VoiceAbility are going to be delivering the new Social Security Advocacy Service.
The services is free of charge to:
- anyone with a disability who may need extra support to understand and communicate when accessing and applying for Social Security Scotland benefits
- parents or carers with a disability who need support to access benefits for a child
- parents or carers who are accessing benefits for a child with a disability, if the child wants to be involved in the process and needs support
An advocacy worker won’t provide advice but they can help clients to:
- be heard and understood
- know, understand and secure their rights under the Scottish social security system
- ask questions and get information
- express their rights, views, wishes and what they want to achieve, and represent their own interests
- be fully involved and make informed decisions
- safeguard their rights by representing their circumstances if they are unable to
Clients can be referred to the service by completing the appropriate referral form at https://www.voiceability.org/make-a-referralon .
Or, clients can access this support themselves by going to https://www.voiceability.org/make-a-referral/myself-step-two?relationship=myself&reason=social-security-scotland , or by contacting VoiceAbility directly for free on 0300 303 1660.