You may be entitled to extra financial support from the government in the form of welfare benefits.
There are benefits available from the British Government if you are:
- looking for work (includes Universal Credit and JSA – Job Seekers Allowance)
- temporarily unable to work (includes Universal Credit and ESA – Employment and Support Allowance)
- have children (includes Child Benefit and help for birth parents and adoptive parents)
- disabled or have a health condition (includes ESA – Employment and Support Allowance)
- a carer for someone (includes Universal Credit)
- on a low income (includes Universal Credit and help with heating and other living costs)
- needing help after someone dies (includes Universal Credit and help with funeral costs)
Find out more about different benefits in the UK on the Gov.uk website:
For migrants living in the UK, there are different rules around who can claim benefits, based on where you are from, your immigration status and the type of benefits. To find out which welfare benefits you may be able to claim for and how you can apply, you must speak to a trained adviser.
Finding a welfare adviser
You can find a welfare adviser by contacting a member of Leeds City Council’s Welfare Rights Unit who can:
- give you free, confidential, impartial advice and support on a whole range of welfare benefits
- help you to complete claim forms over the phone
- complete forms which will be posted to you to sign, check and forward to the right department
- offer guidance and support when making appeals
- check your benefit entitlement and give guidance on using benefit systems
You can also contact the Welfare Rights Unit by phone or email.
0113 376 0452 (Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm, Wednesdays 10:15am to 4:30pm and Friday 9am to 4pm)
Home visits are also available for people who cannot leave their home.
You can also speak to an adviser at Citizens Advice Leeds.
Citizens Advice Leeds is open to give advice by telephone, webchat and email, Monday to Friday 9am – 5pm. Their face-to-face City Centre Drop-In is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday 9am-1pm. Booked appointments only on Monday, Wednesday, Friday 1pm-4pm and Tuesday, Thursday 9am-4pm.
Oxford House, Oxford Row, Leeds, LS1 3BE.
0808 2 78 78 78
Citizens Advice Leeds
