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Frequently Asked Questions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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1. Is advice really free?
Yes, here at Benefits InFORMation advice and information is always free. We believe that advice on benefits should be a fundamental right to all people regardless of your ability to pay. When you book a chat, it is without any obligation to go forward with claiming benefits that you might be entitled to.
2. What if I need help after the advice?
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Our free advice stops at the time that you make the call or write for the form. We are happy to provide you with help if you have a question via facebook messenger, email or text.
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3. Why do you charge for completing forms?
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I am charging because I need to eat and feed my family. I have got a very high success rate with forms - and know lots of ways to help maximise income.
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4. Are you a solicitor?
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Absolutely not, but you don’t need a solicitor to make a claim for benefits. The benefits system has been set up for people to claim for themselves. However, some people struggle with some aspects of making a claim and might need the reassurance that qualified advice helps with. I am not a solicitor, nor do I hold a law degree – but I have received lots of training from my previous employment and trained people on how to complete these forms myself.
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5. How do you keep your knowledge up to date?
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I make sure that I continue to read everything I can on the Government Website and other sources of reliable, independent information. I have a full set of Child Poverty Action Group ‘Welfare Rights and Tax Credits’ handbooks that I refer to on a regular basis. I also make sure that I read all the green papers etc so that I understand what is going on.
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6. Why do you recommend free sources of advice?
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Not everyone can afford or wants to pay for help that they can get for free and I respect that.
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7. Why should I pay for your help?
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Because I will do my absolute utmost to get you the award that you deserve and will have the time to dedicate to doing this.
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If you don’t want to go to an office and aren’t great with appointments.
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If you want help outside of office hours – because it suits you better to have help in the evening or weekends, at the time that you choose.
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Because it is late and you are worried – and if I am about on facebook – I can provide reassurance.
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Because you don’t want to spend hours on the phone asking for an extension.
Because you have a medical on Wednesday and it’s Monday night and you haven’t got anyone to go with you at such short notice, and you are worried. I may be able to help.
Because you have received the form – and you just want it done.
Because you need someone to talk for you.
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Because your lifestyle means you can't get to an office.
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8. How do I pay?
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Once you have made a booking, I will contact you as soon as I can to confirm the booking. Now, we can sometimes fit people at very short notice – payment can be made in cash (for face-to-face bookings) or by bank transfer.
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9. Why don’t you do no win, no fee or take a percentage of the benefits?
This is not the way I have chosen to work, you will see compared to other providers I have a smaller, more reasonable fee. You pay this whether or not you get an award – because no one can guarantee that you will. Other providers take a percentage of the benefits – but because these can take months to secure – it can be a fair amount of money that they are receiving from you. I know that this is money you haven’t yet got, so won’t necessarily miss it – but I would prefer a smaller, upfront payment rather than taking more money later. I don’t have to chase you for it – you don’t have to worry about paying it – the majority of the forms have a fixed fee – to allow you to budget. There may be additional costs for travel – and mandatory reconsiderations/appeals are charged per hour or part hour worked. I will be open and honest about how much it is going to cost at the start of the work.
I also will not complete forms for people that I don’t think have got a very reasonable chance of getting benefits – that wastes your time, and the DWP’s and adds to the pressure in a system that is already overloaded. That is why advice before claiming benefits is always free.
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10. How confidential are you?
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Very, all information is treated confidentially.
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11. Do you have a safeguarding policy?
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I do, if you would like to see it - please email us.