Benefits Advice

Philippa Taylor is our Financial Inclusion Officer who specialises in supporting people with all types of benefits.  The support she provides includes the move over from Disability Living Allowance (DLA) into Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for people aged 18 to 65 or helping people over 65 to claim Attendance Allowance (AA). She also works with people who have just newly been registered with a sight problem or those who may need to claim Jobseeker’s Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance for the first time.

When you first make a claim for Employment and Support Allowance or Personal Independence Allowance you have to attend a capability assessment, but don’t worry as Philippa will be there to support you through this process and attend any appointments with you.

Welfare Benefits

Universal Credit has gone live from the 2nd January 2019, meaning that all Newcastle claimants either on Job seekers allowance or employment and support allowance will be eventually migrated to the new Universal Credit. What this means for you:

  • You will receive a letter telling you that your housing and other benefit will be stopping and that you need to move over to the new system. Please DO NOT ignore letter as your benefits will cease!!
  • Help is on hand, all you need to do is ring us on 0191 2327292 or email philippa@newcastlevisionsupport.org.uk to get assistance with the transition to make it smooth and hassle free.
  • The DWP have said that the migration will take about 2 years to complete, so there is plenty of time for you to receive your letter.
  • All your benefits will now be paid in one amount per month, this will include housing benefit and council tax benefit, your Personal Independence payments will still be paid to you in the same way as before.