We provide expert advice on all welfare benefits and debt problems. We can help you plan how to get through times of crisis as well as identifying ways you can manage you money in the long term.
By dealing with your debt and benefit problems we may be able to help you keep your home when you are facing the threat of eviction because of rent or mortgage arrears.
Welfare Benefits
We can look at all your circumstances and complete a comprehensive benefits check to make sure that you are receiving all the money you are entitled to.
We can assist in all welfare benefits matters, including:
- Jobseekers Allowance
- Income Support
- Pension Credit/Retirement Pensions
- Employment Support Allowance/Incapacity Benefit
- Industrial Injuries Benefit
- Disability Living Allowance/Attendance Allowance/Carers Allowance
- Benefits for people from abroad
- Housing Benefit/ Council Tax Benefit
- Grants, Loans and Discretionary Payments
- Child Tax Credit/Working Tax Credit
We can help if:
- You have been refused benefits
- Your benefits have been stopped or reduced
- You want to apply for backdated benefits
- You have a problem with overpayment of benefit
- You have been accused of benefit fraud
Reviews and Appeals
Most benefit decisions can be appealed and if you get a decision you are not happy with you should contact us as soon as possible for advice.
We represent clients at all stages in the appeal process, in hearings before the Welfare Rights Tribunals, the Upper Tribunal (formerly the Social Security Commissioner) and the Higher Appeal Courts.
We can also challenge benefits decisions by bringing a claim for Judicial Review where necessary.
Debt
We can provide advice and help with all debt-related matters including:
- Rent and mortgage arrears
- Council tax arrears
- Fuel and water bills
- Catalogue/ credit card debts
- Bank overdrafts and loans
We can help:
- Maximise your income (by completing a benefits check and checking your tax position)
- Get debts written off or reduced
- Advise you on “full and final settlement” offers
- Set up repayment arrangements that you can afford
- Advise on how to deal with bailiffs
We can also advise on ways to stop creditors taking further action against you, such as administration orders, time orders and bankruptcy.