Autism Berkshire - Workshop Article Image

Autistic adults can book free places at benefits workshops

Free places can now be booked two more Understanding Your Benefits Rights online advice workshops with Autism Berkshire’s expert advisers.

These workshops help autistic young people and adults (aged 16+) who live in the Reading, Wokingham and West Berkshire council areas, and their parents and carers, to understand their entitlement to benefits, how to make an application and the appeals process.

We strongly recommend that you get in touch with our advisers and take part in a workshop before starting an application for benefits, to help increase the likelihood of a favourable initial decision from the Department for Work & Pensions and avoid the need for an appeal.

The workshops include a look at what supporting evidence should be included with an application and how to present it.

They will both take place online from 10.30am to 12.30pm on Mondays, using Zoom.

Places can be booked at the following workshops:

  • June 21: For autistic young people and adults aged 16+, and their parents and carers, looking at applying for Personal Independence Payment (PIP). Click here to register.
  • July 19: For autistic young people and adults aged 16+, and their parents and carers, looking at applying for Universal Credit and Employment & Support Allowance (ESA). Click here to register.

Our benefits advisers are also able to help with enquiries about the benefits listed above and to provide individual advice about mandatory reconsiderations and appeals to tribunals, if initial benefit applications are turned down.

They can also help with applications for Carer’s Allowance – the Government has relaxed some of the rules about this benefit during the coronavirus pandemic, so please contact us for advice about whether you may be eligible to apply.

To contact our Benefits Service, email benefits@autismberkshire.org.uk or call 01189 594 594 (option 2) and leave a message, including your contact details. One of our advisers will get in touch to discuss how they can help.

Click here for full details of Autism Berkshire’s Benefits Service.

  • The workshops are supported by Reading Borough Council’s New Directions College adult education service.