Benefits

Carmarthenshire Citizens Advice – Welfare Benefits & Universal Credit Support

Telephone - 01267 231 742

Navigating the benefits system can be confusing and overwhelming, but you don't have to do it alone. At Carmarthenshire Citizens Advice, our experienced Welfare Benefits team provides free, independent and confidential advice to help people access the financial support they are entitled to.

With over 50 years of combined experience, our specialist advisers offer tailored, holistic support based on your individual circumstances. We work to maximise your household income, explain your benefit rights and guide you through every stage of the claims and appeals process.

How We Can Help

We provide support with:

• Benefit entitlement checks and full benefit calculations.
• Universal Credit claims, including first-time claims and managed migration.
• Completing online and paper application forms.
• Telephone claims where online access is not possible.
• Identity verification and preparing for Jobcentre appointments.
• Understanding how health conditions or disabilities affect benefit entitlement.
• Budgeting advice during the five-week wait for Universal Credit.
• Advance Payment applications.
• Arranging direct rent payments where appropriate.
• Applications to the Discretionary Assistance Fund and other emergency financial support.
• Debt, energy and wider financial wellbeing advice.
• Identifying and applying for any additional benefits you may be entitled to.

Universal Credit Support

If you are making a Universal Credit claim for the first time, we can support you from start to finish. We'll first check whether Universal Credit is the correct benefit for your circumstances before helping you make your claim, whether online, by telephone or through a face-to-face appointment.

Our advisers can also provide support if you require an interpreter through the Language Line service.

Benefit Appeals

If you disagree with a benefit decision, our specialist advisers can guide you through the appeals process. We provide support with Mandatory Reconsiderations, First-tier Tribunal appeals and Upper Tribunal appeals, including preparing detailed written submissions and, where appropriate, representing clients throughout the process.

Our tribunal success rate is over 70%, demonstrating the quality and expertise of our specialist advice service.

A Service Tailored to You

Every client's situation is different. We take the time to understand your individual circumstances and provide advice that is personal, practical and focused on achieving the best possible outcome.

Support is available face to face, by telephone and online, ensuring you can access advice in the way that suits you best.

Whether you need help making a new claim, understanding your entitlement, challenging a decision or accessing emergency financial support, our Welfare Benefits team is here to help you every step of the way.

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