About the Welfare Rights Service
We are a free service provided by Bolton Council. We are based in Adult and Community Services but you do not have to have contact with Adult and Community Services to use us.
We give independent advice and information on your rights and entitlement to benefits, and can help in appealing the decisions given on your benefits. We do not give social care advice or deal with claims or payment of benefit. We can give advice about housing benefit and council tax benefit, but there is a separate section in the Council that deals with claims and payment of these benefits. Although we are not usually able to assist with claim pack completion we can refer or signpost you to other sources of help.
Who can we help?
We can give advice if you are a resident in Bolton (your Council Tax bill comes from Bolton Council). If you are not a resident we can put you in touch with your local Welfare Rights Service or advice agency.
How can we help?
We can give you detailed advice over the telephone or by letter. If we cannot deal with the matter over the phone we may be able to make you an appointment or we will try and put you in touch with someone who can help you. We may be able to help you prepare for a tribunal or represent you at a hearing.
We can send you information. You can obtain any of our leaflets when you ring the advice line or you can download them from the website.
We can arrange for an interpreter if you need one and will try to meet any other special needs you have in accessing our service.
How to contact us.
Ring our Advice Line 01204-380460 Monday - Friday between 10am - 12 noon. It is a busy line and can be engaged, please keep trying. You can email us, use the link in our contact information.Unfortunately we do not have facilities to see people who call at the office.
Where else can you get advice?
We are one of a number of advice agencies in Bolton, for details of other providers check the Community Legal Advice website.(Please see "Links" section on right) or you can telephone: 0845 345 4345 for further advice.