"Thank you for all your help. I don't like to keep phoning you, but how could I have dealt with it without you? If they take money off when they shouldn't, how am I supposed to know it's wrong”

The Welfare Benefits Advice service was set up to offer advice and assistance on complex welfare benefits issues to people suffering from mental health problems, their carers, and professionals working in the mental health field.

It is a specialist service focusing on cases which need to be taken to Tribunals on appeal and others which raise difficult legal issues or which require detailed understanding of the administrative procedures of the Department of Work and Pensions and other public bodies.

We also offer advice, support and consultancy where necessary to people helping clients with any sort of benefit problem.

Since the service began in 1995 it has raised in excess of seventeen million pounds in previously unclaimed benefits

The Welfare Benefits Advice service is available by referral from professionals working with mental health service users and their carers.  We also accept telephone queries.  Please call 020 8763 2037 for further information.

Additional information on welfare benefits can be obtained at the following sites:

- The Department for Work & Pensions
- Child Poverty Action Group
- London Advice Services Alliance

For further information on our Welfare Benefits Advice service, go to our Frequently Asked Questions section.