Debt  
Housing
Immigration

 

Welfare Rights

The Welfare Rights Team provides advice and advocacy on the following areas of Social Welfare Law:-

  • Housing Benefit - Paid to people who have low income and pay rent. It is paid whether or not the claimant is available for or in full- time work and may be paid as well as other social security benefits. Hitslink staff can represent at Housing Benefit Review Board.

 

  • Council Tax Benefit- Paid to people on a low income who pay council tax. There are two types of benefits main CTB and alternative maximum CTB.

 

  • Income Support- Benefit for people without assessable income, it is not paid to people actively seeking work. It is not paid to people in full time paid work.

 

  • Job Seekers Allowance (Contributory and Income Based)- JSA is a benefit for people who are unemployed or who work for less than 16 hours per week and who are looking employment. There are two types of JSA: contribution based JSA is paid if you satisfy the national insurance contributions, Income-based JSA if you pass the means test.

 

  • Incapacity Benefit- Incapacity benefit is paid to people who are incapable of work and who have paid or been credited with sufficient national insurance contribution to qualify for it.

 

  • Disability Living Allowance - Benefit for those aged under 65 when they claim has both mobility and care components. You do not have to have paid national insurance to qualify.

 

  • Severe Disablement Allowance- benefit paid to people who are incapable of work who either became so on or before their 20th Birthday and are considered to be 80% disabled or who were previously entitled to non-contributory invalidity pension.

 

  •   Disabled Persons Tax Credit (From 10/99) - Tax-free benefit for low paid workers with a disability. It tops up your wages. It tops up your wages if you are in full time work.
  • Invalid Care Allowance - Benefit paid to people who are caring for severely disabled people

  • Maternity Pay- Statutory Maternity Pay or Maternity Allowance can be paid to women who are who are pregnant or who have recently given birth. SMP is paid on the similar way to Statutory Sick Pay, and you have to have paid national insurance contributions to qualify.

  • Statutory Sick Pay - Statutory Sick Pay is a benefit which is paid to employees for up to 28 weeks of incapacity for work. SSP is paid by the employer, not the Benefits Agency.

 

  • Child Benefit - paid to people who are responsible for a child. You are paid an amount for each child for whom you are responsible.

 

  •  Working Family Tax Credit - paid to working families with at least one child.

 

  • Back To work Bonuses - If you or you partner have been working part time while you are receiving JSA or Income Support you can be paid a back to work bonus of up to £1000, if you return to full time work

 

  • Community Care Grant - Non repayable grants which are intended to promote community care by helping people to live more independently in the community

 

  • Representation and Appeal Work up to Commissioner Level.

Statistics for year ending March 2000 ( April 1999 - March 2000)

  • 1796 benefit enquiry's have been made to Hitslink

 

  • £250,000 have been raised through Welfare Rights Work

 

  •  200 clients now in receipt of benefits that were previously not.

 

  • 80 successful tribunal , appeals and reviews undertaken

Always seek independent advice after receiving advice from Social Security"
Debt
Back Up  

Advice, information and advocacy work on:-

  • Managing Debt
  • Debts to fuel and utilities boards
  •  Arrears of rent and Council Tax: mortgage arrears
  • Catalogue and Credit Cards debts
  •  Referrals to specialist money advice agencies
  • Negotiation with creditors

Statistic for year ending March 2000 ( April 1999 - March 2000)

  • 107 debts enquiries have to made to Hitslink
  • 50 debts have been re negotiated

"get advice before the bailiffs come round"


Housing
Back Up  

Advice and Information on :

  • Identifying accommodation for homelessness people
  • Referrals to City Council's Allocations section and homelessness unit to other providers of social housing
  • Applications for housing and re-housing on medical grounds
  • Liaisons with landlords regarding repairs
  • Information on housing rights

Statistic for year ending March 2000 (April 1999 - March 2000)

  • 247 Housing enquiries have been made to Hitslink
  • 51 clients have been helped to retain or secure housing

"Always Read The Housing Contract Before Signing"


Immigration
Back Up  
 

Work in this area consists of:

  • Passport Applications
  • Applications for British Citizenship by naturalisation
  • Variation of Leave for clients wishing to change their  immigration status
  • Sponsorship of visitors, spouses and fiancés
  • Referrals to specialist immigration services for more complex issues

Statistic for year ending March 2000 (April 1999 - March 2000)

  • 103 Immigration enquiries have been made
  • 20 successful immigration / nationality cases secured

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