Welfare rights advice

Our welfare rights team of specialist welfare rights advisors provides a comprehensive advice service on the whole range of benefits provided by the Department for Work and Pensions and the local authority.

We can give advice about:

  • what benefits and tax credits people are entitled to including pension credit
  • how to claim
  • what to so if the amount that they get does not seem right
  • support and/or representation at appeal hearings

How to contact the service

Call us on 0161 912 2735.

Our Advice line is now open Monday to Friday from 9 am to 12noon.

Or email us via welfare.rights@trafford.gov.uk and we will get back to you within 3 working days.

What the advisors will do

Advisors will:

  • Give advice on the claiming of benefits for example Income Support, Disability Living Allowance (D.L.A.), Universal Credit (U.C.), Employment and Support Allowance (E.S.A.), Attendance Allowance (A.A.) Personal Independence Payment (P.I.P.) and Tax Credits.
  • Advise about asking for a revision of an unfavourable decision.
  • Help with appeals, including representation at tribunals.

The importance of claiming in time

Most benefits cannot be backdated and therefore it is essential to claim in time.

The law also puts the responsibility for claiming the right benefit in time on the shoulders of the claimant or their appointee "not knowing" about a benefit is not regarded as a good reason for not claiming in time.

At times it is difficult to know which benefit or benefits are the right benefits and sometimes rules change.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) itself is not a single integrated organisation. Different benefits are processed at different offices and not all staff are trained or knowledgeable about the full range of benefits.

Our Benefit Advisors can help take a broad view of benefits and can help consider all the options and implications.

Privacy notice

Trafford Council is committed to ensuring that we are transparent about the ways in which we use your personal information and that we have the right controls in place to ensure it is used responsibly and is kept safe from inappropriate access, theft or misuse.

You can find out more by reading our Welfare Right Team Privacy Notice.