Welfare Benefits, Disability and Mental Health

CARA (Charity No. 1135610) Welfare Benefits Advice Service is dedicated to providing specialist advice to people with disability, ill-heath, mental health and related problems. You can contact our Benefits Advisers by telephone, Monday to Friday, on +44 (0) 844 478 0015 -Mob: +44(0) 795 695 2645 -Fax: +44(0) 872 115 8436 -Email: info@cara-online.org

Many people are entitled to claim welfare benefits, including Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance but fail to do so. This is due either because they are unaware that they are eligible, or because some benefits have long, complex forms which people may find difficult and confusing to complete. However, a number of welfare benefits are available for people with disabilities, ill-health and mental health problems, and their carers, and help is available to understand the system. Independent welfare rights workers will try to work through any problems that arise and support you throughout the process.

Many people with a disability have had the experience of being refused benefits that they feel they should be entitled to. If you think a decision is wrong or unfair it can be challenged through appeals and tribunals.To help with the difficulties people face with the benefits system, CARA has published a series of FACTSHEETS as self-help guides to claiming benefits.

CARA offers a specialist service in benefits law. We are able to advise anyone living in the UK. We hope to attain the Legal Services Commission's 'Quality Mark' at the Specialist Help level for welfare benefits law.

We specialise in advocacy and representation before all types of Social Security Appeal Tribunal. We also specialise in representing cases before the Social Security Commissioners. Besides representation we also take on complex cases referred to us by other voluntary agencies, advice services and legal advisers. We can advise and represent on all social security law, including entitlement to all benefits, backdating, suspensions and overpayments. We represent at hundreds of appeals each year covering disability living allowance, attendance allowance, incapacity for work and all other benefits.

We offer either a form filling service for benefits or basic benefit checks. If you think that you will need an appointment or representation then either telephone our reception on (020) 7254 64 15 or drop into our office. You will be given an appointment with a specialist benefits appeals worker. It is important that you give us as much notice as possible if you want us to represent you at an appeal hearing. But please note that we will only advise you if you live in the UK-wide.

CARA has also written a range of factsheets and leaflets on common welfare benefits issues, which can be downloaded free of charge. If you need an interpreter please let us know so that we can arrange for one to be present at any interview. These factsheets provide practical information about benefits and other issues for claimants and advisers. They are also free to download in a printer friendly word version.

You can also order up to three paper versions of these factsheets in French, Lingala and Swahili if you send an A4 envelope and a 65p stamp to CARA on +44 (0) 844 478 0015 - Mob: +44(0) 795 695 2645 - Fax: +44(0) 872 115 8436 -Email: info@cara-online.org

Welfare benefits team members
The team consists of four people and is supervised by Mr Abdilahi Dahir NUR and Mr Jean-Paul LAWRENCE TAMPU-EYA.

Mr Abdilahi Dahir NUR, Dipsw BA LL.M. - Community Legal Adviser
Abdi has been a specialist advisor in social security law since the 1999. He has a reputation as an advocate at Social Security Appeal Tribunals, gained over many years and hundreds of tribunals. Abdi has a wealth of experience covering all areas of benefits law. Abdi has also represented many cases at Social Security Commissioners Appeals.

Mr Jean-Paul LAWRENCE TAMPU-EYA, BA LL.B. LL.M. PhD (Law Res.) - Community Legal Adviser
Mr LAWRENCE has has been working at CARA Society since July 2003. He has successfully completed his Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations with 2:1 at Westminster University (London); LL.B. (Hon's) Law Degree and Master of Laws degrees (Merit) with all marks ranging from 60% to 78% at the University of East London (UK) in 1999. He has substantial experiences in welfare rights law, including representation at benefit tribunals from his previous work experience.