Legal Aid Navigator
Welfare benefits & debt
Help if you're struggling with benefit problems, debt, or money worries. This page explains what kind of support exists — it does not tell you what benefits or arrangements you'll be entitled to.
What kind of help is out there?
- Benefit checks — free tools can help you find out what benefits you might be able to claim.
- Challenging a benefit decision — if a benefit is stopped, reduced, or refused, there is usually a process to ask for it to be looked at again, called a mandatory reconsideration, and then a right of appeal.
- Debt advice — free, confidential advice can help you understand your options, from budgeting support to formal debt solutions.
- Legal aid — is available for debt advice in some circumstances, and for some welfare benefit appeals. Use the official checker to find out.
Trusted services
Turn2us
A charity helping people find out what benefits and grants they may be able to access, with a free benefits calculator.
StepChange
A free, confidential debt advice charity that can help you understand your options and set up a plan.
Visit StepChange (opens in a new tab)
Telephone: 0800 138 1111
Citizens Advice
Free guidance on benefits, debt, and challenging decisions.
GOV.UK: benefits
Official information on benefits you might be able to claim, and how to apply.
Civil Legal Advice
Check if you qualify for legal aid for a debt or welfare benefits problem.
Visit Civil Legal Advice (opens in a new tab)
Telephone: 0345 345 4 345
Law centres
Free legal help from local, not-for-profit specialists, including welfare benefit appeals.
A few terms explained
- Mandatory reconsideration
- A request for a benefits decision to be looked at again, usually the first step before an appeal.
- Tribunal
- An independent panel that can hear an appeal against a benefits decision.
- Debt management plan
- An informal, agreed arrangement to repay debts over time at an affordable rate.