Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL)

BEL is a free advice line run by the Department for Work and Pensions.

Telephone: 0800 882200
Textphone: 0800 243355
(Monday-Friday, 8.30am to 6.30pm. Saturday, 9am to 1pm.)
Form filling service helpline: 0800 441144

Northern Ireland BEL

Telephone: 0800 220674
Textphone: 0800 243787
(Monday-Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Form filling service helpline: 0800 220674

Centre for Accessible Environments

This is a charity that specialises in designing for accessibility. Its services include information, training and consultancy.

Centre for Accessible Environments, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY

Telephone: 020 7357 8182
Textphone: 020 7357 8182
Fax: 020 7357 8183
Email: info@cae.org.uk
Website: Centre for Accessible Environments website (external link, opens new browser window)

Child Poverty Action Group

94 White Lion Street, London, N1 9PF

Telephone: 020 7837 7979
Fax: 020 7837 6414
Website: Child Poverty Action Group website (external link, opens new browser window)

Child Poverty Action Group in Scotland

Unit 9, Ladywell, 94 Duke Street, Glasgow G4 0UW

Telephone: 0141 552 3303
Fax: 0141 552 4404

Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB)

Your local CAB can give you advice and information on the Disability Discrimination Act and other legal situations, such as housing and employment. CABs can give you information and advice on welfare rights, and may be able to help you apply for benefits or challenge a refusal to award you a benefit.

Look in your phonebook for details of your nearest CAB or search online at the Citizen's Advice website (external link, opens new browser window).

Community Legal Service

The Community Legal Service aims to give information about and help with your legal rights. It brings together organisations that give legal advice. The Community Legal Service directory line can give you details of your local advice centre providing help in discrimination cases.

Telephone: 0845 608 1122
Textphone: 0845 609 6677
Website: Community Legal Service website (external link, opens new browser window)

Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland

Go to the Department for Social Development website (external link, opens new browser window) for information about benefits in Northern Ireland.

Department for Works and Pensions

Correspondence Unit, Room 540, The Adelphi, 1-11 John Adam Street, London WC2N 6HT

Telephone: 0207 712 2171 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
Fax: 0207 712 2386
Website: Department for Works and Pensions website (external link, opens new browser window)

DIAL UK

This is a national organisation for a network of 160 local disability information and advice services run by and for disabled people.

Website: DIAL UK website (external link, opens new browser window)

Disability Alliance

The Disability Alliance produces a range of information about benefits.

Disability Alliance, Universal House, 88-94 Wentworth Street, London E1 7SA

Telephone/textphone: 020 7247 8776
Fax: 020 7247 8765
Email: office.da@dial.pipex.com
Website: Disability Alliance website (external link, opens new browser window)

Disability Alliance's Rights Advice Line

Telephone/textphone: 020 7247 8763 (Monday and Wednesday, 2pm to 4pm)

Disability Law Service

Disability Law Service provides free legal advice to disabled people and representation where appropriate.

Disability Law Service, Ground Floor, 39-45 Cavell Street, London E1 2BP

Telephone: 020 7791 9800
Textphone: 020 7791 9801
(10am to 1pm and 2pm to 5pm, Monday to Friday)
Fax: 020 7791 9802
Email: advice@dls.org.uk

Disability Rights Commission (DRC)

The DRC provides free advice to people in England, Wales and Scotland who have been discriminated against. It also provides information and advice to service providers in the UK about their rights and duties under the Disability Discrimination Act.

DRC Helpline, Freepost MID 02164, Stratford-upon-Avon CV37 9HY

Telephone: 08457 622 633
Textphone: 08457 622 644
Fax: 08457 778 878
Email: enquiry@drc-gb.org
Website: DRC website (external link, opens new browser window)

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland provides information, advisory and training services to help  employers and organisations carry out their duties under equal opportunities legislation in Northern Ireland.

Equality Commission for Northern Ireland, Equality House, 7-9 Shaftesbury Square, Belfast BT2 7DP

Telephone: 028 90 500600
Textphone: 028 90 500589
Fax: 028 90 248687
Email: information@equalityni.org

General Council of the Bar

The Bar Council is the governing body for barristers.

Telephone: 020 7242 0082
Website: General Council of the Bar website (external link, opens new browser window)

HM Revenue & Customs

You can now update your name and address details online (external link, opens new browser window).

Jobcentre Plus

Contact Jobcentre Plus to speak to a disability employment adviser or Access to Work adviser. They can also advise you if you are working and want to claim, or are claiming, a benefit.

Visit the Jobcentre Plus website (external link, opens new browser window) for details of your nearest office.

Law centres

The Law Centres Federation can give you the details of your local law centre. Law Centres provide free advice and representation.

Law Centres Federation, Duchess House, 18-19 Warren Street, London W1T 5LR

Telephone: 020 7387 8570
Fax: 020 7387 8368
Email: info@lawcentres.org.uk
Website: Law centres website (external link, opens new browser window)

Law Society

The Law Society is the governing body for solicitors in England and Wales.

Telephone: 0870 606 6575
Textphone: 0870 600 1562
Website: Law Society website (external link, opens new browser window)

Local authorities (councils)

You can find contact details of your local council in your phonebook.

National Register of Access Consultants

The National Register of Access Consultants provides details of accredited access consultants and auditors free of charge to clients.

National Register of Access Consultants, Nutmeg House, 60 Gainsford Street, London SE1 2NY

Telephone: 020 7234 0434
Textphone: 020 7357 8182
Fax: 020 7357 8183
Email: info@nrac.org.uk

Pension credit application line

Use this to apply for pension credits if you are of pensionable age.

Telephone: 0800 99 1234
Textphone: 0800 169 0133
(Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm; Saturday 9am to 1pm).
Website: Pension credit application line website (external link, opens new browser window)

Royal British Legion

The Royal British Legion has a specialist advice and support service for enquiries about war disablement benefit.

Legionline, Royal British Legion, 48 Pall Mall, London SW1Y 5JY

Telephone: 08457 725 725
Email: info@britishlegion.org.uk

Tax credits helpline

The Tax Credit Office can offer help and advice about claiming tax credits.

Tax Credit Office, Inland Revenue, Preston PR1 0SB
Website: Tax credits helpline website (external link, opens new browser window)

England, Scotland and Wales

Telephone: 0845 300 3900
Textphone: 0845 300 3909
(Seven days a week, 8am to 8pm)

Northern Ireland

Telephone: 0845 603 2000
Textphone: 0845 607 6078
(Seven days a week, 8am to 8pm)

Welfare rights advice centres

See your phonebook for contact details of your local welfare rights advice centre.