Who has helped with your benefits?

Details: Published: 06 February 2023

Recently, we suggested that if you are are finding it impossible to contact the DWP by telephone you should consider asking your MP for help.

It’s clear from your responses that some MPs’ offices provide really excellent support, even if others are utterly uninterested.

It made us wonder if there are other sources of help out there that might not have occurred to lots of people.

So, we’re asking you to tell us about anybody that has made a real difference to your benefits claim or appeal and what it was they did that made a difference.

This might be an organisation, such as a health specific charity or it might be an individual, such as a housing worker. Maybe it was an online resource?

Whatever it was, if you think it might be of value to other readers, please let us know in the comments below.

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Pupinski · 1 years ago
My MPs have been very helpful with both my initial claim for PIP in 2016 (LibDem) and my review in 2022 (Labour). Both times I enclosed with my application a letter from my MP of the time asking DWP to keep them updated on the progress of my claim. I doubt DWP ever did update my MPs, but it kept them on their toes and I was awarded on both occasions without having to appeal (upgraded to enhanced at review).
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Darren · 1 years ago
Greater Manchester law center. Fightback for justice. Cheetham hill advice.
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Fionn · 1 years ago
I've received, and offered, benefits support from disease-specific online message boards. In my case it's ME, but I also know someone with chronic kidney disease who's had a similar experience. Contributors have all experienced living with a particular health condition and have often made successful claims themselves, so can offer useful tips on how to explain or show the impact of various symptoms and difficulties. I always recommend B&W too, as do others.
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Haydn · 1 years ago
The Maggie Centre In Glasgow were fantastic in helping me obtain my PIP award. They talked me gently through the whole procedure where my claim was successful. On renewal my PIP was refused so I applied to go to Tribunal. Maggies accompanied me and again with there help my award has been reinstated for an indefinite period
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Harryrandle · 1 years ago
Our county council money help unit has been very helpful
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katybay · 1 years ago
This site helped greatly, mandatory reconsiderations, please do not give up . DO NOT be intimidated by the Face to face assessments and make sure you get the interview recorded, because even with a recording DWP will lie and so will the company assessing , but keep fighting .3 times they stopped my money each time I had to wait months and months for my Mandatory reconsideration and each time because of this site and my local conservative MP I WON . Remember peoples, at the assessments they like to think they are above us unlucky people needing benefits, but if it wasn't for us DWP and assessing companies would be out of jobs. NEVER GIVE UP .
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John · 1 years ago
As I am ex RAF Personnel the RAF Benevolent fund helped me and even sent a advocate to advise and accompany me to the Tribunal for my PIP claim.They were so helpful and I feel that I may not have won the decision without them.
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Susan Weaver · 1 years ago
I had support with my PIP form. I managed to get a housing support worker who helped alongside The CAB. I would strongly advise that individuals get help with such forms.
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DT Lancs · 1 years ago
Our local Tory MP was extremely helpful in getting the DWP review our son's case, with a subsequent positive outcome.
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JustinR73 · 1 years ago
Ever since having to switch to ESA and PIP, I've had help from a representative from Action For Blind People. I think, now, they've merged some of their services with the RNIB to save both charities duplicating services. That's who i go to for help - Action For Blind People or RNIB. They've done pretty well. They make me really think about my day to day difficulties that I'm so used to, I tend to shrugg them off or see them as part of the course. I was told, however, compare yourself a fully sighted person. What can they do that you can/struggle with and stresses you. A lot of things do but, after all these years, I take it on the chin even after being stressed etc.
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Susan · 1 years ago
I have a a welfare officer who has helped me a couple of times, but the last two time have been unable to get an appointment with her so this website has been invaluable, I also have my partner and my son to help.
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Jane · 1 years ago
I had help from Auriga Services,Sutton Coldfield. They helped fill in forms and sent them in on my behalf. They also assisted me when I had to go to tribunals with a representative.Cannot thank them enough for all their help.
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P. Ashworth · 1 years ago
I don’t know what I would have done without my home visits from my local CAB benefits adviser. She helped me fill in the forms and was so understanding. I only hope they are on hand next time I need them.
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Mark D · 1 years ago
Had help from Parkinson's UK, the CAB and my Parkinson's community nurse. All very kind.
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Andrew Walters-Moore · 1 years ago
I am an ex Veteran and currently receive PIP at the enhanced rate for Care & Mobility.

Since leaving the forces I received a War Pension of 30%, because I am in receipt of it I am not entitled to the higher rate of mobility. However, lastbI applied for a review of my War Pension and after a period of waiting for a response the Veteran's Agency increased my War Pension to 40%.

Sometime later I received a phone call from the Welfare Section of the MOD which, informed me that as I was now re Elvington 40% War Pension it entitled me to applied for Welfare payment and if it was several It would entitle me to have an additional payment. I have yet to receive a response but I was informed it may take time to reply.
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Ian · 1 years ago
Scope were fantastic
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Tammy · 1 years ago
I can highly recommend Norfolk Community Law Service - they straightened out all the problems I was having with the DWP. CAB, on the other hand, had gone through my case, arranged to accompany me to a tribunal, and then cancelled the day before. I was left to go on my own, and the panel at the tribunal told me that CAB had misunderstood the basis of my appeal and the evidence I had with me was irrelevant. Fortunately, the panel asked me the questions CAB should have covered, and after a short confab they reinstated my benefit.
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Jeff Page. · 1 years ago
Unfortunately, the experience of asking my local MP for help was very different. He was no help whatsoever. He is a Conservative. As some have mentioned, I consider him to be among the useless MPs when it comes to actually taking an interest in desperate claimants, but is rarely seen in parliament and is hardly to be seen on TV programmes. I try to spot the MP on Wednesdays when PMQs are transmitted and over a few years I've managed to see him twice I think. Overall he doesn't appear to do a great deal for the people of the area full stop.
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Andrew · 1 years ago
Those good people who have turned up at very small local demonstrations / direct actions. A handful of people outside a jobcentre or disability assessment centre definitely had an effect in curbing the bullying behaviour of the DWP and the resignation of at least one doctor conducting fraudulent assessments.
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Steve · 1 years ago
Fightback, they are brilliant and very supportive and tend to win against DWP
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