MP and welfare officer

Hi, I was just wondering why people get their local MP involved when they are appealing. What help can they provide. Also, is it worth getting a welfare officer to help out? Many thanks.

I contacted my MP primarily as he knew me and could vouch on my behalf in regards to my physical disabilty and how I can mobilize a chair only with a 3rd party in control.(Unable to use a wheelchair myself mobilizing outside)He also knew our predicament on when we left the farm and helped us considerably.
So what I am getting at is that if your MP knows you well and can vouch for you it is feasable to ask him/her to write a letter or get involved with the appeal or whatever is best for your own situation. I do not think your MP could be very helpful unless he/she knows you, however it does no harm to ask for help.
Really suggest help is paramount for anyone claimimg a benefit/appeal etc via a welfare officer /cab representative etc,in order to receive correct info on completing these dam forms etc correctly.
The more people bug the welfare rights/ cab etc people, the more these people will be able to complain in order to get better rights for us and costings and continuation for them that help us.

ROSIE75 wrote:

Hi, I was just wondering why people get their local MP involved when they are appealing. What help can they provide. Also, is it worth getting a welfare officer to help out? Many thanks.

Most likely they contact their MP because in many areas of the UK there are no Welfare Rights workers. Many CAB's who in the past employed paid advisers or voluntary workers are no longer able to provide this service due to withdrawal of funding by local authorities who themselves are having to cut services.

There are articles in Benefits News telling of Law Centres having to charge and Legal Aid ending for welfare benefits cases.

These can be read HERE

Hi
I involved my MP because I wasn't getting anywhere with my appeal to be placed into the support group rather than the WRAG. I had sent off an appeal form which I was told hadn't been received I sent off additional supporting evidence which I was told hadn't been received and I had made several telephone calls. This was over several months during which I was so stressed I was admitted to intensive care and was there a week. I have never met my MP or spoken to her before but decided to E Mail her for help. The next day I received a letter from her saying that she thought the situation ludicrous and that she would look into it.Within a week I received a telephone call from the job centre telling me that my case had been looked at again and that I was now in the support group.So I certainly think it is worth involving your MP if you think that you are being treated unfairly