Welfare Rights & Tribunal Service
The Welfare Rights and Tribunal Project funded by the National Lottery provides specialist support to help people understand, claim, challenge, and maximise their entitlement to welfare benefits. These projects exist to ensure people receive the financial support they are eligible for and to help them navigate an increasingly complex benefits system.
At its core, a Welfare Rights Project offers:
1. Expert Advice on the Benefits System
Welfare Rights projects give detailed guidance on the full range of benefits, helping people understand what they are entitled to and how to access it. This can include support with:
- Checking eligibility for any of the 82 different benefits and tax credits, from Universal Credit to disability benefits like PIP or Attendance Allowance.
- Understanding welfare reform changes and how they affect their circumstances.
- Identifying unclaimed benefits, especially for groups such as older people who are statistically less likely to claim what they’re entitled to.
2. Help with Claims, Forms, and Evidence
Welfare Rights advisers support clients through the entire claims process, including:
- Setting up and completing new Universal Credit claims, verifying identity, and ensuring correct evidence is submitted.
- Helping people gather and present the right documentation.
- Ensuring the benefit system is more responsive by supporting people with complex circumstances.
3. Support with Challenging Benefit Decisions
If someone has been refused benefits, sanctioned, or overpaid, Welfare Rights advisers can:
- Explain whether there are grounds to challenge the decision.
- Help prepare for Mandatory Reconsiderations and Appeals.
- Support people through the appeal process.
This is vital as the benefit system often contains errors or inconsistent decision‑making, and many people struggle to challenge decisions alone.
4. Addressing Barriers to Financial Security
Welfare Rights projects help people who:
- Face barriers such as disability, long‑term health conditions, or complex care needs.
- Are receiving social care support, including those needing help navigating multiple agencies.
- Experience hardship due to benefit suspensions, deductions, sanctions, or delays.
Citizens Advice uses this frontline evidence to push for system improvements nationally.
5. Improving Financial Resilience
Many projects provide additional financial wellbeing support, such as:
- Budgeting help
- Income maximisation checks
- Advice on dealing with debt linked to benefit issues
This reduces crisis situations and supports long‑term stability
