How to obtain specialist advice
Specialist help on welfare benefit matters are often provided by CABx, Law
Centres and Solicitors. Many Local Authorities also often have welfare rights
teams. The Community Legal Service have compiled data on all organisations of
provide help in areas of Social Welfare Law(which includes Welfare Benefits).
They have also then determined the level of of help available in each area area
of law provided through an auditting process,
which includes scrutinising individual files, ensuring that effective supervision
is in place and that the work is carried out by appropriately trained individuals.
This audit takes place annually, and whilst cannot identify everything, it gives
the client or customer some peace of mind in the advice they recieve. An agency
is 'kitemarked' according to the level of help and area of law provided.
The Legal Services Commission provide funding to cover the cost of advice for
those who income and capital fall below certain limits. All
advice from a Local Authority team, Law centre or CAB should be free, because
the LSC or another funder will pay.
To find out more about the scheme go to the Community
Legal Service website - where you can enter the town you live in or postcode
and the type of advice required. You will then be given a list of providers
that meet your requirements and you can then get futher details of opening times,
how to get there and how to contact them by clicking on the agency concerned.
Of course the list is reliant on individual agencies keeping their entry updated,
but the CLS do make frequent checks to ensure the information is up to date.
This page has been prepared for Benefitsnow by Richard Wilkinson.