Benefits advice from Shropshire’s Joint Benefit Team

Are you, or is someone you know, struggling to get by on benefits? Are you getting all of your entitlements – or could you be missing out without even knowing it?

If you find dealing with the benefits system confusing or worrying then Shropshire’s Joint Benefit Team may be able to help you.

Why are we here?

Many people are finding it harder to cope these days especially with the rising cost of food and fuel, but if you are elderly and living on a basic pension, or if you are struggling to cope with illness or disability in the family the problems can be much harder to deal with.

Last year SHROPSHIRE'S JOINT BENEFITS TEAM, (a partnership between Shropshire County Council’s welfare advice team, The Local Pensions Service, the District Councils, the Citizens Advice Bureau and A4U,) raised millions in extra income for people in Shropshire – but every week we still find someone struggling to manage on much less than they could be getting.

Sometimes people just don’t know that there are extra entitlements they could claim.
Sometimes changes – especially changes that affect a person’s health – mean that more money might be appropriate.
Sometimes people want to claim – but are put off by the forms or the process.

We can help

What makes us different?

By working as a partnership we help to cut through the “red tape” that many people find so worrying about the benefits system. With your permission we are able to share all of the information needed to make things run smoothly. This means that in most cases you only have to deal with one person, usually at just one home visit or interview and if things should get complicated then we will deal with it – helping you feel much more relaxed about the whole thing.

How do you contact us?

Just one phone call will see you referred to one of our expert partners who might be able to identify extra entitlements – from higher benefits, to fuel poverty measures even down to free low energy light bulbs. Our service is confidential and secure, we will help with the claim forms, we will fight your corner if the decision isn’t right and we will see you either in the privacy of your own home or at a private office interview.

For more information contact 0845 678 9030.

Leaflet can be viewed as a download on this page.