Benefiting from advice

The advice project has helped quite a number of our residents sort out problems with the benefits office. For some people, it's been a case of chasing up unpaid benefits, while for others, it's been learning about benefits they did not know they could claim.

If your circumstances change, you may be entitled to claim other benefits such as Pension Credits, Incapacity Benefit, Attendance Allowance and many others. Lots of people are entitled to benefits they fail to take up. Make sure that you don't lose out.

One resident had been struggling to make ends meet because of back pain and had got into rent arrears. When he called for an appointment, he was advised to switch to Income Support so he could be entitled to Housing Benefit until he got better and was able to work again. His advisor made the claims for him.

Another resident, whose Job seeker's allowance had been stopped was able to get it paid and backdated. This resident has a learning disability and the project advised the Department of Works and Pensions to change him over to Income Support. After getting a medical certificate from his doctor the change could be made. The project is helping him to get his disability living allowance increased.

A third resident hadn't heard of attendance allowance and didn't know he would be eligible. The advisor helped there and then by completing the form with him.

The project has also visited residents at home, if they are unable to come along to the project centre. Some clients have been helped on the phone.

To access the Welfare Benefit and Debt Advice Project, call your income officer on 020 8354 5500 or make an appointment at your local office.