Benefit & Welfare And the Social Services

.: Where to claim welfare benefits......

The Benefits agency has offices around the country, which make payment to different type of benefit. Sometimes they do have office in the employment services. If you want to do/ make a claim, go to your local Benefit agency officer to make a benefit claim. You will be given a form for the benefit that you want to claim to fill in, if you cannot fill in the form your self or you need support or interpreter to fill the form, you have to request for that. You can also get help at the Welsh Refugee Council or the Citizen Advice Bureau or your local one-stop shop to help you complete the forms.

.: National Insurance number (NINO).....

To process any of your claims, the benefit agency will give you a temporary national insurance number until a permanent one is allocated for you. If you are taking up a job, you need a National Insurance number for your National Insurance contributions. Whenever you put in a fresh claim or sighing in the job centre you need to give them you National Insurance number that they will use to access your information in the database. When once you have one, its your for life.

.: Habitual residence test.....

Some groups of people are not entitled to claim benefit because they do not normally live in the UK. They do not pass the habitual residence test but this didn't’t apply to refugees with ILR/ ELR.

.: Backdated benefit claims.....

From the day that you received you decision that allows you to stay in the UK, you must apply as soon as possible for benefits. Sometimes, it takes 21 working days to complete your assessment as to how much you will be paid every week. Payments are made every 2 weeks/ fortnightly. After your assessment has completed, then you will receive a back payment from they day you put in your claims. If you have any difficulties, you should ask your local Citizen Advice Bureau or any Refugee organization for help.

Under the terms of the Children Act 1989 and the Children (Scotland) Act 1995, social services have a duty to make sure of the welfare of children under 18. If you are a family with children under 18 years of age or if you are under 18 years old and are unaccompanied (this means that you do not have a parent or guardian in this country), you can get help from social services.

Social services can provide a range of service including nursery provision, after school clubs and help within the home. Social services will also be able to provide advice and information on a wide range of local matters, for example, how to access health services. They also provide help to the elderly, people with learning difficulties and people with mental health problems.