Benefi ts: Getting help18 You may wish to obtain benefi ts advice. Please check this list of agencies Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) below who can assist you. Please note PALS cannot advise on benefi t claims but can send you further information. Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) PALS Freepost RLXJ-XLRU-GGYY, Please note that you will need to telephone to obtain an appointment on and Solihull Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, 0844 477 1010 between 10am and 4pm, Monday to Friday. Check local Ardenleigh Centre, opening times at www.bcabs.org.uk. 385 Kingsbury Road, , Also note that your GP may offer an outreach Citizens Advice Bureau Service, Birmingham, please make enquiries with your GP. B24 9SA.

Addresses of your local CAB: Tel: 0800 953 0045, available Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Text: 0798 588 3509 Birmingham City Centre CAB Chelmsley Wood CAB Fax: 0121 678 4456 Ground Floor, 176 Bosworth Drive, Email: [email protected] Gazette Buildings, Chelmsley Wood, 168 Corporation Street, Birmingham, Birmingham, B37 5DZ. B4 6TF. Tel: 0844 826 9716 Disclaimer Please note that BSMHFT is not responsible for the content of external websites. Handsworth CAB Kingstanding CAB 171 Churchill Parade, 392-396 Kingstanding Road, Birchfi eld Road, Kingstanding, Birmingham, Birmingham, B19 1LL. B44 8LD.

Northfi eld CAB Shirley Centre If you have any queries regarding this leafl et, please call the patient and 734-740 Bristol Road South, 274 Stratford Rd, public involvement lead at trust headquarters on 0121 301 1111. Northfi eld, Shirley, Birmingham, Solihull, Some of our leafl ets are available in other formats including easy read, large B31 2NN. , print, Arabic, Bengali, Gujarati, Punjabi, Somali and Urdu. B90 3AD. Tel: 0844 826 9716 Please ask a member of staff for a copy or contact our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) on 0800 953 0045 or email [email protected] or Solihull CAB CAB leafl [email protected]. The Priory, 744-746 Warwick Road, Church Hill Road, Tyseley, Solihull, West Midlands, © www.bsmhft.nhs.uk Reviewed July 2011 West Midlands, B11 2HG. B91 3LF. Tel: 0844 826 9716 2 7 Other sources of help You can also locate an offi ce or outreach service online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk. For advice visit www.adviceguide.org.uk. Neighbourhood offi ces Neighbourhood offi ces operated by can help with Department for Work and Pensions claiming benefi ts. (formerly Department of Health and Social Security) Advocates may also help with applications or appeals for benefi ts, please ask the trust’s PALS team for information on how to contact an advocate, or see If you need to make a claim for a benefi t, please call 0800 055 6688 between leafl et 9. 8am and 6pm, Monday to Friday.

Alternatively, you can visit the website: http://www.dwp.gov.uk. Health and social care offi ces This is an extremely useful website which will give information on all benefi ts. You may already have a social worker who could assist with benefi ts and appeals. Benefi t Enquiry Line Confi dential advice and information for people with disabilities, and their If you wish to obtain a referral to a social worker, please note that PALS carers and representatives about social security benefi ts and how to claim cannot assist with this; please ask your GP or see the website at them. www.birmingham.gov.uk for contact details of your local health and social Open: Monday to Friday 8.30am to 6.30pm, Saturday 9am to 1pm care offi ce. Tel: 0800 882 200 (Free) Textphone: 0800 243 355 (Free) Email: [email protected] Birmingham Settlement They provide a telephone based assistance. Tel: 0121 250 3000 Jobcentre Plus Web: www.birminghamsettlement.org.uk. Your local jobcentre offi ce or social security offi ce can help with benefi ts, please see the list below to fi nd an offi ce nearest to you. National Debtline They provide a telephone based assistance Tel: 0808 808 4000, Monday to Friday 9am-9pm, Saturday 9.30am-1pm Birmingham City Centre – Summer Row Web: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk 65-67 Summer Row, Birmingham, B3 1LB. Tel: 0845 604 3719 Directgov Government website: www.direct.gov.uk Birmingham City Centre – Broad Street 100 Broad St, Birmingham, B15 1AU. NHS Choices - Carers Direct Tel: 0845 604 3719 Carers information Web: www.nhs.uk/carersdirect Chelmsley Wood 1 Chelmsley Circle, Birmingham, B37 5TH. Tel: 0845 604 3719

6 3 Erdington Birmingham Tribunal Unit 37 Sutton New Rd, Erdington, Birmingham, B23 6TD. Tel: 0845 604 3719 For assistance with benefi ts appeals advice contact the Birmingham Tribunal Unit. Highgate 10 Stoney Lane, Birmingham, B12 8AF. Birmingham Tribunal Unit is an independent, voluntary agency, a charity and Tel: 0845 604 3719 company limited by guarantee, funded by Birmingham City Council to service the citizens of Birmingham. 1300 Bristol Rd South, Birmingham, B31 2TQ. Their aim and objective is to provide advice and information, representation Tel: 0845 604 3719 and training in all aspects of the welfare rights fi eld.

Moseley The unit is run on a day to day basis by the project manager, and is Tel: 0845 604 3719 answerable to a voluntary Management Committee elected by members of 3 Scots Corner, Institute Rd, Birmingham, B14 7EG. the company.

Selly Oak Birmingham Tribunal Unit has been offering free advice and representation on Lane, , Birmingham, B29 6SP. social security matters since 1974. Many people fi nd that they disagree with Tel: 0845 604 3719 decisions made by the Department of Work and Pensions and the Housing Benefi t Department. Statistics show that the chances of success are improved Soho, Handsworth considerably by representation. Temple Row House, 25-45 Soho Rd, Birmingham, B21 9SL. Tel: 0845 604 3719 Birmingham Tribunal Unit East Wing, Solihull 1st Floor, Dale House, Park House, 74 New Rd, Solihull, West Midlands, B91 3DR. Dale End, Tel: 0845 604 3719 Birmingham, B4 7LN. Tel: 0121 666 7533 295 Washwood Heath Rd, Birmingham, B8 2XX. Email: offi [email protected] Tel: 0845 604 3719

Yardley Advocacy services can also support you to appeal or represent you at 1630 Coventry Rd, Yardley, Birmingham, B26 1AW. tribunals. Tel: 0845 604 3719 Our Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) can help you fi nd an advocate, see page 7 for contact details.

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