Benefits

At the Bureau and at our sessions for welfare benefit advice we can help with unemployment benefits and income support, housing benefits, the social fund, tax credits, disability and incapacity benefit and jobseekers allowance. We also have information on the current social security benefits rates. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a specialist adviser or help yourself:

• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• Jobcentre Plus is a government agency supporting people of working age from welfare into work
• Entitled To is a tool which can help you calculate your entitlement to benefits and tax credits
• Advice Now is an independent, not-for-profit website providing accurate, up-to-date information on rights and legal issues

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Consumer

If you are unsure about your consumer rights, at the Bureau we can advise you and help you to decide what to do next. We can also give you practical help by negotiating with shops and traders, help you to write letters, phone or fax companies on your behalf, help you with forms, and help you with small claims procedures at the county court. Or help yourself by going to The Advice Guide or go to Consumer Direct, for help and advice for consumers in Great Britain.

• Brent and Harrow Trading Standards Services protects the interests of Brent and Harrow consumers and businesses
• Which? provides expert consumer advice from an independant source
• Energy Watch is your independent watch dog for gas and elecricity consumers
• Office of Fair Trading is the UK's consumer and competition authority. Their mission is to make markets work well for consumers
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, independent, impartial and realistic advice

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Debt

At the Bureau we can advise you on all aspects of debt and the course of action open to you. We can help with preparing a budget statement, negotiation with creditors and representation at county court repossession hearings. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a Specialist Adviser or help yourself with the following:

• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• National Debt line is a free, confidential and independent national telephone helpline for people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales
• Payplan
• Financial Services Authority is the official industry regulator, which provides useful information on mis-selling
• The Insolvency Service provides information to the public on insolvency, bankruptcy and redundancy matters
• Credit Action is a self-help guide to dealing with personal debt
• Consumer Credit Counselling Service is a registered charity whose purpose is to assist people who are in financial difficulty by providing free, independent, impartial and realistic advice

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Disability

We can provide help in the Bureau about your rights as a disabled person, or help yourself by going to The Advice Guide or go to www.disability.gov.uk to find out your rights as a Disabled person and learn more about the legislation that exists to help establish fully comprehensive and enforceable civil rights for disabled people in the UK. You can also visit:
Brent Mind leading independent mental health organisation in Brent
Brent Association for Disabled People (ADP)
Royal Association for Deaf people (RAD)
Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB)
Carers UK is the voice of carers

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Employment

At the Bureau we can advise you according to your written contract. If you don't have a written contract we can advise you about your statutory rights including the minimum wage and holiday pay. We can give advice about benefits or tax credits you are entitled to when in work. We can also advise on race and sex discrimination at work. We can give you practical help by helping you make a claim for unpaid wages, checking redundancy payments are correct, advising on changes to terms and conditions, advising on your employee's individual rights and identifying possible claims for unfair dismissal. If necessary we can help to take a claim to an employment tribunal and represent you free of charge. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a specialist employment adviser. Or you can help yourself:

• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• Directgov (formerly TIGER) provides information from across UK government departments on topics ranging from travel safety and parental leave to special educational needs and local NHS services
• Department for Business, Enterprise & Regulatory Reform (formerly the Department of Trade & Industry) is responsible for trade policy, trade promotion and inward investment
• Equal Opportunities Commission deals with sex discrimination and inequality related to gender, including good practice in the fair and equal treatment of men and women
• Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) aims to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations
• The Mary Ward Legal Centre provides free advice and representation, especially in the areas of housing, debt and employment to people who live or work in the Greater London area

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Health

Help yourself by going to The Advice Guide or by going to NHS Direct, the 24 hour nurse-led telephone advice service run by the NHS. Provides information on the diagnosis and treatment of common conditions. You can also visit:
• Brent Primary Care Trust
• Patient UK Comprehensive, free, up-to-date health information
• Project London If you need help accessing healthcare

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Housing

At the Bureau we can advise you on all aspects of housing including: rights and responsibilities of landlords and tenants, tenancies, housing benefit, rent problems, including establishing "fair rents", advice on eviction, homelessness, disrepair, deposits and problems with neighbours. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a Specialist Adviser or you can help yourself:
• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• Brent Housing Advice Service provides a free information, advice, casework and referral services for Brent residents experiencing housing problems
• Brent Homefinder Service is a free on-line advertising service developed to assist landlords and homeseekers by putting local landlords in touch with prospective tenants
• Shelter is the National Campaign for Homeless people
• Centrepoint is the national charity working to improve the lives of socially excluded, homeless young people
• Brent Private Tenants Rights Group is a housing advice centre specialising in private rented accomodation rights and support
• Locata allows existing council and housing association tenants who would like to transfer to find a new home of their choice

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Immigration

At the Bureau we can give advice on many aspects of immigration such as: visitor visas, fiancé(e)or spouse visas, student visas, settlement visas, work permits, immigration status, welfare benefits, asylum seekers and refugees. In most cases we will be able to advise you. However, in certain cases our Specialist Adviser will make applications to the Home Office and, if necessary, make appeals on your behalf. Or you may be able to help yourself:

• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• Immigration Advisory Service (IAS) is the leading charity giving legal advice and representation services to immigrants and asylum seekers free to those who are eligible
• Border & Immigration Agency is the Home Office body that deals with issues surrounding immigration, asylum, citizenship and border control in the UK
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI) is an independent national voluntary organisation campaigning for justice and combating racism in immigration and asylum law and policy
• UK Visas provides visa application forms
• Identity & Passport Service provides a consistent service for passports and other identity documents
• Refugee Legal Centre is an Independent Organisation Offering Legal Advice and Representation to Asylum Seekers and Refugees

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Legal

We can help you gain access to justice, advise you on your entitlements under the community legal service, pursue compensation for accidents and injuries and give advice and guidance about going to court. If your problem is complex we can arrange an appointment with a Specialist Adviser or help yourself by going to
• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• Community Legal Service Direct allows you to find a solicitor in your area
• Legal Services Commission runs the legal aid scheme in England and Wales and provides information, advice and legal representation to help people gain access to justice
• Brent Community Law Centre (contact details only) provides legal advice and assistance to people living in Brent on matters such as housing, employment, social security, education and care in the community
• HM Courts Service provides all legal application forms and guidance about the UK Courts

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Tax

At the Bureau we can give advice on tax problems, including income tax, tax credits, inheritance tax and council tax. Or help yourself by going to
• The Advice Guide is an online Citizens Advice Bureau service that provides independent advice on your rights
• TaxAid is a UK charity providing free tax advice to people who cannot afford to pay a professional adviser. The service is independent and confidential.
• HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is responsible for collecting the bulk of tax revenue, as well as paying Tax Credits and Child Benefits

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