THOUSANDS of people on low incomes across Wales have secured an extra £170m by claiming benefits they didn’t know they were entitled to, thanks to free Welsh Government advice services.

The Claim What’s Yours helpline connects people with friendly advisers who help cut through the confusion of the benefits system. For many who call, including working families, new parents and pensioners, it’s their first time claiming benefits, with many surprised to learn they qualify for financial help.

With around £2bn in benefits going unclaimed in Wales each year; the Single Advice Fund and Claim What’s Yours services have helped 361,000 people to deal with their social welfare problems and to claim £170m of benefits they were entitled to, and write off £49.1m in debts from January 2020 to December 2024.

The services have seen growing demand, with advisers handling over 6,500 calls in the past six months alone – showing how valued the service has become.

Colette Smith, Advice Project Worker at Citizens Advice Rhondda Cynon Taf, has helped hundreds of callers navigate the benefits system. She said: “Every day I speak to people who are genuinely struggling but have no idea they’re entitled to extra support. I recently took a call from a person who was really struggling to make ends meet, on the call I identified that the person was able to claim Pension Credits which meant they were entitled to Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction. We helped the client to make the claims and they felt so much better and could now see a way forward.”

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: “With billions in benefits going unclaimed each year, it’s clear that too many people don’t know that they are eligible for support. When someone successfully claims pension credit, carer’s allowance or other benefits they’re entitled to, it can mean the difference between struggling and stability, and helps reduce stress and improve their wellbeing.

“The service provides friendly, professional and confidential advice and could make a significant difference to your household budget. If you’re unsure whether you qualify for support, I encourage you to make that phone call and find out what help might be available to you.”

Anyone wanting free, confidential advice can call Advicelink Cymru’s Claim What’s Yours helpline on 0808 250 5700 between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday. Calls are welcomed in English or Welsh, and help is available for those who cannot hear or speak on the phone through the Relay UK service

AN APPLICATION to site a campsite on a rural Pembrokeshire field has been refused by county planners.

South Gloucestershire-based Christopher Nash sought permission from Pembrokeshire County Council for the establishment of a tourist touring caravan and camp site with associated facilities on land at the B4341 to Broad Haven, Haverfordwest, the works having started in May 2024.

A supporting statement for the touring caravan and tent campsite, just over a kilometre west of Portfield Gate, through agent Planix.UK Planning Consultants Ltd said: “The proposal seeks to provide tourism accommodation while being sensitive to the site’s rural context and Pembrokeshire’s planning policies, particularly those promoting sustainable development and tourism.”

The scheme includes a caravan and tent pitching area, a static caravan as a reception and office, and related facilities including a WC, shower and hardstanding, along with landscaping works.

An officer report recommending refusal said: “In terms of connectivity, the site can be accessed via an existing footpath from the Portfield Gate, although this ceases approximately 450 metres to the west of the site, with no safe footway towards Broad Haven.

“However, due to the distance from the settlement being in excess of a kilometre the site is not visually related to the settlement in terms of being seen as part of the same landscape via existing built form, and is not considered to be well related to Portfield Gate as set out with the LDP.

“Notwithstanding this, as required evidence has not been put forward that the development would provide a community facility or a service such as a shop, which is not otherwise available in the settlement, and which would be open for the community to use.”

It added: “An argument has been put forward within the submission that there is a fallback position that under permitted development rights via membership to the Caravan Club, the applicant has the ability to establish a certified camping and caravan site.  Although this is acknowledged, this suggested fall-back position is not considered to hold significant weight to be considered a material consideration.

“In addition, any exemption whilst being a member of an exempted organisation such as the Caravan Club would not allow for any operational development to take place and would limit the number of tents or touring caravans allowed as part of the exemption.”

It went on to say: “The proposed siting of a static caravan, a welfare building, access track and hardstanding area within the site is considered an incongruous addition within the countryside without robust justification.

“Although some screening is suggested to the northwest of the site details of this has not been provided therefore it is unclear if the screening would mitigate against the identified unjustified visual intrusion.”

The application was refused on grounds including being located in the countryside away from any settlement, visual intrusion, access and highway issues, it would “increase the volume of foul discharge from the site which is within the catchment of the River Cleddau Special Area of Conservation (SAC),” and the absence of a Green Infrastructure Statement.

PLANS to convert a former gallery and shop in a Pembrokeshire town’s conservation area to a sandwich bar have been approved despite initial concerns raised about late-night antisocial behaviour.

In an application to Pembrokeshire planners, Luke Lawrence sought permission for the change of ues of the vacant former Eastgate Gallery, 132 Main Street, Pembroke to the sandwich bar, which will also offer supplementary hot food.

An officer report said: “There are no external alterations to the building. The takeaway is proposed to be open seven days a week, 8am to 8pm.  The application proposes that two to three full-time equivalent employment opportunities would be created.”

One objection to the scheme, supported by Pembroke Town Council, was received, raising concerns over the potential of the business being open late at night and potential antisocial behaviour associated with that.

The report added: “The application proposes a change of use to an A3 takeaway with opening hours extending into the evening compared with the previous use as a gallery and shop. This has the potential to negatively affect neighbouring amenity in terms of noise potentially being produced in the evening. In the surrounding area, there are a mixture of facilities, including a pub, chip shop and shop – some of which operate at a later time than that proposed for the takeaway.”

However, the report confirmed the applicant’s agent had confirmed the 8pm close, the report adding: “On this basis, it is considered that permitting these hours for the takeaway would be acceptable, as it is unlikely to have an impact on noise levels over and above those of the nearby buildings. Conditions are recommended to ensure that the business does not operate any later into the night.”

The application was conditionally approved by county planners.