Welfare Rights advice Font size We provide free advice and assistance to existing clients of the other Law Centre units in connection with their welfare benefits entitlement and council tax liability. We do not provide a welfare rights drop-in session at the Law Centre. We run weekly outreach sessions at Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre and Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation, by appointment. Our service at these centres is available to the clients of these organisations. Interpreters are available. We assist clients in all aspects of the social security system, including: Maximising income through benefits checks Advice and negotiation on current benefit claims, including overpayment Requests for backdating of awards We also help clients to: Dispute decisions made on their benefit claims by: Apply for review of decisions Appeal to the Social Security and Disability Appeal Tribunals and to the Social Security Commissioners We do preventative work, by warning clients of the consequences if they, for example: Miss deadlines for renewing claims or appealing against decisions Fail to disclose changes of circumstances Fail to provide information or documents requested Stay away from the UK for extended periods Assistance in connection with Council Tax: Council Tax liability Council Tax benefit including backdating Negotiating repayment agreements in respect of arrears Advice on bailiffs and other recovery actions Advice on committal proceedings Outreach sessions Our weekly sessions at Hopscotch Asian Women’s Centre take place on Wednesday afternoons. The sessions at Camden Cypriot Women’s Organisation take place on Monday afternoons. For an appointment telephone the Centre on 020 7267 7194 How we work We are a free service. Where you are eligible for assistance under the Community Legal Service we will help you complete the necessary forms. If we take your case on we will be acting on your behalf, with your instructions, in the same way as private solicitors. Our work is governed by Law Society rules. Confidentiality NO information is disclosed to anyone, nor any steps taken, without your permission. If we cannot take on your case, we will do our best to refer you to an alternative. Home visits: We provide home visits for housebound clients who cannot visit the Law Centre. Language Law Centre staff speak a number of languages. We can normally arrange for an interpreter or signer where necessary (this requires notice). Equal opportunities The Law Centre is an equal opportunities organisation. We aim to ensure that we do not discriminate in the provision of our services. The Law Centre will not accept oppressive behaviour towards clients, members of staff or management. Complaints We try to provide the highest possible standard of service. Complaints about any aspect of our services will be investigated and should be directed to the Chair of the Management Committee of the Law Centre.