Citizen's Advice Help to Claim

Hi just wanted to say thanks to all the forum users reporting back on the support they are getting from Help To Claim with migration to UC.

I wasn't sure if I really needed to use them from the start what with the B&W guides and advice available, but seeing your stories has encouraged me to call them and begin a support relationship with them in case there are any problems after I've submitted my claim.

It was also helpful practice talking through the situation, and some bits of the process I wasn't sure if I'd understood properly, and it 'broke the seal' a bit on the anxiety of potentially having to talk to DWP on the phone too (like many I'm extremely anxious about any contact with them).

The person I spoke to today was kind and clued in, happy to answer any questions about any aspect really (confirming the advice I've received on this forum from B&W advisors), and was patient with my quite anxious and scrambled thinking!

We went through what I currently get on ESA and HB, what I should get under UC (full breakdown), what documentation I will need and what steps I might need to take after submitting the claim, including informing the council so they don't cancel my council tax benefit. Thanks to another member's story I also knew to ask CAB for an email of the breakdown they did today too.

He didn't go into my disability or health conditions, but was understanding about my reticence/difficulties with face to face appointments etc and supportive of me stating my needs in my diary after I submit the claim.

A positive experience, and I feel like it's a bit of an insurance policy if errors occur. He let me know they are happy to call DWP with me if anything goes wrong.