Disability Advice Project (DAP) responded to a call for evidence by the UK Government’s Welsh Affairs Committee about the benefits system in Wales. DAP is calling for a system that is less complex, faster, and easier to access. In the last 18 months DAP has helped almost 500 disabled people...
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Disability Advice Project
About Us
DAP (Disability Advice Project) provides a welfare rights service to support disabled people, their families and carers.
We provide independent specialist advice and offer:
- Help with completing forms
- We give you accurate and appropriate advice
- Assess your full entitlement to services and benefits
- Attend appeals with you
- Help build the evidence you need
- Put you in touch with other relevant support agencies
We look to give you more choices in the support we provide to enable an improved quality of life for you, your family and carer.
If you want to see us then we are located in Cwmbran, South Wales (our offices are currently closed due to the coronavirus outbreak)
Don’t live locally?
We also offer a UK wide service providing support through email, telephone and letter.
How to get advice during the coronavirus outbreak
We are still dealing with enquiries by phone or email and continue to assist clients with completing forms by phone or video.
How We Can Help
I'm an Individual
If you have to finish work due to ill health, then you may be able to make a claim for New Style Contribution Based Employed and Support
Allowance (NSESA). You will need to obtain a fit note from your GP giving details of why you are no longer fit for work and will then need to make a claim by telephone or online – details of how to do so can be found online at gov.uk.
If you are still employed and receiving statutory sick pay, then you can apply for NSESA up to 3 months before your SSP ends and you will then start getting NSESA as soon as your SSP ends.
You will initially receive an assessment phase rate of NSESA
paid fortnightly and you will be asked to undergo a work capability assessment which involves completing a form and undergoing a medical assessment. After 13 weeks of the assessment phase rate
provided your work capability assessments are concluded, you should receive a decision from the DWP about your ability to work. You should contact us for advice at this point as you may need to challenge any unfavourable decision and we can also check that the decision that has been made is appropriate.
Depending on any other income or capital that you may have,
then your NSESA can be topped up with Universal Credit.
Please contact us for advice before making any claim so we
can advise you appropriately.
Please contact us if you need to make a claim for Universal
Credit or if you would like help with your existing Universal Credit claim, so we can
advise and support you appropriately.
- If you lose part or all of your benefit(s), or have a claim rejected then we can help. Our Information Support Assistant can provide solutions and answers to many of your questions over the phone. If you need to come in and see a caseworker, an appointment will be made for you.
At the appointment we will:
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- Explain your options so you understand your choices and make informed decisions
- Assist in requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration to start the appeal process
- Assist in gathering any supporting evidence, including medical evidence to assist with your Mandatory Reconsideration
- Assist you in completing a SSCS1 form if your Mandatory Reconsideration is not successful. The SSCS1 is required to appeal direct to the Courts and Tribunals Service
- Help to assess all your evidence and further information required
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Before the Tribunal we will usually meet to ensure you are fully prepared and alleviate any concerns you may have. If required, we can accompany you to your Tribunal, however this is not necessary in every case
The Tribunal – what happens?
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- You MUST attend your Tribunal to have any chance of being successful. We understand this can be a challenge for some people, especially those with mobility and or mental health issues
- If you need a caseworker at your Tribunal, then we will do our best to be there to support you
- The Tribunal will hear your case and determine at what rate the benefit must be paid, and if the claim is to be backdated
- The Tribunal issues instructions to the DWP
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What happens if I don’t win at Tribunal?
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- You can accept the decision of the Tribunal
- You may take the case to the Upper Tier Tribunal. This is rare and our caseworkers will offer advice on the best way forward
What are they?
PIP has replaced the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for people aged 16 and over who have not reached State Pension age. The change was made in 2013 and the UK Government intend that everyone currently receiving DLA will be re-assessed for PIP by the autumn of 2017. The assessment criteria is more stringent for PIP than DLA. If you are on DLA and your circumstances change you may like to talk to us before making a PIP application.
To claim for PIP you must be;
• Aged 16 and over and have not reached State Pension age
• Be a UK resident and be lawfully resident
• Must meet certain disability criteria
Visit: https://www.gov.uk/pip/overview for details. PIPs are awarded against disability criteria on the basis of how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.
You may like to use the DWP’s PIP checker to find out if and when PIP affects your DLA. You can also find more information on benefits by visiting: https://www.gov.uk/financial-help-disabled
PIP is not:
• Means tested
• Taxable
• Dependent on a certain level of National Insurance contributions
• Affected by any work done by yourself
*Please Note* Regarding PIP claims, firstly you need to ring the Department of Works and Pensions on Telephone: 0800 917 2222 or Textphone: 0800 917 7777 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm to start your claim. They will send you a personalised application form.
Once you receive this form, you can make an appointment to see one of our dedicated welfare rights workers. Please ring between 10am and 4pm (weekdays) and our friendly staff will offer you the next available appointment.
Please let us know if you are unable to attend an appointment as we have limited appointment slots and do our very best to see everyone that needs our help.
We help people to fill out forms themselves or we can complete forms on your behalf. Our caseworkers are fully trained to help with forms that can seem daunting and complex. We will make the process easy for you, our service is provided in a relaxed and comfortable room where your privacy and confidentiality is guaranteed. You will still sign the forms and are legally responsible for the information you provide to the DAP welfare rights caseworker.
The benefit application forms we can help with are:
• Personal Independence Payment – PIP
• Employment Support Allowance – ESA
• Disability Living Allowance for those under 16 only
• Attendance Allowance for those over State Pension age
• Carers Allowance
• Any renewal forms for the above benefits
Please ring between 10am and 4pm on weekdays and our friendly staff will offer you the next available appointment.
Please let us know if you are unable to attend an appointment as we have limited appointment slots and do our very best to see everyone that needs our help.
We're an Organisation
What is an access audit?
We offer several different kinds of audits. These include:
- Walk and talk audits – We’ll help you walk in the tracks of a disabled person. One of our auditors will walk with you around your building. The auditor will help you understand the access issues that might prevent disabled people from using your facility. Sometimes, usually with larger premises, we bring disabled people with us. We won’t compile a formal report for this type of audit but will note the key points in a short letter.
- Access guidance – This will help you target key issues and assess your building against these certain access criteria contained on a tick list. We report against the tick list, giving key comments and general advice on access issues.
- Drawing assessments – We consider access issues on the basis of drawings alone. It is typically used as part of the design process when building are first constructed or renovations are planned. The findings will be contained in a short report.
- Audits of external environments – We can carry out audits of town centres, countryside path, cemeteries, building access routes etc. The nature of the report is dependent on the nature of the commission.
- Full access audits – These audits use the British Standard BS8300 to compare your buildings against best practice. A comprehensive report is prepared which features photographs. An executive summary brings together the report’s action points.
What is our experience of disability equality strategies?
With the introduction of the disability equality duty, the Disability Advice Project held a conference to ensure local authorities and other public bodies understood what was required of them. We have helped school governors prepare Disability Equality Strategies. Those reviewed by Estyn have been awarded the highest grade for compliance.
What is our experience of access statements and planning?
- We regularly comment on planning applications submitted to local authorities.
- We make presentations to planners, building control officers and agents associated with local authorities.
- We work with access groups throughout the country to promote the needs of disabled people.
- We work with senior officials, Assembly Members and Ministers of the Welsh Government.
Our Access work is managed by:
Tony Crowhurst B.Sc. (Mathematics), DBA. Cert Dip AF, MRICS. Tony is a Chartered Surveyor, a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, is fully insured and has more than 35 years of experience in the building industry. He has worked with and for disabled people for many years both as customer and client.
Our charges are:
- £75 per hour, or £500 per day
- Longer term commissions are subject to separate negotiations
- Work directly for disabled people may be carried out for no cost
For further details or to contact Tony please click here.
How can we help?
DAP offers tailored training on Disability/Access Awareness. We can train you and your staff on ways to improve access and welcome disabled people with first class service.
Access issues specific to your building/employees can also be incorporated into the training session, if you have previously purchased an access audit from us.
Our trainers
All our trainers are disabled people who volunteer with DAP. They bring a lived insight into how goods and services are made accessible and how this can improve your reputation, increase your customer base and profits.
Our Disability Awareness package includes:
- Identification of disabled people (visible v. invisible impairments)
- Advantages of the inclusion of disabled people
- Models of disability (medical v. social model)
- Correct use of language
- Myths and misconceptions
- Practical advice on dealing with disabled people
- Access issues
- Disability Discrimination Act
- Equality and Human Rights Commission
Previous participants had this to say:
“Good to have the opportunity to discuss matters with professionals”
“A very interesting and useful day”
“A very well presented course”
Price: £250 Duration: ½ day
For details on pricing or any further information, please contact us.
Fundraising
We provide a high quality welfare rights service, ensuring that disabled people and their families get the financial support and care services they deserve.
All of us here at DAP have direct experience of disability or being a carer, we understand the issues and problems facing people and will go the extra mile to help out but we need help ourselves to keep providing this vital service.
We do not get any government funding. So all the money we make from fundraising helps us continue the important work of supporting our clients.
DONATE HERE
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You can help us by;
- The easiest way to donate is via Virgin Money here. We are grateful for any donation which will be spent wisely.
- If you would like to make a donation by cheque please complete a Gift Aid Form. That way, if you pay income or capital gains tax we can claim a proportion back from the UK Government. You can download a form. Please sign and return this to us at Unit 9a, Avondale Industrial Estate, Cwmbran, NP44 1UG.
- We have a front of house charity shop that is open Monday to Thursday – pop in and take a look.
- Register for “Give as you Live” at www.giveasyoulive.com. Every time you shop on line with selected retailers, they will donate 1% of the value of your shopping to us. It doesn’t cost you a penny!
- Organising a fundraising event for us.
- Making a bequest in your Will.
NEWS
FAQ's
Monday – Friday
10.00am – 16.00pm
- If you would like to make a donation by cheque please complete a Gift Aid Form. That way, if you pay income or capital gains tax we can claim a proportion back from the UK Government. You can download a form. Please sign and return this to us at Unit 9a, Avondale Industrial Estate, Cwmbran, NP44 1UG.
Click on any of the following links to get more information about what services we offer.
You can drop us an email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or phone us on: 01633 485865
Telling us a little bit about your issue and we will be able to book an appointment for you.
You can drop us an email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Or phone us on: 01633 485865
We will then be able to let you know fairly quickly whether we can help you.
Firstly, you need to ring the Department of Works and Pensions DWP – Personal Independence Payment claims on Telephone: 0800 917 2222 or Textphone: 0800 917 7777 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. They will send you a personalised application form.
Once you receive this form, please ring us to make an appointment to see one of our dedicated welfare rights workers: 01633 485865.
There are two groups that you can be allocated if you qualify for ESA: Work Related Activity Group (WRAG) and Support Group (SG). To find out which group you should be in we can usually advise you over the phone. However, in some cases it may be beneficial to set up an appointment with one of our case workers: 01633 485865
To apply for DLA, we recommend you give us a call on: 01633 485865 to set up an appointment.
Testimonials
Following an unsuccessful renewal claim for Disability Living Allowance, I was completely gobsmacked. I was previously allowed the mobility part of DLA. Nothing had changed in my condition, or my circumstances. I felt scared, confused, rejected and let down.
As soon as I arrived at the Disability Advice Project, the door was opened for me, and a chair offered, as if they could not do enough for me. I felt so good inside, so welcomed and so at ease.
I was introduced to a caseworker who asked what was troubling me, all of a sudden, somebody cared and understood me. We went through my whole medical history and my details were taken, forms filled in and time spent talking to me and calming me down.
After much paper work, I went to a tribunal. Thanks to DAP and all their hard work, lots of patience, and hours and hours of time, my appeal was successful and even backdated.
I would like to thank everyone for their hard work, time, patience and of course the amount of money spent on paper work, postage and all the unseen expenses such as computers, heating, petrol and stationery.
Jo
Client
I have twin boys aged 16 years old with Cerebral Palsy. In June 2011 we were sent renewal packs for their DLA. The outcome was Joel remained the same, but the decision on Liam’s DLA had changed from middle rate to the lowest rate. With them saying that Liam now only needed an hour of care throughout the day and night.
The Careers Centre in Pontypool, put me in touch with DAP. They were great, they agreed to take Liam’s case to the tribunal and I knew whatever the outcome would be, they would do the best for us. It was left to them to contact the various people who were involved with Liam (physiotherapist, social worker, school, and GP) for their reports which DAP forwarded on to the tribunal services.
Liam was very anxious about going to court and was starting to get worried and upset but we received a letter from the DLA to say they had changed their decision and Liam would go back to middle rate, and would no longer need to attend the tribunal. We were very happy with this outcome and it was a huge relief, especially for Liam.
I am writing this, as I want other people who may need help with a problem, big or small, to get in touch with DAP. They took away the stress when they agreed to help.
Liam
Client
Contact Us
Address:
Disability Advice Project, 9a Avondale Industrial Estate Avondale Way, Cwmbran, NP44 1UG
Phone No:
Email:
info@dapwales.org.uk
Registered Charity Number: 1156176 Registered Office in Wales: 24 Bridge St, Newport, NP20 4SF Registered Number in Wales: 08785632 Company Limited by Guarantee