Benefits

The Welfare Benefits Unit

The Welfare Benefits Unit is a small team within Community Services that provides benefits advice and representation to clients in the comfort of their own home, if they so wish. Staff may also act on their behalf at appeal stage. Referrals to this service can only be accepted via a Care Manager, Social Worker or health professional. Unfortunately referrals cannot be taken purely to fill in application forms.

Services available from the Welfare Benefit Unit

• Home visits to clients for benefit advice, an individual assessment of current benefit income and any future entitlement.
• Representations to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), HM Revenue and Customs, Tribunal Service, High Court Commissioners and the Ombudsman, undertaking technical and legislative preparation work.
• In complex cases, joint visits can be arranged with other professionals as required.
• Appeal representation will only be accepted following a full preliminary assessment. Where the assessment shows there is no evidence to support an appeal, no further action will be taken and the case will be closed.

Eligibility criteria for Welfare Benefits Unit referrals

The Welfare Benefits Unit supports the following client groups:

• adult services;
• children and families;
• adolescents;
• 16+;
• elderly;
• people with learning disabilities;
• people with physical disabilities;
• young offenders;
• people with addictions;
• families facing financial difficulties.

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