Service description
Action on Disability delivers a welfare benefits service for children, funded by H&F Council, providing advice on all social security benefits to parents and carers of disabled children up to and including first-tier tribunal representation. The aim is to maximise the income of H&F families with disabled children up to age 18.
Funded until
31 March 2018
Annual funding level
£40,000
In the past year:
Six volunteers have spent 468 hours advising 265 residents. The help has generated £82,800 in one-off backdated payments of benefits, with support for 133 parents and carers of disabled children. An additional £33,333 has been raised in funding, including income from the benefits service for adults.
Outcome for residents
- 35 users were successfully awarded a grant from the Children with Disabilities Fund
- Lack of form-filling services continues to be an issue as it is a key element to welfare benefits advice. Forms are lengthy and complicated and can adversely affect the receipt of entitled benefits if not correctly completed, resulting in time-consuming appeals and tribunals.