Benefit Enquiry Line
2nd Floor
Red Rose House
Lancaster Road
Preston
PR1 1HB
Helpline (voice): 0800 882200
Helpline (text): 0800 243355
Telephone: 8.30am - 6.30pm, Monday - Friday; 9am - 1pm, Saturday
Web: www.direct.gov.uk/en/Dl1/Directories/DG_10011165
The Benefit Enquiry Line (BEL) is a benefits helpline for people with disabilities, carers and representatives. BEL is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. They offer confidential advice and information on benefits and how to claim them. In addition to giving advice they are also able to send out an extensive range of leaflets and claim packs to customers. As a national service they serve the whole of England, Scotland and Wales.
The advisers have no access to customer's personal records and are able to provide general advice only. The advisers are trained in Social Security benefits, the most common benefits they provide advice on are those relating to sickness and disability ie Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Statutory Sick Pay, and Income Support. BEL also provides help to complete certain disability-related claim packs over the telephone. Alternative formats are available.
The authors and editors of this article are employed to create accurate and up to date content reflecting reliable research evidence, guidance and best clinical practice. They are free from any commercial conflicts of interest.
Find out more about updating.
Related pages in Patient UK
Health Topic information leaflets related to this topic (^ top of page)
Attendance Allowance
Benefits for Bereaved People
Benefits for the Terminally Ill
Carer's Allowance
Disability Living Allowance
Free or Reduced Cost Prescriptions
Free Wigs and Fabric Supports
Healthy Start
Help With Dental Charges
Help With Health Costs
Help with Travel Costs to Hospital
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Jobseeker's Allowance
Maternity Benefits
Severe Disablement Allowance
Statutory Sick PaySupport Groups related to this topic (^ top of page)
AFTAID - Aid for the Aged in Distress
Attend
Carer's Allowance Unit
Citizens Advice Bureaux
Citizens Advice Scotland
Combat Stress
Consumer Credit Counselling Service
CrossReach
DWP - Department for Work and Pensions
Eileen Trust
Elizabeth Finn Care
Family Action
Family Fund (for severely disabled children)
Farm Crisis Network
FirstStop
Health Healthy Start Scheme
Help the Aged Care Fees Advice
Jewish Care
LawCare
Legal Services Agency Ltd
LGBP Ltd
Nacro (crime reduction charity)
National Benevolent Fund for the Aged
National Debtline
NAVCA (National Association for Voluntary and Community Action)
NCVO - National Council for Voluntary Organisations
NHFA (elderly care)
NHS Business Services Authority - help with health costs
Patients Association
Quarriers
RSVP - Retired & Senior Volunteer Programme
Shaw Trust
St Vincent de Paul Society
SupportLine
Suzy Lamplugh Trust
Teacher Support Network
TOC H
Tunstall Response
Universal Beneficent Society
Veteran's Aid
Veterans UK
Victoria Convalescent Trust
WRVS
YWCA of England and WalesLinks to other selected websites related to this topic (^ top of page)
Benefits
Charities
Non-UK Patient Self Help and Support Group Information
Phone AdvicePatient UK Newspaper (^ top of page)
Recent related news items
Most carers 'hit breaking point'
Depression dubbed 'the new back pain' with 50,000 Scots claiming sick pay
Concern over rise in long-term sick leave
Drug users and alcholics should not expect the rest of us to fund their addictions
Families 'misled' over care feesAll news by related topic
Support And Welfare newsRelated Products (^ top of page)
Medical equipment

Books

Other - Useful resources (^ top of page)
Pictures, diagrams, photos, images, etc.Evidence based medicine
Online textbooks and journals
UK Guidelines
Online Videos
Medline
Other good health sites
Disclaimer: Patient UK has no control over the content of any external links above. Inclusion does not imply endorsement by Patient UK.
Want to advertise on this site? Find out how >>
Here you can follow a link to view existing patient experiences on this subject, or to add your own
This will offer you the usual PDF options i.e. document navigation, search, zoom and formatted print
Note: this is the best way to print the document
Note: this will open in a new window
Note: this will open in a new window







