24/06/05 - Benefits advice service closes

The public advice service of the Disability Alliance (DA) is no longer able to respond to queries by telephone, email or letter, and is directing people to other, more general advice services, such as Citizens Advice Bureau and Dial.

And, at the end of August, it will stop providing information packs by post to those who request advice.

According to DA chief executive, Lorna Reith, funding has been scarce for several years, but the service had continued to run with the help of "bits and pieces" from various financial sources, including local authorities in London.

Ms Reith said that the DA had tried to get more substantial funding from the Department of Health (DoH) but had not been successful, mainly because "they just don't see a need for the service".  She explained that only around 1,300 disabled people used the DA service each year because of the depth of advice given.

"The kind of service we were providing takes more time.  We were giving them information and talking them through the complex issues; the benefit system is complicated."

The closure follows the shut down of two call centres for the charity SANE after the DoH withdrew funding.

A DoH spokeswoman said: "Hundreds and hundreds of groups apply for funding and grants each year but obviously not all are going to get it."

DA will now give out information via its website and Disability Rights Handbook.   Facts sheets can be downloaded from www.disabilityalliance.org

First reported in Disability Now July 2005 Issue