Benefits Advice and Appeals Help

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Liz on February 5, 2014 at 14:54

Hi Mel

I'm sure that your recommendation is good and if your neighbours were happy and able to pay that's great, but I'm interested to know what you mean by "get some advice for them from various free advice services but I needed help with drafting letters and finding out about appeal process, tribunals etc."

Did this include the Citizen's Advice Bureau? They usually help with the whole process from start to finish and will even draft letters with no charge to the client. There is also a self help guide published on the web from CAB and outreach programmes in health centres. 

Do let me know if you included the CAB in those "free advice services", just out of interest.  

Permalink Reply by Mel C on February 5, 2014 at 15:10

Hi Liz

I did mean CAB as part of this. I am still waiting for them to reply to my enquiry.

In the end, I had to look elsewhere for help as I am busy and cannot wait for them to return from lunch etc.  I even tried calling another borough's CAB line but automatically got disconnected as it can tell which borough I am in somehow! Very frustrating!

I didn't want to write too much in my recommendation as I have a bad habit of writing too much.  However, my neighbours case was more complex than I explained.  The case went to tribunal and was successful which was great but a bit of work went into building that case for the hearing.

This man I recommended doesn't do this as a full-time job.  He is retired after 30+ years of working in this industry. 

However, if people find themselves in the same boat my neighbours were in (after taking all the help/suggestions CAB etc give and are still not happy with their ruling), then I cannot rate his help highly enough.

Thanks for the question Liz as I know my 1st post was not very detailed.

Permalink Reply by Liz on February 5, 2014 at 15:21

Okay. Sorry to be a pain about this but when you say 'reply to my enquiry', how did you contact them? CABs tend to work on a borough basis and Haringey CABx hasn't got a telephone service. (unfortunately but lack of money precludes it I think) or an email service. You have to go to a drop in to access the service and you have to go in person i.e. a friend can't go for you for privacy and data protection reasons (people with severe disability are given priority). However, once a caseworker accepts your case, then they build the case for you although they will not go to a tribunal with you (if your neighbour did that then he does go beyond what free advice services offer)

I think its good that they managed to find someone who could help them and it seems only took a modest fee and that they were satisfied with that. My interest is purely 'professional' as until recently I was a volunteer at CAB Haringey and am keen to gather feedback on the local service. 

Permalink Reply by Mel C on February 5, 2014 at 16:00

No its no problem at all! 

I emailed them via an online email us type form and I also called Barnet but got cut off due to being in Haringey.  

I know my sister had a very good service from CAB on another matter some time ago but when I needed the help for my elderly neighbour, I needed a response in a hurry and it just didn't happen this time.  These things happen. 

My neighbours don't have family living in the country, are getting on and as they are kind enough to give me lovely veggies, herbs and flowers from their garden and even collect my post when I am away, I do my best to also look out for them and help them.  I appreciate it as I, too, don't have family in this country.

However, as I work odd shifts, helping them to go in person to a centre was not an option. 

Sometimes, getting time to a drop in to a centre isn't easy to do so this man, Patrick, was a better option for me and my neighbours.

His help was fantastic for us and he was there every step of the way to tribunal etc. 

What I liked about him was that he is very aware that the people who require his services often don't have a lot of money, so he does try and keep his fees as low as possible.  

I got a quote from a solicitor who wanted to charge me £100.  Patrick's fee was no where near that! 

I had to recommend him as a bit of a karma thing for being kind and helpful to us when we needed him.

Permalink Reply by Liz on February 5, 2014 at 16:07

Thanks Mel. 

Useful to know.

Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 5, 2014 at 15:52

I posted about this advice yesterday.

Permalink Reply by Mel C on February 5, 2014 at 16:10

Yes, I saw this. It was posted about an hour after my post yesterday. 

My recommendation has no connection to this post, as in the fact that my person I recommended does not work at this centre.

I guess what they are offering must be like CAB? 

I was impressed as it is very rare you will find solicitors who will offer their time and advice for free without there being something at the end of it for them!!

I say that due to the fact that one solicitor (not associated with this centre) but a solicitor none the less tried to charge us £100 per hour of work. 

Permalink Reply by Hugh on February 5, 2014 at 16:51

On my travels as a youngster, I lived in LA for a couple of years and worked for a Century City lawyer whose cheap rate (in 1989-90) was $600 and hour. His client list included the likes of Charlene Tilton and Smokey Robinson and I won't even begin to hint at what their charges were!

Permalink Reply by Mel C on February 5, 2014 at 16:58

Thankfully we have services like CAB etc to help us everyday folk!  I would hate to think how stuck so many of us would be if that is the sort of money they charge. 

Permalink Reply by Ruth Valentine on February 7, 2014 at 8:24

People shouldn't have to pay for benefits advice.  There's lots of info online, esp from CPAG & Shelter.  There are also free services locally.