Welfare rights

Free, confidential, impartial advice and support on a whole range of welfare benefits.

Welfare rights can:

  • help you to complete claim forms over the phone
  • forms we complete 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

If we cannot help, we will provide contact details of other agencies who may be able to assist you.

Service standards

The Welfare Rights Unit is based in the Customer Services Team within the Communities, Housing and Environments of Leeds City Council. As part of our commitment to customer care we have established the following service standards:

  • we will give accurate and unbiased advice and information on welfare benefits
  • we will aim to visit you, if necessary, within 14 days of your request
  • we will make appointments for all home visits and telephone appointments at a date which is mutually convenient and give you the name of the worker who will be calling
  • we will leave a receipt to say what we have done, what else we need to do and what we have asked you to do
  • we will deal with your enquiry on a strictly confidential basis
  • we will monitor customer satisfaction
  • all staff will carry Leeds City Council identification badges at all times

Contact the Welfare Rights Unit

Phone

0113 376 0452
(Monday to Thursday 9am to 4.30pm, Wednesdays 10:15am to 4:30pm and Friday 9am to 4pm)

Email

welfare.rights@leeds.gov.uk

Further information

You can also get advice about individual benefits and tax credits from the GOV.UK website. You may also want to use the HM Revenue and Customs Tax credits calculator.

For information on affordable loans and competitive savings plans go to the Leeds City Credit Union website.