ABOUT US

We provide free, confidential help and advice with claiming benefits and representation at social security appeals.

We can help to identify benefit entitlement, maximize income, advise, support and where possible represent at social security appeals.

We provide a telephone advice line on 0161 342 3068, Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings from 9am to 12.00pm. When you ring the advice line we will take your details and get back to you. We will do our best to sort out your query over the phone. However, if this is not possible we will make an appointment for you to see a Welfare Rights Officer.

A home visit can be arranged if it is difficult to get out due to ill health or caring responsibilities.

Within the team we have specialist officers dealing with specific areas of work:

Macmillan Welfare Rights Officer, who takes referrals from Palliative Care Services in Tameside and offers help and advice with regard benefit maximization and representation at social security appeals.

Vision First Welfare Rights Officer, who takes referrals from Social Services for every person who is registered as visually impaired

Disability Focus Team, takes referrals through the advice line of people who have long-term ill health and physical disability.

Older Persons Focus Team, takes referrals through the advice line and through the Joint Team for assistance with complex casework and representation at appeals

Mental Health Focus Team, takes referrals through the advice line and directly from people and workers within mental health settings. We help with ensuring benefits are claimed and with representation at appeal. We also have a welfare rights support worker based on the in-patient unit at the Mental Health Unit, Tameside Hospital.

We also have a three year funded Mental Health Money Advice Project. Referrals are made direct to the Money Advisers by ringing 342 3068. We can take referrals for people who are involved with both statutory and voluntary mental health services. Appointment sessions are held at Mind, Brindle House, Day Hospital at the Mental Health Unit and at the Council Offices. Home visits will be arranged if a person cannot make an appointment due to ill health or caring responsibilities.

We have a partnership with Shelter and they provide an advice session at the Mental Health Unit every other Thursday. Referrals for this session are made by ringing 0161 342 3068

As a service we deliver training courses on various benefits and also the Money Advisers offer training on Basic Debt Awareness and also on Managing Your Debts in the Magistrates Court. Ring 0161 342 3068 if you wish to be kept informed of training dates.

For more information about the above services contact; Elizabeth Simpson on 0161342 3068. email elizabeth.simpson@tameside.gov.uk