Welfare benefits and housing
How we can help
If you are unsure which benefits you are entitled to, you have received a letter you do not understand, are at risk of eviction, or need a safe place to live, please contact us.
We listen carefully, explain your options clearly and work with you to decide what to do next.
Quick links for help on housing issues
Benefits advice
Our benefits advice service offers clear, practical support to help you understand what you are entitled to and how to access it.
You might contact us if you need help applying for Universal Credit, challenging a benefits decision, or understanding changes to your payments.
We will work with you to find the right steps forward and help you feel more confident about your situation.
What can you help with?
We can help you:
- Check which benefits you may be entitled to
- Make a new claim
- Complete application forms
- Gather the right documents
- Deal with benefit overpayments
- Challenge a benefits decision
- Respond to a benefit sanction
- Request a mandatory reconsideration
- Make an appeal
- Understand how work affects your benefits
My benefit has stopped or been reduced
If you think a decision is wrong, you can ask the Department for Work and Pensions to review it. This is called a mandatory reconsideration. We can help you at every stage.
Steps you can follow:
Ask for a review within one month of the decision letter
- Do this through your online Universal Credit account or by writing to the address on the decision letter
- Explain clearly why you think the decision is wrong
- Keep a copy of what you send
If the decision is not changed, you can appeal to an independent tribunal. This is a court that looks at the decision again.
Housing advice
Our housing advice service offers clear guidance to help you work towards finding and keeping a safe place to live.
You might contact us if you are at risk of losing your home, need help understanding your housing rights, or need advice about what you can do to find somewhere to live.
Our Advice Quality Standard accreditation means you can trust the advice you receive from us.
What can you help with?
We offer confidential housing advice if you are:
- Behind on rent
- At risk of eviction
- Homeless or about to become homeless
- Living in unsafe or unsuitable accommodation
- Needing to escape domestic abuse
How will you help me?
We can help you:
- Understand your housing rights and options
- With a homeless application to the council
- Negotiate with your landlord
- Challenge negative decisions by the council
- Prevent eviction where possible
- Understand what will happen at a court hearing
- Find a solicitor if needed
Our client charter outlines what you can expect from us.
What will happen at my appointment?
- We listen to your situation
- We will explain your rights and options
- We may help you complete forms or contact other organisations
- We can speak to other organisations for you, such as the council or your landlord
- We may support you if you need to challenge a decision or go to court
Our aim is to help you feel clearer and more confident about what to do next.
Important to know if you are at risk of eviction
- In most cases, your landlord must give you written notice before asking you to leave
- Get advice as soon as possible
- Do not leave your home until you have spoken to someone
- You can contact our team or speak to your local council housing department for advice
- You can also find clear guidance on the Shelter website
We can help you contact the council and prepare for your housing assessment.
If you are behind on rent
There are some steps that you can take yourself, but we would recommend getting advice alongside this.
Am I legally homeless?
You may be legally homeless if:
- You have nowhere to stay
- You are staying somewhere temporarily
- You are at risk of violence at home
- Your home is unsafe or severely overcrowded
If any of these apply to your situation, your council has a legal duty to assess your situation.
What to do next
- Contact your local council housing department
- Ask for a homeless assessment
- Take identification and any housing documents you have to your appointment
We can help you contact the council and prepare for your housing assessment.
If you have nowhere to sleep tonight, also try StreetLink who can connect you with other local services.
Contact us
You can either call or email us to make an appointment, or walk in to the Cardinal Hume Centre from Monday to Thursday to speak to someone in person.
If you are currently speaking with our welcome and assessment team, you can ask them to arrange a referral to us.
Please tell us if you need an interpreter when you contact us.