Claiming Benefits

Last Updated: 30.11.2010

The government has a range of benefits to provide opportunities and support. These are handled by various departments and agencies. If you are entitled to any of these benefits, you will need to claim them from the right place.

It can be very difficult to work out if you qualify for a certain benefit. Our experienced Benefits and Welfare Rights advisers can help you work out if you qualify for benefits, and they can also help you to fill in the claim form.

The different types of benefit

Benefits are available for people of working age, for pensioners, for families and children, and for disabled people and their carers. Each of these areas is handled by different departments or parts of departments. Making a claim from the right area will make sure you get your benefit as quickly as possible.

Benefits are divided into four groups:

• benefits for people of working age
• benefits for people who have retired or who are planning to retire
• benefits for families and children
• benefits for disabled people and carers

If you would like to know what benefits you could be entitled to and how to claim benefits, visit a North Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau and our Benefits and Welfare Rights Advisers will be ready to help you.

Free mobile calls to benefits claim lines

From 18 January 2010, six of the biggest mobile phone network companies - O2, Orange, Tesco Mobile, T-Mobile, Virgin Mobile and Vodafone - will no longer charge their customers for calls to many of the Department of Work and Pensions 0800 benefits claim lines. These numbers are used by people making initial claims for benefits and pensions or to request emergency payments, such as Crisis Loans from the Social Fund.

Help with benefit claim forms

If you would like help to claim a benefit or would like a benefit check to be carried out then contact a North Ayrshire Citizens Advice Bureau for more information. Our contact details can be found at the bottom of the page, alternatively, email us via our contact us page.