Post by Patrick Torsney on Feb 7, 2011 14:45:50 GMT 1
Much of the discussion about whether there should be legal aid focusses on the complexity of the issue and the benefits to the individual client. The case study below illustrates both the complexity point and also the immediate benefit to the client
However, there is another point that should be made. This is money coming in to not only the client's pocket and home but money coming into an area, a community, a town, a village, a city. This is money that will be spent in paper shops, lauderettes, clothes stores, on food and many other things. A significant proportion of the money that someone is entitled to being paid after legal advice is money that goes back into the economy of the community in one way or another
Here is Frank's story
Frank had lost his sight in an industrial accident. He approached us because he was concerned that he was not receiving his correct entitlement to benefits and was on the verge of being evicted from his home and wasn't sure what to do
He was not receiving Income Support because Jobcentre Plus were wrongly assuming that he was still getting Statutory Sick Pay, he had only been awarded the lowest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) even though it was clear to us that he should be getting the middle rate
The DLA decision had been made more than 8 months before Frank came to see us but the agency who had helped him to originally make his claim had not advised him that he should appeal
We helped Frank to lodge a late appeal, which was accepted and then represented him at a tribunal which agreed that he was entitled to the middle rate of the care component
As a consequence of our involvement Frank was awarded arrears of benefit totalling £7370 and is now getting an additional £81.30 per week in Income Support and DLA
Frank had originally sought help from another (non legal aid provider) agency but they had not picked up either of the issuesIt was clear to us that Frank could not have resolved these issues without our assistance
The last we heard from Frank, he was doing fine. He said he has now paid off his mortgage arrears and is much better able to keep up with his regular payments
The payment Gloucester Law Centre received for this case? £167, the standard fixed fee for a Welfare Benefits matter. Exactly the kind of matter that the Government is proposing to stop funding
However, there is another point that should be made. This is money coming in to not only the client's pocket and home but money coming into an area, a community, a town, a village, a city. This is money that will be spent in paper shops, lauderettes, clothes stores, on food and many other things. A significant proportion of the money that someone is entitled to being paid after legal advice is money that goes back into the economy of the community in one way or another
Here is Frank's story
Frank had lost his sight in an industrial accident. He approached us because he was concerned that he was not receiving his correct entitlement to benefits and was on the verge of being evicted from his home and wasn't sure what to do
He was not receiving Income Support because Jobcentre Plus were wrongly assuming that he was still getting Statutory Sick Pay, he had only been awarded the lowest rate of the care component of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) even though it was clear to us that he should be getting the middle rate
The DLA decision had been made more than 8 months before Frank came to see us but the agency who had helped him to originally make his claim had not advised him that he should appeal
We helped Frank to lodge a late appeal, which was accepted and then represented him at a tribunal which agreed that he was entitled to the middle rate of the care component
As a consequence of our involvement Frank was awarded arrears of benefit totalling £7370 and is now getting an additional £81.30 per week in Income Support and DLA
Frank had originally sought help from another (non legal aid provider) agency but they had not picked up either of the issuesIt was clear to us that Frank could not have resolved these issues without our assistance
The last we heard from Frank, he was doing fine. He said he has now paid off his mortgage arrears and is much better able to keep up with his regular payments
The payment Gloucester Law Centre received for this case? £167, the standard fixed fee for a Welfare Benefits matter. Exactly the kind of matter that the Government is proposing to stop funding