Action on Asbestos Compensation & Benefits Advice Service

Our Specialist Welfare Rights Service

Our Welfare Rights Officers are here to answer any questions you may have and address any concerns.  We are able to provide you with practical and emotional support. We can also advise you what benefits you are entitled to and whether you are entitled to compensation from the government.  We provide specialist guidance on your right to pursue a civil/personal injury claim.

Your dedicated Welfare Rights Officer will discuss your options including benefits you may be entitled to at the time of diagnosis (whether you are in employment or not, you can still claim certain benefits.) We will also be able to advise you what benefits you may be entitled to if and when your circumstances change e.g. if you decide to give up work.

Our welfare rights team provide emotional and practical support and specialist advice on benefits & compensation. They have over 80 years of experience between them.

Our Welfare Rights Officers are here for you if a loved one dies, including guidance and support if the Procurator Fiscal becomes involved and a Post Mortem is required.

Your dedicated Welfare Rights Officer will be the same person who is with you throughout the whole claims process. This provides you with reassurance and consistency. It offers a personal approach, where we are able to provide both emotional and practical support alongside our expertise and experience.

“What they say about us”

Some of the services our Welfare Rights Team provides

  • Practical and emotional support for all our services users: All service users will be treated equally, however, those suffering from a terminal diagnosis will be given priority over other service users.
  • A comprehensive income maximisation service: advice on what benefits you are entitled to
  • Expert advice on Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit and UK government lump sum payments
  • We can provide specialist guidance on your legal entitlement to pursue civil/personal injury compensation.
  • Advice for Armed Forces Veterans on your entitlement to compensation
  • Assist you throughout your claim, including completing application forms and liaising with medical professionals and the DWP to make sure your claim is dealt with quickly and properly
The UK benefits system can at times seem like a maze. Our Welfare Rights Officers are here to help you navigate your way through
  • Advise you if or how your existing benefits might be affected – if you are worried that applying for other benefits may adversely affect what you already have coming in
  • Advice for your household, including benefits that those you live with might be entitled to
  • Advice for carers including what benefits they may be entitled to
  • Support and advice if a loved one dies, including guidance and reassurance if the Procurator Fiscal becomes involved and a Post Mortem is required
  • Bereavement support includes advice on what benefits/payments you are entitled to
We can advise on all benefits and payments available from the UK & Scottish government

An example of some of the compensation and benefits that we are able to assist you with

Compensation

  • Mesothelioma Benefits and Compensation
  • UK government lump sum payments
  • Personal Injury Compensation
  • Pleural Plaques Compensation
  • Armed Forces Compensation

Benefits

  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
  • Constant Attendance Allowance
  • Personal Independence Payment and Attendance Allowance
  • Pension Credit
  • Council Tax Benefit (Reduction)
  • Universal Credit
  • Employment & Support Allowance
  • Carers Allowance
  • Assistance with applying for a Blue Badge
  • Bereavement payments
Mandatory Reconsideration and Appeals Representation

We also provide specialist advice and assistance with challenging a benefit decision, including complex benefits cases. We offer personal representation at Appeals (both First Tier and Upper Tribunals.)

Our Welfare Rights Officers have personally represented our service users at venues in Aberdeen, Ayr, Borders, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Hamilton, Inverness and Stirling.

Some examples of decisions you may need help with challenging

  • Your benefit claim has been refused
  • A claim for Industrial Injuries Benefit has been refused even though your hospital consultant advised you to claim
  • You have been assessed at a lower percentage of disablement for Industrial Injuries benefit that you feel does not fully reflect how your asbestos/industrial disease has impacted on you
  • You have been awarded Personal Independence Payment or Attendance Allowance at a lower rate that does not fully reflect how your disability impacts on you
  • You have been found fit for work
  • You have been wrongly asked to pay the money back to the DWP (overpayment of benefit)

Please get in touch.  We are here to help.

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