What We Do
Here’s an overview of what we do
Policy works and Campaign
Families & Community Support Service works to achieve systemic change and is at the heart of everything we do. We work to bridge the gap between our vulnerable clients who are living in poverty, and the decision-makers who have the power to change this.
We campaign for immediate change to policies that are actively harming and impacting our vulnerable clients in their everyday lives. It is worth supporting a campaign knowing that you will have made a significant and positive difference to vulnerable people facing, for example, poverty and homelessness.
Disability Benefits and Tribunals Representation
The Families & Community Support Service award-winning – Tribunals representation and casework team can provide advocacy, advice and representation if you have been wrongly denied the benefits you are entitled to. For example;
→ Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
→ Personal Independent Payments (PIP)
→ Universal Credit (UC)
→ Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Get representation →
General Immigration Advice and support
General Immigration Advice and support
→Asylum seekers
→No Recourse to Public Fund (NRPF)
→Citizenship, naturalization/ British passport
Book an appointment and get help → Contact Us
Please Note: We cannot guarantee to take on your case. However, if we cannot take over your case for whatever reason, we will provide general advice and information and signpost/refer you to another agency for appropriate support.
Advocacy, Advice, Information and Support
At Families & Community Support Service (FCSS), we provide frontline Advocacy, legal Advice, Information, Support and representation services where necessary. If you are having issues with your benefits, our specialist welfare benefit Advocates and Caseworkers can provide support and advice on:
Issues with your benefits:
→State Pension
→Pension Credit
→Child Benefit
→ Incorrect or delayed payments
→ Attendance Allowance
→ Sanctions, deductions and overpayments
→ Problems with the Work Capability
→ Assessment and Personal Independence
Payment (PIP) assessments:
→ Appeals about Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or the Work Capability Assessment
→ Problems with Council Tax and Council Support and Council Tax Reduction etc.
→ Help with Housing Benefit, and the Housing Costs element of Universal Credit
→ Help with forms filling, application or writing letters to authorities and organizations for your voice to be heard. FCSS is here to help you.
FCSS focuses on specialist in-depth casework and representation. Alternatively, you can contact your local Citizens Advice for more information
Get help with your benefits →
Support with housing issues
If you are having problems with your housing, our specialist Advocates and
Caseworkers can help you understand your rights and know what your options are. The issues we can assist with are follows:
→ Social Housing Tenants
→ Local Authority/ Council Tenants
→ Housing Association Tenants
→ Supported accommodation
→ Help with moving to more suitable accommodation, whether due to disability, overcrowding or some other reasons.
If you are in Temporary Accommodation:
→ Help if you have been offered or are in unsuitable temporary accommodation
→ Help if you are a Private Rented Sector tenant
→ Help if you are being threatened with eviction for example Notice to Quit (NTQ)
→ Help if you have been issued with a notice seeking possession also known as (Section 21) notice.
→ Help if you need to apply to your local authority as homeless
→ Help to apply to go on the housing register
→ If you are struggling to afford your rent or have arrears, we can also help you with this.
Get help with housing issues →
Discretionary Housing Payments (DHPs)
Discretionary Housing Payment is a payment you may receive at the discretion of your local authority which can help towards housing costs. It provides financial support to help with rent or housing costs. You can only get it if you are entitled to Housing Benefit or the Housing Costs element of Universal Credit.
Eligibility
You can apply for a DHP if you currently get either:
Housing Benefit
the housing element of Universal Credit and need more financial support with housing costs
What a DHP can cover
DHP funding is available in England and Wales. Find out how to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment in Scotland.
DHP funding in England and Wales can help people with housing costs, including those affected by:
The benefit cap
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates
Rent shortfall
Rent deposits
Rent in advance if you need to move home
DHPs cannot cover council tax, even if you get Local Council Tax Support.
Apply through your local council
Each council decides how their application process will work.
Your council will look at your circumstances to see whether you are eligible for a DHP. They will decide:
i) whether to give you a DHP
ii) how much you will be paid
iii) how long you will receive the payment
