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Welfare Rights

MobileGames
MobileGames Community member Posts: 123 Pioneering
Morning. Do you have to have a referral to the Welfare Rights? When I rung them they said they don't do appeal representation,yet on their website it says that you can apply for a refferal through a local authority. Is this true? Is the CAB or District Council one? Thank you. 

Comments

  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    No, you don't need a referral from anyone. I advised in a previous thread to you that WR do represent people, infact there's been members on here many times that have had representation from them. There's also a WR adviser that posts on here sometimes and he's be representing people for around 30ish years i believe.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • MobileGames
    MobileGames Community member Posts: 123 Pioneering
    @poppy123456. I rang them and was told that they don't do appeals. Springfield mind also said that their funding has been cut. So are they lying? 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    It maybe that particular WR, i have no idea. All i can tell you is they definitely do represent.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • MobileGames
    MobileGames Community member Posts: 123 Pioneering
    edited December 2019
    Should I go further a field outside of Warwickshire? Because Warwickshire is naff for resources to do with representation. Bedworth and Nuneaton CAB are being slow and was sent my case in April,was assigned a case worker in July and they've only just started to look at it. They said that there's a lot to look at and will ring in the new year to discuss it and ask me where I think I should have scored points and why. That they can't start to write a letter until I get a Tribunal date. They said a month should be enough. I've since found out that the tribunal only give you 2 weeks notice. Will I be chasing this up just before the tribunal? What if they can't do a letter in time? Or they do one and its rushed? They then said people can work with pip and not everyone's conditions affect them as much. So I said pip is separate to esa. Pip is based on how your conditions affect you and if you can complete the descriptors reliably,safely and in a reasonable time frame. It's not about a diagnosis(they agreed).I then said everybodies conditions affect them differently. When I was working and was reassessed for my DLA the DWP held it against me even though I had a lot support to get into work from a job opportunity person who was sent and put with me to help me (job centre advisor sent them),who helped me with my CV,sat in on the interview and provided a cover letter and got me a microwave so that I could eat my dinner there in order to maintain the job. I went to a Tribunal and won. I said I left work due to my conditions worsening after 7 years. I had a lot of time off in the last year I was there. I feel like they aren't going to be much help. Will it be a repeat of the person that was unhelpful at my local CAB when I went to them for the MR and they put very little,never gave any real life examples as to what happened the last time I tried a descriptor,mind you I didn't know about having to give examples until I came on here,but shouldn't they have been helping me with this? Was I unlucky that I got a gormless person who took ages just to type 5 lines?! I knew it wasn't going well. Perhaps I should've asked for somebody else,but then I only had 2 weeks left after getting in with the local CAB to get the MR done. Another CAB seems to be more helpful and are taking me more seriously and said they'll arrange representation at the tribunal for me. I'm beginning to think that I'm fighting a losing battle. It's going to be a waste of time. I'm going to lose. 
  • poppy123456
    poppy123456 Community member Posts: 53,357 Disability Gamechanger
    If they are not in your local area they may refuse to help.  I think you're over thinking this to be honest. You mustn't forget that you are most likely not the only person they are representing. My advice is to wait until you see them in the new year and see what they say then.

    You can't compare the MR to a Tribunal because most MR decisions remain the same, so it was always extremely likely that you would end up at Tribunal after your original decision was made.
    I would appreciate it if members wouldn't tag me please. I have all notifcations turned off and wouldn't want a member thinking i'm being rude by not replying.
    If i see a question that i know the answer to i will try my best to help.
  • cristobal
    cristobal Community member Posts: 984 Disability Gamechanger
    @Mobilegames - I believe CAB are volunteers and unpaid so you do need to take that into account....
  • thespiceman
    thespiceman Community member Posts: 6,388 Disability Gamechanger
    Hello @MobileGames   Please may I suggest the following charity if you experiencing difficulty with a lot of support.

    You mentioned MIND.

    Understand some mental health charities have had problems.

    I would look at this one I used.

    In your areas.

    https://www.richmondfellowship.org.uk.

    Please have a look they offer floating support, advice, guidance with benefit issues.

    Well being and support.

    Please if I can help with anything further please ask.

    Please take care.

    @thespiceman


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