Here are some national organisations that provide welfare rights information and guides:
Public advice across the country
National services, mainly for advisers
Find your nearest Citizens Advice Bureau for advice on many topics.
Their website also includes a guide to benefits, debt problems and other subjects.
This website helps to locate your nearest advice service.
They also provide a helpline for initial advice on benefits, debt, education, housing and employment problems.
Phone: 0845 345 4 345 Mon - Fri 9.00 am till 6.30 pm (calls 4p a minute)
Find your nearest council, who may have a welfare rights service.
Provides mainly telephone advice to the public and advises on Tax Credits and the tax system.
Advice line - Phone: 0845 120 3779 10am-12 midday, Mondays to Thursdays
They can also see people face to face in Newcastle, London, Manchester or Birmingham. Ring their advice line for details. They also take email enquiries through the contact page on their website.
This charity produces very useful annual guidebooks, on welfare, benefits and Tax Credits, Council Tax, paying for care, students and benefits and so on.
Advice line for advisers only:
020 7833 4627 Mon - Fri, 2.00pm - 4.00pm
Address:
CPAG
94 White Lion Street
London
N1 9PF
Phone: 020 7837 7979
Fax: 020 7837 6414
Email: staff@cpag.org.uk
Disability Alliance produce annually their very useful "Disability Rights Handbook", which covers all aspects of the benefits system from a disability perspective.
Contact:
Disability Alliance
Universal House
88-94 Wentworth Street
London
E1 7SA
Phone: 020 7247 8776 (Voice and Minicom - not an advice line)
Fax:020 7247 8765
Email: office.da@dial.pipex.com
Advisers’ website.
Provides an up-to-date website, covering all issues dealt with by HMRC for people on low incomes. There is specific help for welfare rights advisers on tax credits issues.