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Due to essential maintenance, the following systems will be unavailable from 6.00pm on Monday 2 October until 8.00am on Tuesday 3 October: our online council tax, business rates and housing benefit services, and our welfare assistance form. You will also not be able to register to pay council tax online, make a change of address for council tax or cancel single person discount. You are still able to make a payment during this time. We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause.

Benefits advice or help with a benefits appeal


Welfare Rights can help you with queries about your benefits, we can also help and support you to challenge benefit decisions with an appeal.

Need help or advice about your rights? Contact us Monday to Thursday, from 8.30am until 5.00pm and Friday 8.30am until 4.30pm. All services are confidential and free of charge if you live in County Durham.

Benefits advice

If you need advice on a benefit issue, we can:

  • Give you information on what benefits you might be entitled to and how to claim them.
  • Check that you are getting the right amount of benefit.
  • Advise you on what will happen if your circumstances change.
  • Give advice on how to ask for a reconsideration of a decision, or appeal against it.

Contact us for more information.

Benefits appeals

If you've recently had a benefit claim turned down and are appealing against this, we can help you with specialist advice and support. We can help you prepare your case and attend the tribunal hearing with you.

Contact us to ask for help with your benefits appeal.

Who is eligible

All services are confidential and free of charge if you live in County Durham.