Helpline and advice

Advice and Helpline services

We provide a free confidential and impartial telephone advice and helpline Monday to Friday (English bank holidays excluded) 9.30am to 5.00pm. Contact us on our main telephone number 020 7791 2855.

• Our comprehensive range of advice services are quality marked to the Community Legal Service Standard. We offer a full information, advice, casework and representation service (including at court and social security benefit tribunal). These services are offered by face to face appointment, telephone, home/hospital visit and various outreach sessions. We also provide specialised community advice support reflecting the diversity and cultural mix of east London, for both gay/msm and Africans.
• Our main centre is in Stepney, but we offer a range of advice and support services through our outreach venues as well. Our goal being to maintain the provision of a high quality standard service, providing a flexibility of approach to meet the requirements of our uses. Please note: our centre provide specialist services which are not be available from all our outreach locations, this is due to local funding arrangements and the availability of space.
• If you want to speak to the Positive East worker processing your case, telephone 020 7791 2855 and ask to speak to the relevant worker. If they are unavailable you will be able to leave a voicemail message. Alternatively you can email them – click here for email contact details.

Positive East Fact sheets:

To help clarify the various welfare and benefits changes being introduced, Positive East Advice team are producing a series of summary fact sheets to simplify the issue and answer your questions and concerns. Fact sheets can be downloaded from the link below, or for full listing visit our Fact sheet page link on the left.

Future fact sheets will cover topics such as DLA, maternity entitlement and retirement plus we are producing a series on how working/studying/looking for work impacts on your benefits.

• Medical test for people claiming Disability Living Allowance (DLA):
  One of the changes announced in the Budget was that the government will introduce a medical test for people claiming DLA from 2013/14. It will be similar to the Work Capability Assessment, which was introduced last year for Employment and Support Allowance; however we do not know yet exactly what form it will take.
  We have produced a summary of the Government Disability Living Allowance proposed review for your reference.
• Qualifying for Employment and Support Allowance (ESA):
  ESA is a benefit paid to those who are too sick to work, It can be claimed in addition to other benefits such as DLA, Child Tax Credit, Housing Benefit. Those who are already in receipt of Incapacity Benefit/Income Support will be transferred on to ESA beginning in October 2010 and continuing for the following three years.
  For details we have produced a summary fact sheet called 'What is Employment and Support Allowance?' for your reference.
• Incapacity Benefit - Upcoming Changes and How They Affect People Living With HIV
  You may have heard in the news recently that the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) has started the process of reviewing the above benefit and moving claimants onto Employment and Support Allowance.
  We have produced a summary of the Incapacity Benefit changes for your reference.

If you require further information please contact the Helpline at advice@positiveeast.org.uk or telephone 020 7791 2855.