Advice/Advocacy and Welfare Support

WAVE’s Welfare Advice workers are trained and experienced in social welfare matters and in dealing with people who have suffered a trauma such as bereavement or injury. We offer free confidential information and advice on a range of issues: Social Security Benefits; Housing; Intimidation; Consumer and Employment Issues; Education and Training; Community Care and Tribunal Representation services; and other legal matters.

Advice and Practical help

The services that WAVE can offer its members include: an initial consultation on member’s specific enquiry, obtaining and completion of the necessary forms, and the ability to be the member’s formal representative. In addition we can also offer the member representation at any subsequent hearings, tribunals or appeals.

WAVE offers a referral service to other organisations, for example specialised services such as debt counselling.

The advice and representation service, which we offer in relation to welfare benefits, also applies to other benefit issuing bodies such as The Northern Ireland Memorial Fund and The Police Fund.

Advocacy/Lobbying

In latter years WAVE have become more actively involved with the advocacy and lobbying dimension to social welfare issues. This process has already started in relation to the current issue of the proposed water rates in Northern Ireland. We have also worked closely with The Northern Ireland Anti-Poverty Network (NIAPN) in developing an anti poverty strategy for Northern Ireland.

Information

The information resources we use include Welfare Benefit books and publications, the Citizens Advice Electronic Information System; we are also members of the Law Centre and Housing Rights Service. Networking with voluntary and statutory groups is essential in our work, and we identify advice and training needs and issues as they arise. Staff inform members of new Welfare issues via articles in each centre’s monthly News Sheet, and the quarterly Newsletter. Talks on welfare or training issues are also provided to workers and members alike. They also identify social policy issues and put forward the interests of members at relevant meetings with other agencies.