Welfare Benefits Law

Harshida has been the BLS Welfare Benefits Caseworker since 2009, working part-time in this as well as in the Immigration and Asylum department. Harshida advises clients on welfare benefits appeals in areas such as Incapacity Benefit, Disability Living Allowance (including Attendance allowance), Housing benefit or council tax benefit appeals or liability disputes, National Asylum Support Service (NASS), and pension and tax credits.

Harshida is assisted by the BLS Trainee Solicitor, Rebekah Bageya on welfare benefit casework.

Harshida both helps clients prepare their own representation at Appeals Tribunals and represents clients who cannot represent themselves.

Harshida speaks fluent Swahili, Hindi, Gujarati and Punjabi as well as English, and puts her language skills to good use when taking client instructions or handling telephone queries in these different community languages.

BLS undertakes:

• All Benefits and tax or pension credits Appeals
• Complicated Housing Benefit Appeals

BLS does not undertake:

• Applications for Benefits (or other form filling)
• Applications to the Child Support Agency