Covid-19 Coronavirus Welfare Rights Resources

Universal Credit and Verify ID Checks

Tactics to make claims go faster and reduce financial distress

Latest News

Benefits are changing quickly with the Covid-19 Coronavirus outbreak. It's difficult to keep up to date.

Please click on the links below to access two briefings to help you.

At a Glance Guide To Benefit Changes 

Loss of Income

What we can help with...

  • Complete benefit forms
  • Check over forms you have completed
  • General benefit advice
  • Help with Mandatory Reconsideration (if benefit has been refused)
  • Representation at tribunal

What we cannot do...

  • Tell you what you are entitled to
  • Not support fraudulent claims

How much does it cost?

  • We charge £10 to help with benefit form completion

Tips and important notes to remember...

  • A diagnosis of Autism does not mean automatic entitlement to benefits
  • Always check letters from the DWP or HMRC, to avoid any overpayment
  • PIP, ESA and DLA  forms should always show the functionality of a claimant
  • Reports and letters should reflect the completed benefit forms
  • Make a copy of everything
  • Send by recorded or signed for delivery
  • Use our booklets for help with completing forms
  • If you are unable to send the forms back within the time frame, let the DWP know
  • Let other statutory agencies know if you get an award (council, HMRC) as this may affect entitlement to other benefits

 Please contact our Welfare Rights Officer by emailing us.

New Facebook Support Group

Due to welfare reform and the migration of benefits, Autism Anglia's small Welfare Rights Team (of 2 people) are working at full capacity.

During this busy period, we have created a Facebook group for individuals with autism and carers, to give help and support with benefit enquiries.

We have compiled a useful PIP booklet, which can be downloaded here.

If you made a claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) and you didn't get the award that you think you were entitled to, you don't have to give up. This guide will help you decide if you should challenge the decision. It and the accompanying tool will help you ask the DWP to look at their decision again. This is called a 'mandatory reconsideration’. If they don’t change the decision straight away, this guide shows you how to appeal the decision and win. (You must ask for a reconsideration before you can appeal). This guide is for everybody who thinks the DWP made the wrong decision about their application for PIP.

A survival guide to benefit sanctions

This guide will help you to plan ahead to avoid a benefit sanction where possible, and if not, will help you to work out what to do about it. This guide is for you if you want to avoid getting sanctioned, work out what to do about a benefits sanction, or understand more about how the benefit sanctions system works-Advicenow

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