Not getting the benefits you’re entitled to? Help is at hand in the form of Community Legal Service Direct
Not getting the benefits you’re entitled to? Help is at hand in the form of Community Legal Service Direct
21 February 2005
Research published today by the GMB Union shows that one in five people in some areas of England and Wales are on welfare benefits. However, many people are not getting the benefits they are entitled to.
Community Legal Service Direct, funded by the Legal Services Commission (who administer legal aid in England and Wales) exists to help people tackle their problems. Bringing together a national telephone helpline, the popular www.clsdirect.org.uk information website and a range of information leaflets under one, easy-to-identify brand.
Since its launch in July last year, Community Legal Service Direct has received over 140,000 calls and has had over 320,000 visits to the website.
Call 0845 345 4 345 for free legal help and advice
· If you call Community Legal Service Direct you will be able to get 30 minutes worth of free advice about tackling your debt and welfare benefits problems
· If you qualify for legal aid, you can get free advice from a qualified legal adviser about welfare benefits, debt or education between 9am and 5pm weekdays (if you call outside office hours, just leave a message and you will be called back). More people are eligible than you think, so call and find out
· Listen to recorded messages about common legal problems 24 hours a day
· Find quality local advice services for other types of problems
· Order legal information leaflets
· All help and advice given is confidential and independent
Click onto www.clsdirect.org.uk for free legal information
· Search for a quality local legal adviser or solicitor
· Ask a question or choose a topic and you’ll be directed to the right place on the best advice sites in the UK
· See if you are eligible for legal aid using the online calculator
. View or print legal information leaflets