Page 121 - Reforming Benefits Decision-Making -(updated - August 2021)

However, we think that more can and should be done. We therefore
recommend that there should be a single access ‘portal’ which provides
information on organisations providing welfare benefits advice and
which should be clearly signposted to on all webpages that provide
information on benefits, throughout the UC online application process,
on paper-based forms and in all decision letters and mandatory
reconsideration notices.

4.49 There are a couple of advice amalgamator sites for benefits that already
exist. Advicelocal allows users to select an advice topic, one option is
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welfare benefits. Users can then enter their postcode and find local welfare
benefits advice organisations (as well as information on entitlements and how
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to challenge a decision). Turn2us has ‘Find an Adviser’ which also allows
people to search for local advice by their postcode. The information provided
on Turn2us’s ‘Find an Adviser’ is more detailed. It includes a description
about the clients advice providers serve, opening hours, languages spoken and
contact details including phone numbers and email addresses, rather than just
a link to the organisation’s website. Whilst the Turn2us ‘Find an Adviser’ is a
helpful tool, we think that more can be done to inform claimants of what
advice and support is available.

4.50 The new advice portal we are recommending should:

a) Be funded by DWP and the Ministry of Justice, as appropriate.
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b) Include a website that provides people with a comprehensive list of
where they can obtain welfare benefits advice and support. It should
make clear what clients the organisations serve, what stage of the
application and/or appeals process organisations can help with and
whether the advice can be provided over the phone, online and/or

351 There are also more general advisor locators, for example, Advice NI has a zoomable map of all its
members (Advice NI, members), some of whom provide benefits advice and Advice UK allows users
to search for advice providers in their area (advice UK, Find Advice). However, they are not benefits
specific or do not let users filter for welfare benefits advice providers only.
352 AdviceLocal, ‘Your local guide to help with benefits, work, money, housing problems and more’.
353 Advice would cover both entitlements and managing a claim as well as challenging a decision.

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