Citizens Advice guidance
We can all face problems that seem complicated or intimidating. Citizens Advice believe no one should have to face these problems without good quality, independent advice.
That’s why they’re there: to give people the knowledge and the confidence they need to find their way forward - whoever they are, and whatever their problem. They give advice to millions of people. Their network of independent charities offers confidential advice online, over the phone, and in person, for free. People rely on them because they’re independent and totally impartial.
They also give advice on consumer rights on their consumer helpline, support witnesses in courts through the Witness Service and give pension guidance to people aged over 50.
Please see the list of different advice bureau's within the West London Haemoglobinopathy region
London Borough of Hammersmith & Fulham
Hammersmith & Fulham Citizens Advice bureau
Contact us
Avonmore Library & Neighbourhood Centre 7 North End Crescent (Public Entrance in North End Road)
LONDON
W14 8TG
http://www.cahf.org.uk/
About our advice service
Please note all our services are only for people who live, work or study in the Hammersmith and Fulham Borough. If English is not your first language you may wish to bring a member of your family or a friend to help you. Opening hours are subject to staff availability and may sometimes vary in the event of training events or staff meetings. We’re no longer offering face-to-face services at this office due to the coronavirus outbreak.
London Borough of Kensington and Chelsea
Chelsea Citizens Advice
Contact us
Old Town Hall Kings Road
LONDON
SW3 5EE
http://www.kensingtonandchelseacab.org.uk/
About our advice service
The Kensington & Chelsea Citizens Advice Bureau can only provide a full service to people who live, work, or study in Kensington & Chelsea.
Coronavirus - how to get advice
We have stopped giving face to face advice.
By requesting appointment online (we will do our best to get back to you within 3 working days):
https://www.citizensadvicekc.org.uk/getting-advice/online-enquiry/
Online Advice from Citizens Advice:
https://www.citizensadvicekc.org.uk/getting-advice/online-advice/
Chat with an online adviser from the national Citizens Advice website
London Borough of Harrow
Harrow Citizens Advice
Contact us
Sheldon House
4 Gayton Road
Harrow
Middlesex
HA1 2FB
https://www.citizensadviceharrow.org.uk/
About our advice service
Throughout its existence, the Citizens Advice service has adapted and developed to help people with changing circumstances and problems. As well as providing advice it has also worked hard to positively influence social policy and legislation to help clients.
Call us
0808 250 5705
Email us
adminsupport@citizensadviceharrow.org.uk
Visit our website
https://citizensadviceharrow.org.uk
London Borough of Hillingdon
Hillingdon Citizens Advice
Contact us
Please be advised that our office will be closed to the public starting from 30 October 2023 for refurbishments until further notice. If you need to contact Citizens Advice Hillingdon, please complete our form by clicking here
https://www.hillingdoncab.org.uk/
Uxbridge Citizens Advice
Contact us
The Reception
Civic Centre
Uxbridge
Middlesex
UB8 1UW
https://www.hillingdoncab.org.uk/
About our advice service
Citizens Advice Hillingdon's office is undergoing refurbishment and has temporarily relocated to the Reception at the Civic Centre, London Borough of Hillingdon and is providing limited service.
London Borough of Brent
Brent Citizens Advice
Contact us
270-272 High Rd
Willesden
London
NW10 2EY
https://www.citizensadvicebrent.org.uk
About our advice service
We operate a telephone advice line or you can drop into a hub- see outreach list. or if with children up to age 18 can access our services via the local Family Wellbeing Centres - see our outreach service for list
London Borough of Wandsworth
Wandsworth Citizens Advice
Contact us
Battersea Library
265 Lavender Hill
London
SW11 1JB
https://cawandsworth.org/
About our advice service
If you need advice, please call our Adviceline or contact us through our website. We also have a limited drop-in service but for face-to-face advice you generally need a pre-booked appointment. You can visit us without an appointment if:
- You don't have access to a phone or the internet.
- You face other barriers to accessing advice remotely, for instance hearing impairment.
- You have an urgent issue such as needing a food voucher.
London Borough of Hounslow
Feltham Citizens Advice
Contact us
2nd Floor
The Centre
High Street
Feltham
Middlesex
TW13 4GU
https://hounslowcabs.org.uk/#!
About our advice service
Citizens Advice Hounslow provides free, confidential, independent, impartial advice. Our service is open to all, but we particularly support the more vulnerable people in our community. We also do outreach work at different locations across the borough, as well as home visits. The address of our offices and outreach venues can be found in the Contact us section.
Most of our CORE work involves helping residents with welfare benefits, debt and housing cases. We also help with issues encompassing relationship, employment, immigration and consumer law.
Brentford & Chiswick Citizens Advice
Contact us
Town Hall
Heathfield Terrace
Chiswick
London
W4 4JN
https://www.hounslowcabs.org.uk/
About our advice service
Clients can access the service in person, by phone or through digital channels. Since Covid19, drop-in sessions had to be suspended and most of the service was delivered by phone, email and webchat. We also received numerous direct referrals from local organisations with whom we collaborate to better support vulnerable residents.
On their first contact with the service, all clients receive an initial assessment. The purpose of the assessment is to briefly explore the client’s problem and find the best way forward suited to the case and the client’s capacity to take action. Following this, we may give clients information and advice, or we may book an appointment with one of our advisers.
London Borough of Barnet
Barnet Hub Citizens Advice Bureau
Contact us
40-44 Church End Hendon
LONDON
NW4 4JT
http://www.barnetcab.org.uk/
About our advice service
The services are for people who live, work or study in the Borough of Barnet only.
Royall Borough of Kingston upon Thames
Kingston Citizens Advice
Contact us
Neville House 55 Eden Street
Kingston
Surrey
KT1 1BW
http://www.citizensadvicekingston.org.uk/
About our advice service
Our office is closed at the moment and we are working from home to deliver our service to you.
You can either email us using the link from our website or telephone us on our call back service and we will call you back (our number will be withheld when we do this and we may leave a message)
Access details
Wheelchair accessible
Wheelchair toilet access
Induction loop
Luton Town Borough
Luton Citizens Advice
Contact us
Community House 15 New Bedford Road
LUTON
Bedfordshire
LU1 1SA
http://www.citizensadviceluton.org.uk/
About our advice service
If you need advice, we're still here to help. We are not operating a drop in service but are open Monday to Friday for emergencies.
For Help Via Webchat: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/about-us/contact-us/contact-us/web-chat-service
You can also access information online via our website www.citizensadvice.org.uk
Bedford Borough
Dunstable and District Citizens Advice
Contact us
The Dunstable Centre
Court Drive
Dunstable
Bedfordshire
LU5 4JD
https://www.dunstablecab.org.uk/
About our advice service
We provide free, confidential, independent and impartial advice.
Our Advisers will research your options and look at the possible outcomes of different courses of action. They will not tell you what to do but encourage you to make your own decisions. They will help you to make informed decisions by advising on your specific needs and giving you the facts on which to base those decisions. Our Advisers use all the latest information so that you are armed with the best and most accurate advice.
We are only able to see clients who live in the Central Bedfordshire area.
As well as providing advice to the public, we speak for changes in social policies; from our clients’ experiences we can see where services and policies are failing. We call this work “Campaigning for change”.
We are a member of the national Citizens Advice service, which provides the extensive information we use to advise clients and sets standards for advice, training, equal opportunities and accessibility.
Bedford & District Citizens Advice
Contact us
8 The Harpur Centre
Bedford
Bedfordshire
MK40 1TP
https://www.bedfordcab.org.uk/
About our advice service
Bedford and District Citizens Advice Bureau provides free, independent, confidential and impartial advice to everyone on their rights and responsibilities. We provide advice and support on a wide range of subjects. We also aim, through our local and national social policy work to improve policies and practices that affect people's everyday lives. You can get help by telephone, email, webchat, online advice guide or by face to face discussion.
Surrey Heath Borough
Citizens Advice Surrey Heath
Contact us
Surrey Heath House Knoll Road
CAMBERLEY
Surrey
GU15 3HD
http://www.citizensadvicesurreyheath.org.uk/
client@camberley.cabnet.org.uk
We can assist with general advice, Universal Credit applications, disability forms, mandatory reconsiderations and appeals, debt advice, benefit checks and energy advice appointments.
Reigate & Banstead Borough
Redhill Citizens Advice (East Surrey)
Contact us
72-74 Station Road
Redhill
RH1 1PN
About our advice service
Drop in available for those with an emergency, where help is needed accessing the service, or someone can’t phone/email.
Check if you need to book an appointment
You can drop in to our office to speak to someone.
If you would like to pre-book an appointment, contact us to see if this is an option.
Epsom & Ewell Borough
Epsom & Ewell Citizens Advice
Contact us
The Old Town Hall The Parade
EPSOM
Surrey
KT18 5AG
http://www.caee.org.uk/
About our advice service
The Bureau is located in Epsom Town Centre and its service is available to all those who live and/or work in the local community. The Bureau also offers a Mental Health Outreach Service, which is funded by the NHS and Lloyds Foundation, and covers Mid and East Surrey (Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead and Tandridge in addition to Epsom and Ewell), a Specialist Debt Service.
When you drop-in or telephone us, you will initially be offered a short interview (no more than 10 minutes) so that your problem can be assessed. The assessor will then decide the next course of action for you.
See more here
Hertfordshire Borough
Watford Citizens Advice
Contact us
St Mary's Churchyard High St
WATFORD
Hertfordshire
WD17 2BE
West Sussex Borough
Crawley Citizens Advice
Contact us
The Orchard 1-2 Gleneagles Court Brighton Road, Southgate
CRAWLEY
West Sussex
RH10 6AD
http://www.advicewestsussex.org.uk/
Benefits
What benefits can I claim?
There are a number of different benefits checking services available which can help you to explore your benefit entitlement:
Can I get Personal Independence Payment (PIP) because I have sickle cell disease?
PIP is a benefit for people who have long term health conditions like sickle cell disease. However, it is not based on the condition itself, but how it affects you day to day.
This link explores general PIP entitlement
Getting PIP can be challenging. It would be a good idea to talk to a benefits adviser to explore this further.
I have no recourse to public funds. Is there any support I can access?
Someone with ‘NRPF’ status cannot claim any benefit that is classed as a ‘public fund’. There are a small number of benefits that are not classed as public funds. If you meet the other eligibility criteria, you may be able to make a claim for these.
See: https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/benefits/benefits-that-are-not-public-funds#guide-content
https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk
Immigration
I have a skilled worker visa and want to stay in the UK permanently. What can I do?
If you have been living in the UK on a skilled worker visa for more than five years, you may be eligible for indefinite leave to remain (ILR). You can check the requirements and apply online here: https://www.gov.uk/indefinite-leave-to-remain-tier-2-t2-skilled-worker-visa
There is more general information about ILR here
My employer has lost their sponsorship licence. What are my options?
If your employment is tied to your visa, for example, if you on a skilled worker visa, you will need to either find a new employer who can sponsor you, or apply for a different visa. There are very strict time limits here, so it is important to act quickly if this has happened.
See https://www.gov.uk/employee-lose-sponsor-licence
If you do nothing and your visa comes to an end, you will become an overstayer. If this happens, you should seek advice from an immigration adviser immediately:
https:// www.citizensadvice.org.uk /immigration/problems-with-a-visa/overstayed-visa
You can use this link to help you find an immigration adviser in your area: https://www.gov.uk/find-an-immigration-adviser
Employment
I need to work from home because of my sickle cell. Can my employer refuse my request?
Anyone classed as an employee can make a statutory flexible working request. ‘Flexible working’ can include things like hybrid working and working from home. Employers should consider all flexible working requests.
Acas provides comprehensive guidance on your right to make the request, how to make the request and what to do if your employer denies your request: https://www.acas.org.uk/statutory-flexible-working-requests
My employer doesn’t understand sickle cell disease and doesn’t take my needs seriously
You should discuss your needs with your manager and come up with a plan on how best to support you within your workplace. If you feel that your employer isn’t listening, you could consider providing some support evidence from your consultant that explains your condition and the impacts it may have on your work.
You may wish to consider asking for Occupational Health involvement, so someone external can help to assess your level of need and the appropriate support.
If you are unable to negotiate with your employer, you may need to consider raising a grievance: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/work/grievance-meetings/dealing-with-grievances-at-work/
If you feel you are being discriminated against, you can contact the Equality Advisory Support Service: https://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/
Housing
I have damp and mould that my landlord will not repair
Damp and mould are very challenging housing issues. Advice is different depending on if you are a private or social (council or housing association) tenant.
Private tenant: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_and_mould_in_rented_homes
Social tenant: https://england.shelter.org.uk/housing_advice/repairs/damp_mould_social_housing
I have no recourse to public funds. What housing services can I access?
Homelessness assistance and local authority allocation of housing are both considered public funds.
https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/housing
A person with no recourse to public funds can apply for housing association properties if they apply to the housing associations independently and do not go through a council allocation process.
https://www.nrpfnetwork.org.uk/information-and-resources/rights-and-entitlements/benefits-and-housing-public-funds/housing/housing-association-tenancies#guide-content
Main SCD Issues Children
The vast majority of the issues raised above will be relevant to parents with children with sickle cell disease. Below are some more specific questions/issues raised.
Benefits
Can my child get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) because they have sickle cell disease?
DLA is a benefit for children, under the age of 16, who have long term health conditions like sickle cell disease. However, it is not based on the condition itself, but how it affects your child day to day.
Entitlement to DLA is based on the level of supervision your child requires as a result of their health condition. If your child’s need is substantially greater than the needs of another child without their health conditions, it is possible that they will qualify for DLA. There are a number of relevant factors to consider, including the age of the child and the frequency of crisis events.
I have no recourse to public funds, can my child get any benefits?
Some benefits relating to children, such as Child Benefit, are based on the immigration status of the parent.
See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/child-benefit/before-you-claim/check-if-you-can-get-child-benefit/
Other benefits, such as DLA, are based on the immigration status of the child.
See https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/sick-or-disabled-people-and-carers/disability-living-allowance/before-you-claim-dla/check-if-you-can-get-dla/#h-if-your-child-isn-t-a-british-citizen
I have no recourse to public funds. Can I receive the 15 or 30 free hours of childcare?
Entitlement to the 15 or 30 free hours of childcare is based on immigration status. The person applying must have:
one of the following:
- British or Irish citizenship
- Settled or pre-settled status
- Permission to access public funds
See https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/check-youre-eligible
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