Benefits advisors...

nanokitten

seems that there is a reoccurring theme that people are struggling to know where to get benefits advice from or who to turn to when things go wrong. As benefits agency staff may often be poorly informed (or deliberatly unhelpful) it seems like alot of people would find a list of agencies which provide independant benefts advice, help filling in claim forms, the appeals process, grant applications etc.

So far I have found these national organisations:
CAB, http://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/index/getadvice.htm (call appointments line as its normally cheaper and someone answers, they normally have a 'batphone' number too if you can find it...
mind, http://www.mind.org.uk/Mind+in+your+area/
macmillan, http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Get_Support/Financial_help/Macmillan_Local_Benefits_Advisors.aspx
dial,http://www.dialuk.info/findadial/index.asp
Local CVS (council for voluntary service may be able to signpost you to local orgaisations http://webdb.navca.org.uk/home.aspx

local organisations eg: carers resource centres (north yorks), future prospects (organisation in york getting people into employment).

also macmillan have quite a good few pages giving an over view of the various benefits available, good for newbies, advice is quite general so should be useful to all, nit just those with cancer. (I wouldn't call the phone line unless you do).
http://www.macmillan.org.uk/Get_Support/Financial_help/Benefits_helpline.aspx

people have reported DIAL being to busy for referals, my local one has closed down, there must be help out there...
Any more ideas???

Pete268

Hi,

If people have ever served in HM Forces at any time then the Royal British Legion can assist and represent with Benefit claims (not just War Pension Claims)

Details here: http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/content/Disablement-Pension-Claims-508944.shtml

Another source of benefits advice is via the Community Legal Advice Database
here: http://www.communitylegaladvice.org.uk/en/directory/directorysearch.jsp

Just put your postcode in and tick in Welfare benefits.

Peter

Errata

Many local councils have Benefits Advisors.