Brian Semple

Head of External Affairs and Income at Money and Mental Health @mmhpi

[Brian Semple @SempleSemple]

When I joined @mmhpi in 2018, one of the first things we worked on was launching the Stop the #DebtThreats campaign. I'm so pleased & proud that the govt has today agreed to make the most distressing #debt letters more supportive & less intimidating https://t.co/VqArzjJUaU

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Terrible news & judgement from @aberdeenInv_UK. Its suddenly closed down its independent Financial Fairness Trust (& canned staff/trustees) - a key funder of charity research into inequality.

A poor decision, seemingly done with no regard to the impact on key charities. No wind down, just a pulled plug. This may well leave many charities in the lurch, with questions over whether it will honour its last grant funding round (lets hope it does). If you're a customer do raise it with them!

You can read more details here https://t.co/80VFVrhRS9

I should note it has funded some great research by my charity @mmhpi in the past. What a sad state of affairs.

[Good Morning Britain @GMB]

.＠MartinSLewis with an exclusive announcement on Council Tax.

When it comes to council tax debt collection, Martin Lewis has led the charge on fighting for fairness when someone falls behind with their Council Tax payments. Last month, he challenged Cabinet minister Pat McFadden on the issue.

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Many parts of the council tax system are broken - finally a chance to improve them! Including the hideous council tax debt collection methods, the difficulty of challenging your band and of claiming the Severe Mental Impairment discount. At 9:30am govt will launch a consultation on 'Council Tax Administration (Eng)' (ie how its operated, not its existence)

Here's my official quote on it on behalf of @mmhpi and @moneysavinexp who I've campaigned with on different parts of it.

“Many parts of the Council Tax system are broken, and having called for some of these fixes for nearly 20 years, I’m delighted the government has listened and rapidly launched this long-due consultation, including many of the administration areas I hear the most complaints on."

“Council Tax rapid and aggressive debt collection methods currently hurt millions and disproportionately affect those with mental health problems. Within three weeks of missing a monthly payment many councils say you must pay for the whole year… ridiculous, how can people who can’t afford to pay for a month, suddenly pay for a year?"

"After a further three weeks councils can call bailiffs in and rack up charges on charges. No commercial lender is allowed to behave like this, meaning constituents are treated worse than consumers. Worse, it’s counter-productive, can add to council’s costs and still doesn’t mean people can pay it back. The government has listened to our evidence, and this consultation thankfully looks at slowing it down, adding-in consideration, capping added costs, and pointing people towards help to pay."

“Plus, as council tax bands haven’t been revalued since the stop-gap drive-by valuations first done back in 1991, while looking at that isn’t in the scope of this consultation, it’s only right that if people think they’re wrongly in too high a band, as 100,000s likely are, the government is consulting on making it easier to challenge, so people can pay the right price."

"The consultation is also proposing help for some of the most vulnerable – we’ve long campaigned on the horribly-named Severe Mental Impairment discount, which is underclaimed, overcomplex and underpublicised, and this gives an opportunity to move towards a simpler, more universal, less off-putting application process.”

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Other things in the consultation (which it wants you to feed on, I'll put a link out when it is live - the more people who have their say the better) include

- Shifting the default payment to 12 not 10monthly (you'll still be able to opt for 10mths if you want though)
- Uplifting the min earnings amount for carers & apprenticeship discounts

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

New @mmhpi research warns that government’s planned PIP reforms will have a “catastrophic impact” on people’s finances and mental health, and could drive people out of the workplace.

It says "A system which was already doing a poor job of understanding how mental health problems affect... The planned changes will double down on that failure"

Read the press release here... https://t.co/pRuURHw67z and the full detailed report PDF https://t.co/LhngrJ3ROt

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Brilliant news. I'm quite emotional. Govt has agreed to investigate Council Tax rapid debt collection escalation that is catastrophic for millions. Miss one MONTH'S payment and within six weeks you can have baliffs forcing you to pay for the YEAR plus £100s admin charges.

Thanks so much to @mmhpi and @gmb

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

📣 Our CEO @helen_undy is on @BBCMorningLive now talking about gambling harms and what banks can do to support people at risk.

Tune in here - https://t.co/RGJRd8iVuF

[Toby Murray @TbyMrry]

@MartinSLewis @mmhpi Thanks so much Martin, great to have you leading the charge on this.

For anyone interested, you can sign our petition, so @mmhpi can take this issue to government: https://t.co/oiw1aaRA7Y

[Martin Lewis @MartinSLewis]

Warning: Miss one month’s council tax payment & it could ask you to pay the whole year bill within weeks. Council tax debt collection is far worse than finance firms. It’s destructive especially for those with mental health issues. My speech at @MMHPI campaign launch

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

🚨 NEW RESEARCH

We’ve published our latest report on public sector debt collection - with a focus on council tax collection, and what’s going wrong.

🎥 Watch @TbyMrry explain what we’ve found and what we’re calling for - and read the report here: https://t.co/TMnX9CLbGk 1/2

[Guardian news @guardiannews]

Martin Lewis: authorities handle unpaid council tax like ‘worst loan sharks’ https://t.co/h3VyRVpJpI

[Toby Murray @TbyMrry]

@Chrisitv doing an incredible job of explaining our research. Heartbreaking to hear Suzanne's story, glad to see this issue getting the coverage it deserves.

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

📣 Tonight we’ve launched a new campaign to end the #CouncilTaxTrap!

We want the government to stop councils hounding people about missed council tax payments.

Watch our Chief Executive @helen_undy explain more and sign our petition ✍️ https://t.co/hadBCd1QPj

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

We go into more detail on changes we want to see in mental health and employment support in our five steps for the new government https://t.co/WZUjSEbyVW #KingsSpeech

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

We welcome the focus on mental health in the #KingsSpeech today - in particular ensuring it has parity with physical health. We also welcome the focus on supporting people back into employment & hope that includes support for people with #MentalHealth problems.

[The GAA @officialgaa]

Comhghairdeas le @officialdowngaa - Buaiteoirí Chraobh Chorn Tailteann 2024! 🏆👏

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

Whoever forms the next government must protect disability benefits for those of us with mental health problems, writes @SempleSemple. The next government should fix the system, to ensure that financial support and help with making a claim are accessible.
https://t.co/zPzC9oQ3VM

[Centre for Mental Health @CentreforMH]

If you're a mental health professional or carer, could you support someone to exercise their voting rights this Thursday? #GeneralElection2024

[Centre for Mental Health @CentreforMH]

📢 People with a mental illness are as keen to vote as any other group in society, but face multiple barriers and hurdles.
We've put together information on exercising our voting rights this General Election on 4 July 👇https://t.co/hbaLbd1GpE

[Money and Mental Health @mmhpi]

We’re pleased to see @LibDems commit to providing better signposting between NHS Talking Therapies and debt advice in their #GeneralElection2024 manifesto.

We’ve long called for talking therapies and debt advice to be joined up. #GE2024