Autism Berkshire’s specialist benefits advice service is expanding.
Our expert adviser Kevin Jackson can now provide a wider range of advice and support to people applying for benefits.
The changes come ahead of scheduled introduction of Universal Credit in Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire from December.
The benefits service is available to anyone living with autism in the county, whether or not they are Autism Berkshire members.
Support is now also available to people with conditions that are often related to autism, including severe dyslexia, dyspraxia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Kevin can help people to understand eligibility and assist with completing application forms for benefits and assist with appeals against decisions made under the Department for Work and Pensions assessment process.
He can help people to understand eligibility and assist with completing application forms for the following benefits:
- Universal Credit
- Carer’s Allowance
- Disability Living Allowance
- Employment & Support Allowance
- Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Personal Independence Payment
- Council Tax Benefit
- Housing Benefit
Kevin is now also available to represent people at their benefit assessment hearings and appeal tribunals.
Please note that as funding is limited, we are having to charge fees for a number of these new services but are seeking more grants to support the service with the aim of offering more help without charging.
Kevin is available for one-to-one appointments at our office in Reading. These are available at a charge of £10 but this fee will be refunded once someone has attended the appointment.
We are asking for this £10 deposit payment due to a number of recent cases where people have not attended a free appointment they had booked, when someone else could have been helped instead.
Evening appointments are also available, but are subject to a £40 non-refundable charge.
Click here for full details of our Benefits Service and the fees for representing people at hearings and benefit applications for conditions other than autism.
To book an appointment with Kevin, call the Autism Berkshire office on 01189 594 594 or email admin@autismberkshire.org.uk
