Welfare Rights Worker

Also known as:

Advice Worker, Welfare Rights
Benefits Adviser
Social Welfare Rights Worker

Introduction

Welfare rights workers give members of the public advice, information and support on all aspects of welfare benefits. They help people to know what their rights are, and to claim all the benefits they are entitled to. Local authorities and advice centre organisations such as the Citizens' Advice Bureaux employ welfare rights workers.

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Work Activities

Welfare rights workers give members of the public advice and support on all aspects of the welfare benefits system. They help people to know what their rights are, and to claim all the benefits they are entitled to (in some years, unclaimed benefits can total billions of pounds). Welfare rights workers help with issues like unemployment, housing, training, child and sickness benefits as well as crisis loans.

Much of the work involves face-to-face interviews. Welfare rights workers may make home visits to people who are unable to go to a welfare rights office. They also pass on advice by phone or email.

Some people need advice because they disagree with the amount of benefit they receive from the Department for Work and Pensions. Welfare rights workers may write letters on their client's behalf, help them fill in forms, or represent them at a tribunal.

They may produce leaflets and printed sheets to inform the public about the welfare system. They may send these to reception rooms in the National Health Service (NHS), doctors' surgeries and local authority buildings. Some workers campaign to encourage people to claim the benefits they are entitled to. They work closely with Jobcentre Plus and with voluntary organisations.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

As a welfare rights worker, you must enjoy working with people and helping them to solve their problems.

Good communication skills are very important. You must be able to explain complicated social security legislation clearly and concisely. You will need good written skills, to keep records, and help people fill in forms and write letters. You must have numerical skills to help calculate and explain benefit entitlements.

Many people find the welfare system daunting, so you must have a calm, friendly and approachable manner. You must be willing to learn and develop new knowledge, because welfare legislation changes, at least annually and often more frequently.

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Pay and Opportunities

Pay rates for welfare rights workers vary, depending on the duties of the post and the qualifications and experience required.

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Welfare rights workers earn in the range of £14,500 - £18,000 a year, rising to £21,000 - £25,500. Higher earners can make around £28,000 a year.

Full-time welfare rights workers work a basic 36-40 hours, Monday to Friday. In Citizens Advice Bureaux offices, this is 37-hours. Part-time, temporary and flexible working arrangements may be available.

Local authority welfare services and special projects, such as anti-poverty units, employ rights workers. The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is the United Kingdom's largest advice centre organisation. Many people begin working for the CAB on a voluntary basis, although CAB also employs paid staff.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

Employers value a sense of responsibility.

• 28% of people in occupations such as welfare rights work part-time
.
• 22% have flexible hours.
• 10% of employees work on a temporary basis
.

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Further Information

Contact your local Citizens' Advice Bureau.

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