Welfare Benefits Service
We provide advice and representation at the Social Security Tribunal for welfare benefit decisions that you do not agree with. We can provide advice and assistance with a range of welfare benefits, with the most popular enquires relating to personal independence payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA) universal credit (UC). We may also be able to advise on overpayment decisions, subject to our capacity at the time of the enquiry.
Before we can decide if we can assist, we require:
- A copy of the Notice of Hearing (if available), and
- A copy of the papers in the case.
- Note that, typically, both the Notice of Hearing and the papers are required a minimum of 14 days in advance of the hearing date for us to be able to assist.
We will review these documents and contact you to advise if we have the capacity to assist. If we can assist, we will undertake a merits assessment before confirming whether we can represent you, as we cannot provide representation in cases where there is no legal merit. Where we can help, assistance will be provided by an appropriately qualified and experienced member of NLS Legal staff with involvement from our trained student volunteer advocates.
Please note that we can only assist those living in the Nottingham and Nottinghamshire area.
Thank you very much for everything, it has made the world of difference.
Client feedback
Case study
This was an appeal to the First Tier Tribunal against a negative personal independence payment (PIP) application. Our client had no electronic literacy and struggled to leave their home due to extensive sciatic arthritis. This matter presented our student volunteers with an opportunity to represent a client in a live setting and to gain advocacy experience, under supervision. Our student volunteer represented the client at the in-person hearing where their submissions were accepted in full by the judge, the decision overturned, and our client was awarded PIP at the rate we had asked. The client received a backdated payment of approximately £5,000 and a guaranteed award of just under £16,000.
The client also very kindly sent our student volunteer a thoughtful gift and a hand-written card, thanking them for their unwavering and invaluable support throughout the appeal process.