice, you may wish to contact your Police and Crime Commissioner for Gwent – Jeff Cuthbert.

Education

If you are the parent or guardian of a child with special educational needs or requiring additional support in school, you may find useful information, advice and support on the SNAP Cymru website.

For school related inquiries, please visit the Schools and Learning section of the Caerphilly County Borough Council website, which includes information on admissions, appeals, term times and more. If you have a complaint about a school, please visit the School Complaints section of the council website.

If you continue experiencing an issue with schools, your first contact should be with your local County Councillor. You can find your councillor and their contact details, please use this website.

Housing (Council)

Council housing is a matter for Caerphilly County Borough Council. Please visit the Housing section of the Council’s website for more information.

If you cannot find the answer you are looking for from the Council website, you should contact your local County Councillor. You can find your councillor and their contact details on this website.

You can also find housing-related support in Caerphilly County Borough on the Supporting People website.

You may find further useful information on the Housing section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

Mental Health

If you or someone you know requires medical advice you should visit the NHS Direct website or call NHS direct on 111. Or, in a medical emergency which can include loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, suspected heart attack, heavy blood loss, serious injury, or any other urgent or life-threatening medical problem always call 999.

Additionally, If you or someone you know is suffering from poor mental health, including anxiety, depression, or suicidal thoughts, help is available. A number of charities including Mind, The Samaritans, and others are a good place to start.

The Samaritans also have a free 24-hour, 365-day helpline if you call: 116 123.

You may find further useful information on the Health section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

Pensions

If you have a problem with your state, personal, or any other kind of pension, you can find free and impartial information and advice on The Pensions Advisory Service website, or by contacting them on 0300 123 1047.

You may find further useful information on the Pensions section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

For any issues related specifically to older people, you can find a range of help and advice from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales website.

Refuse Collection

If you would like to report a problem relating to refuse collection, including missed bin collections, bins in general, dog fouling and fouling bins, fly-tipping or general litter issues, you could visit the Bins and Recycling section of the Caerphilly Council website.

As Refuse Collection is a local government issue, you may wish to contact your local County Councillor if you do not find the answers you are looking for on the Council’s website. You can find your councillor and their contact details, please use this website

Social Services

If you would like to make a complaint about social services provided by Caerphilly Council, you can contact the Social Services department using the contact details provided on their website. You may wish to contact your local County Councillor if you do not find the answers you are looking for on the Council’s website. You can find your councillor and their contact details, please use this website.

For information on how to make a complaint with regards to social services and care provided outside of the local authority, including private organisations, you should first raise a complaint with your service provider. If you have already done so, and you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can take the matter further to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales. You may also raise concerns with the Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales.

For any issues related specifically to social care provision for older people, you can find a range of help and advice from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales website.

Bills and Debt

If you are unable to pay your bills or debts, you may find useful information on the Debt and Money section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau Website.

You can also receive free, independent debt advice from the National Debtline website or by calling their dedicated hotline: 0808 808 4000.

Court Cases

Members of Parliament are not allowed to assist their constituents with legal matters and cannot provide legal advice.

You may find useful information on the Law and Courts section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

Disabilities, including ESA, DLA and PIP

If you are disabled or you care for someone with disabilities, local charities including Disability Can Do are able to provide specialist advice and support. They are a local charity based in Pontllanfraith, Blackwood and can be contacted on 01495 233555.

For parents and carers of disabled children, Contact a Family offer a wide range of advice and support which can be invaluable. They also have a free helpline on 0808 808 3555.

Information relating to Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children, and Personal Independence Payments (PIP) can be found on the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website. 

Homelessness

If you need emergency accommodation, you can find the contact details of a number of direct access hostels, assistance for 16-21-year-olds, and Women’s Aid refuges on the Emergency Accommodation page of the Caerphilly Council website. You can also contact the Council’s Homelessness Advice section on 01443 873 552.

If you are threatened with losing your home, you may wish to contact Supporting People on 01443 864 591 or visit their website. Shelter Cymru also provides specialist, independent housing advice, and you can contact them on 0345 075 5005 or visit their website.

You may find further useful information on the Housing section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

Health

If you or someone you know requires medical advice you should visit the NHS Direct website or call NHS direct on 111. Or, in a medical emergency which can include loss of consciousness, difficulty breathing, suspected heart attack, heavy blood loss, serious injury or any other urgent or life-threatening medical problem always call 999.

If you have a complaint about the way you have been treated by the health services, you should contact the Aneurin Bevan Community Health Council. The Community Health Council can provide advice, explain your options, and guide you through the NHS complaints procedure.

You may find further useful information on the Health section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

Parking

If you have received a parking ticket and would like to appeal, you can find information on this on the Parking Tickets section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.

Please note that Members of Parliament are not allowed to assist their constituents with legal matters and cannot provide legal advice.

If you would like to report a vehicle that has been parked illegally or inconsiderately, you should visit the Parking section of the Gwent Police website.

Plannng

Planning is a local government issue and I cannot make representations for constituents. Please also note that Members of Parliament are not allowed to assist their constituents with legal matters and cannot provide legal advice, including with relation to planning applications.

If you have an issue relating to planning applications in your area, you can find information and make comments on the PublicAccess page of the Caerphilly Council website, or on the Planning Department’s contact information page.

You may wish to contact your local County Councillor if you do not find the answers you are looking for on the Council’s website. You can find your councilor and their contact details, please use this website.

Rights

If you would like information relating to your rights, a wide range of information on an extensive number of subjects can be found on the Citizens’ Advice Bureau (Wales) website.

For any issues related specifically to the rights of older people, you can find a range of help and advice from the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales website. 

Tax and HMRC

If you have an issue related to Tax and HM Revenue and Customs, you can find information on the Government’s ‘Get help with tax’ page.

For issues relating to Council Tax, including how to pay, please visit the Council Tax section on Caerphilly Council’s website.

You may also find further useful information on the Tax Section of the Citizens’ Advice Bureau website.