Home Visit Volunteer - Disability Benefits team

Home Visit Volunteer - Disability Benefits team

Posted for Uttlesford Citizens Advice

Posted by Volunteer Essex

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Our brilliant disability benefits team are specially trained volunteers who visit people in their homes to help them to complete complex disability benefit application forms.  Last year they helped 563 clients apply for disability and carer's benefits worth over £1,548,000 a year!  The team is coordinated by a disability benefits specialist and one other member of part-time staff.

As a home visit volunteer, you will help people who, because of limited mobility, pain levels, confusion or caring responsibilities, find that visiting our offices is difficult or impossible. Undertaking one visit a week, on average, you will receive specialist training so that you can help clients to complete disability benefit applications and provide support and advice on fall prevention, social transport, care options, befriending and support groups, handyman services, access to priority registers, warm homes or budgeting advice, which can vastly improve the quality of life of disabled people and their carers. 

This is a flexible role that works very well around other commitments.

What will you do?

● complete an introduction to Citizens Advice and training for your role

● help clients complete disability benefit forms in their own homes

● help clients maximise their benefit income 

● check carers’ entitlement to benefits

● check eligibility for Council Tax discounts

● give advice on reducing energy costs

● provide advice on the best ways to pay for modifications to home or mobility aids

Volunteering with us you will:

● make a real difference to people’s lives 

● learn about a range of issues such as benefits, income maximisation, energy efficiency and support for carers

● build on valuable skills such as communication, listening and analysing

● increase your employability

● work with a range of different people, independently and in a team.

● have a positive impact in your community.

We welcome applications from all sections of the community.

What skills do I need?

You don’t need any specific qualifications or experience; you will receive full training for this role.  But you should:

● be friendly and approachable

● be non-judgmental and respect views, values and cultures that are different to your own

● have good listening skills

● have excellent verbal and written communication skills

● be able to understand information and explain it to others

● be willing to learn about and follow the Citizens Advice aims, principles and policies, including confidentiality and data protection

● be willing to undertake training in your role

● have access to a car, as travel around the district is required.  Travel expenses will be reimbursed.