In recent years benefit services have changed. The current services now come under one organisation called the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). The services offered are:
Helps people of working age to find work and get benefits they are entitled to.
In Devon the Department of Social Security and the Employment Services have merged into a new service called Jobcentre Plus.
All new claims are made by telephone through the First Contact Centre at Torquay 0845 602 1036.
Following contact you will be sent an application form where appropriate, and an appointment will be made for you to go to your local Jobcentre Plus office. Here you will see a local financial assessor who will check your application form, entitlement and so on. You will then see a personal adviser to look at work opportunities.
If you have a question about an on-going benefit claim or need to report a changes in circumstances, please call Jobcentre Plus: 0845 603 6095, textphone: 0845 603 6089.
To apply for any Jobcentre Plus vacancies, please call Jobseeker Direct: 0845 6060234.
Provides services and support for pensioners and people looking into pensions and retirement.
The pensions service operates from pension centres. These are not call-in offices and all contact is made by telephoning this central number - 0845 606 0265.
From 6 October 2003 there are new benefits for over 60 year olds - Pension Credits:
Administers the Child Support Scheme.
The Child Support Agency also known as the CSA operate from regional offices. The contact details for the office covering Devon and the South West is:
Deals with benefits paid for dependent children. From April 2003 this service moved and is now part of the Inland Revenue.
On 1st April 2003 Child Benefit, changed to become a tax credit. As a result, this 'benefit' is now the responsibility of the Inland Revenue.
All claims and enquiries for Child Benefit continue to go through one central office:
Delivers a range of benefits to disabled people and carers.
The South West of England has one regional office for claims and enquiries:
Deals with appeals on decisions made on; social security, child benefit, housing benefit, council tax benefit, vaccine damage, tax credit and compensation recovery.
There are three Appeals Service Centres in Devon:
Our Finance and Benefits Team offer a welfare benefit check when making sure that only a fair charge is made for any of our chargeable services. However, we do not provide a specific advice, information and representation service on aspects of welfare benefits and debt problems.
You can get independent advice on benefits from the Citizens Advice Bureaux or from Care Direct if you are over 60 years of age.
There are currently no related links.
Back to top