Benefit Advice Shop
Benefit Advice Shop is a charity based in Rhyl that works in various towns and communities across North Wales. It also takes telephone calls and emails for benefit advice and better off calculations from further afield. The focus of its work is to provide free, independent and professional advice and information services. It offers advice with benefit entitlement check and benefit claims, support with challenging negative decisions, and completion of lengthy benefit related forms. It is also the main organisation that provides assistance with representation at appeal tribunal hearings. It takes referrals from other service provides such as the JobCentre as it is a specialist in this area.
Benefit Advice Shop received funding from the Allen Lane Foundation in June 2024. A grant of £5,000 was awarded to contribute towards the salary of a part-time specialist mental health welfare rights officer. This worker will specialise in meeting the needs of clients who present to the charity with mental health problems and who need assistance with welfare benefit advice, claims and challenging decisions. Having a dedicated staff member will benefit at least 200 of the most vulnerable people and ensure they get the help they need. Outcomes for the work include that more people with mental health problems will be reached; they will have maximised income; and they will have better, more comfortable and stable lives.
