Welfare Service

As an RCN member, you can get expert advice and information on benefits, debt, housing and more.

Debt advice

If you are struggling with debt, the RCN's Welfare Service can provide free, regulated debt advice. 

Completing a financial breakdown of your income, expenditure and debts before your appointment will help give the adviser an overview of your financial situation.

Understanding benefits decisions

Our Welfare advisers can help you to understand complex benefit decisions, offering advice and assistance to challenge benefit decisions. This may be to: 

• Seek mandatory reconsideration of a welfare benefit/ tax credit decision 
• Dispute a decision about an overpayment  
• Appeal to a Tribunal

Please note, we will only be able to offer casework representation where we identify there is merit to your case in disputing a decision, and cannot offer assistance beyond advice where we identify that there is little or no prospect of success based on the relevant benefit regulations.

See our online advice about challenging and appealing benefits decisions.

Housing problems

The Welfare Service can't offer you housing but can advise you when you are facing difficult housing decisions.

For example, we can offer advice on negotiating with your mortgage lender or landlord if you're in arrears because of a change in circumstance.

Make an appointment

To make an appointment with the service, please call RCN Direct on 0345 772 6100. Line are open between 8.30am and 8.30pm, 7 days a week.

Online guides

You can also view our advice guide on money, debt, hardship and bankruptcy and see our publication dealing with a drop in income.