Welfare Rights

Our Welfare Rights Team will advise you about problems to do with social security and represent you, if necessary, at tribunal. There is a lot of information on the internet about benefits. You may be able to find the answer to your problem yourself.

Information about social security and related subjects

Age Concern

Benefits and Work

Benefits now: Assess yourself for DLA and AA. Information about completing the forms and about appeals. Bulletin boards, mainly about DLA.

Child Poverty Action Group

Citizens First guide to rights in the European Union

Department for Social Development, Northern Ireland. The rules there are slightly different from those on the mainland, and decisions of the NI Commissioner are not binding on this side of the Irish Sea, but they are of persuasive authority. And they have a nice web site.

Department for Work and Pensions.

Disability Alliance

Disability Living Allowance Guide

Disability Now

European Court of Human Rights

Ferret's links to sites for law and social welfare.

Help with Health Costs

Housing Benefit claim forms (for Manchester City Council)

The Law Relating to Social Security

Legal Action Group

Lisson Grove Benefit calculator

Neligan’s Digest of Social Security Commissioner’s Decisions: Two large loose leaf volumes which contain summaries of all the important Commissioner’s Decisions, indexed by subject. Very useful if you appeal because you may be able to find cases which support your argument. Available in your local DSS office by appointment and in large libraries.

National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux

Newcastle Welfare Rights Service

Online resource centre, run by the people formerly known as Central Adjudication Services.

RightsNet LASA's website is a good place to keep up to date with developments in the law.

Danny Heggs Social Care site

Social Security Commissioners website

Specialist guides, publications and manuals

Statutory Instruments Regulations are available from bookshops or those published from 1/1/1987 from the HMSO Website

Tax Credits

The Appeals Service

Welfare benefits discussion group, where claimants ask and answer questions, sometimes assisted by Clive Martin of Ferret and Ted Hutchinson.

Wheelchair Access

Youreable.com - Benefits forum with benefits advice from 'expert' Bob Roberts

Last updated August 28, 2007