Many of our clients live on low incomes.  There is no sole agency responsible for ensuring that people get all the benefits, pension credit and tax credit they are entitled to, and in fact millions of pounds of benefit are never claimed.

Clients may be entitled to benefit because they are;
• over pension age
• unemployed
• pregnant
• a parent
• sick or disabled
• working but on a low income
• widowed
• caring for someone who is sick or disabled.

Clients come to CAS because they
• want to understand what benefits they can claim
• need help with completing forms
• because a problem has arisen.  For example, benefits may be suspended or stopped, giros fail to arrive, claims lost or delayed.

Often one of our general advisers is able to help either over the ‘phone or at a bureau appointment but sometimes we need to arrange a home visit.  Similarly, we may refer the matter to one of our benefits specialists.

Last year we were able to get over £1 million pounds extra income for our clients.