Disability Benefits Form Filling Volunteers - Citizens Advice Cheshire East
Would you like to help other local people (Crewe area) with forms including applying for ill health and disability benefits, Blue Badges and Housing Benefit?
If you:
Would like to learn new skills
Enjoy helping people
Are a good listener
Are friendly and approachable
Are confident with both written and oral communication
Can use a computer
Have 6 hours a week free (over 1 or 2 days)
Would like to give back to your community
Then we would like to hear from you!
1.Complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role
2.Complete paper and online forms with clients, for example to apply for a benefit, or to complete an application for money or equipment from a charity
3. Write a summary of the clients’ problems and what action you’ve taken
4. Look out for problems’ that are common, or are unfair, and write a short report about the problem or a letter to an elected official like an MP, AM or local councillor. Some examples of what you could do:
1.Help clients understand eligibility for a disability or sickness related welfare benefit
2.Explain to clients how to apply for a disability or sickness related welfare benefit
3.Help clients to complete their claim for a disability or sickness related welfare benefit
4.Explain what the next steps are to clients
What’s in it for you?
1. Make a real difference to people’s lives
2. Gain in-depth knowledge about of welfare benefits for people who are sick or disabled
3. Build on valuable skills such as communication, questioning and listening, interpreting information and summarising
4. Increase your employability
5. Work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.
6. Have a positive impact in your community
And we’ll reimburse expenses too.
What do you need to have? You don’t need specific qualifications or skills but you’ll need to:
1. Be friendly and approachable
2. Be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own
3. Have good listening skills
4. Have excellent verbal and written communication skills
5. Have good maths and IT skills
6. Be able to understand information and summarise it
7. Be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection
8. Be willing to undertake training in your role
How much time do you need to give?
Ideally we ask for 6 hours per week, which can be over one day or spread over two days, for at least 6 months.
We can be flexible so come and talk to us.
Valuing inclusion Our volunteers come from a range of backgrounds and we particularly welcome applications from racially minoritised people/people of colour, disabled people, people with physical or mental health conditions, LGBTQ+ and non-binary people.
