The Advice Team, operated by Dorset’s disability charity Diverse Abilities, has been successful in 95 per cent of its appeal cases in the 2021/22 financial year.

Following a 40 per cent increase in demand for its services year on year, the Advice Team has continued its record of success in helping people with disabilities and their families claim the financial support they are entitled to. 

Elaine Ewing, Advice Team manager, commented: “Benefit applications and appeals can be emotional and stressful, and it is easy to become overcome by the whole thing. We endeavour to make the process as quick and stress-free as possible by going through their application with them and keeping them updated throughout their application or appeal.”

Elaine added: “This year we received funding to help the deaf community access our services and are now able to offer a British Sign Language Interpreter at appointments free of charge, as well as foreign language translators for most languages.”

More than 690 people have also been helped by the Advice Team in creating Lasting Powers of Attorney, requesting telephone advice, and completing benefit applications. The Advice Team also assists clients with Limited Capability for Work applications, Carers Allowance (CA), Child Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance (AA), Blue Badges, and Personal Independence Payments (PIP), as well as referring clients to free wills and wills with trusts.

Call 0300 330 5514 on weekdays between 9am and 5pm for more details, or email advice@diverseabilities.org.uk for further information.

The Advice Team supports those in Dorset, Hampshire, Somerset, Wiltshire and beyond through telephone and face-to-face appointments.