Welfare Rights Service

If you need advice for the first time

We are operating our advice service in a different way, most of our advice is provided over the phone. We do have some face to face appointments available in Bulwell and Broxtowe. We are currently not providing home visits unless there are really exceptional circumstances.

We can offer the following advice/information on our duty telephone line:

• Benefit Checks
• Advice on claiming identified benefits
• Assessments to check eligibility for Disability Benefits eg Personal Independence Payment/Employment Support Allowance.
• Advice on expected outcome of claim and what to do if it’s not successful.
• We can take emergency action identified on any debts you may have pending an appointment or signposting to alternative advice services.
• We can identify any grounds to challenge any DWP/HMRC or Local Authority Benefit decision and represent through the process.
• Advice on how to claim any grants/trust funds you may be entitled to

If you have an existing case

Our caseworkers will provide you with relevant contact details if you are an existing client. The casework completed will be covering the same issues and to the same standard as previously but with contact over the phone rather than face to face.

Information if you want to make a referral

We have produced the following guide for referral agencies.

We can help citizens who find themselves in the following situations:

• have no money e.g. benefits have stopped – we can help with the reinstatement of benefit, making a new claim, appeals, food vouchers etc
• they aren’t sure what benefits they can claim – we can help with a benefit check
• they have been furloughed and not sure if they have any other benefit entitlement
• debt advice but only if there is at least one priority debt eg Council tax, rent, TV Licence, fine, court papers