Welfare Rights Team

Most people claim benefits at some point in their lives depending on their circumstances. The welfare benefits system can be complicated and it is not always clear what benefits, if any, someone may be entitled to.

The Welfare Rights Team aims to ensure that the residents of Perth and Kinross are not missing out on their entitlement to benefits and other related help by providing a free, confidential and impartial benefits advice, information and appeal representation service.
Our Macmillan workers provide an enhanced Welfare Rights service for people affected by cancer funded by Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Welfare Rights service is accredited to the Scottish Government's National Standards for Information and Advice Providers.

How to contact the Welfare Rights Team

You can phone the Welfare Rights Advice Line on 01738 476900 (option 1) or you can email welfarerights@pkc.gov.uk.
If you prefer face to face contact, you could always attend one of our Welfare Rights Outreach Sessions.
If it's just information you are after, you can also browse our Benefits and Advice webpages.

Why contact the Welfare Rights Team?

People have contact the Welfare Rights Team with a variety of benefit related issues but it is usually for one or more of the following reasons:

Reason for Contact	Help that can be given
You have had a significant live event or change in circumstances such as being made unemployed, giving birth, being diagnosed with a health problem, etc.	advice and information on all aspects of the state benefits system. carrying out benefit checks to ensure you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to. advice on how and when to apply for benefits and other related help.
You are struggling financially.	advice and information on all aspects of the state benefits system. undertaking benefit checks to establish if you are missing out. advice on how and when to apply for benefits and other related help. basic debt and money advice. help opening a bank or credit union account.
You have been turned down for benefit or you are unhappy with the decision	advice and assistance with challenging decisions including representation at benefit appeal tribunals.

Other ways we provide support

We also provide the following services:

delivering training to council staff and voluntary organisations on a range of welfare rights issues.
delivering talks to community groups and organisations

Partnership Working

We also work in partnership with a range of local agencies such as the PKAVS Minority Communities Hub and national organisations such as Macmillan Cancer Support and the Department for Work and Pensions visiting service. This ensures that you are offered a wide range of help and support.

When referring to our service professionals and agencies it is preferred that you email us in the first instance with the following information:

Customer's name and partner's
Address
NINO(s)
Contact telephone number and email
Reason for referral
A sentence to say the customer has consented to the referral

We also accept general queries and requests for talks and training.

Welfare Rights Facts and Figures

View useful facts and figures about the work done by Perth & Kinross Council's Welfare Rights Service including benefit gains and appeal statistics.

Click the Link and Tell Us What You Think

If you have used our service please take a few minutes to complete our Welfare Rights Customer Feedback Survey.

Contact details

Welfare Rights Team

Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD

Email welfarerights@pkc.gov.uk

Tel 01738 476900 (Option 1)

Web www.pkc.gov.uk/welfarerights