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- Welfare Rights Newsletter
08 Nov 2023
The charity for your community
From 18 March we are operating the service remotely following advice issued by the Department of Health. We will still be taking enquiries, Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. Organisations who subscribe can either email their enquiry or request a call back from a SWRU adviser. The address for both options is advice@swru.org We will be […]
The 23rd (2020) edition of our “Benefits for Carers” booklet is now available in pdf format. It can be download here.
This half day hands-on workshop is for advisers who already have experience in using the Quick Benefits calculator. It will build on the skills of the advisers to increase their knowledge of the software by working through more complex benefit entitlement calculations. Further details can be found here
We have designed a new course specifically for local Citizens Advice advisers who are or will be delivering Help to Claim, and in particular, face to face support. Advisers should have generalist advice level understanding of the benefits system. It will introduce advisers to Universal Credit, who is entitled, how UC is calculated and how clients […]
As Universal Credit rolls out more and more legacy benefit claimants are faced with the prospect of claiming Universal Credit. These ‘natural migrations’ will not be provided with transitional protection and in many cases will receive less on UC than on legacy benefits. This course will provide staff and volunteers with the tools needed to […]
The 22nd (2018) edition of our “Benefits for Carers” booklet is now available in pdf format. It can be download here.
Why the need for Surrey Welfare Rights Unit? In February 2018 the Work and Pensions Select Committee published its report on PIP and ESA assessments. The Chair, Frank Field MP, when referring to the widespread findings of poor administration of both benefits, said “this is translating into untenable human costs to claimants and financial costs […]
Why the need for Surrey Welfare Rights Unit? Some problems are more complex than others. Welfare benefit problems are particularly complex, especially at a time of huge legislation change. Often households that are affected by benefit problems are on low incomes and are dealing with other disadvantages. Resolving benefit problems can prevent situations worsening, including […]
Why is Surrey Welfare Rights Unit needed? Everyone experiences problems. Sometimes they can be quickly resolved, other times it’s not that simple. Welfare Benefit problems are particularly complex and often affect households who are facing multiple disadvantages and/or on extremely low income levels. These can lead to debts, homelessness, loss of other payments, ill health and […]
We would like to remind our users that we are now offering a limited casework service; in particular benefit cases concerning carers, families and disabled people. Check with the adviser on the advice line.