Benefits FAQ

Contact Make the Call by phone on 0800 232 1271 request an interpreter in your language. They also have an email address [email protected]

Contact PIP by phone on 0800 587 0932 and request an interpreter in your language. PIP guidance 2023 (from Law Centre) may also be a useful reference for you.

Contact by phone on 0800 587 0912 and after the recorded English message press key 1 on your phone for DLA and request an interpreter in your language.

Contact Carer’s Allowance by phone on 0800 587 0912 and after recorded English message press key 2 on your phone for CA and request an interpreter in your language. The email address for CA if wishing to provide supporting evidence over email is

[email protected]

Use your Universal Credit journal to send message in English/your own language and request call with interpreter in your language or arrange face to face appointment etc. Or call 0800 012 1331.

Contact Housing Benefit by phone on about your existing application or queries by phone on 03448 920 902 and request an interpreter in your language.

Download, print and complete short simple form and return it by post or email. Form found here: https://www.nihe.gov.uk/Documents/Housing-Benefit/HB-Housing-Benefit-discretionary-housing-payment-f.aspx

You can call the general line 0300 200 7822 and ask for your specific job centre.

Contact ESA on the phone on about your existing application or queries by phone on 0800 587 1377 and request an interpreter in your language.

Contact JSA by phone on about your existing application and queries on  0800 022 4250 press key 1 on your phone and request an interpreter in your language.

Contact IS by phone on about your existing application and queries by phone on 0800 022 4250 - after the recorded English message ends press key 2 and then request an interpreter in your language.

Contact Make The Call by phone on 0800 232 1271 request an interpreter in your language. They also have an email address [email protected]

Contact HMRC by phone on 0300 322 7058.

• If you are a childcare provider or employer - usually not applicable - Press key 1 on phone
• If you received a letter from them and are responding – Press key 2 on phone and have letter and then type 2-digit extension number from right hand corner of letter.
• If you have written to them and want an update on progress – Press key 3 on phone and then type 2-digit extension number from right hand corner of letter.
• Change of circumstances – must be in response to a letter sent or if they are still dealing with your case - Press key 4 on phone and then type 2-digit extension number. If it is a change of circumstances NOT connected to a letter you must ring helpline on 0345 300 3900 instead.
• If you have received a decision notice and disagree with change to your Tax Credit award – you must write to them including National Insurance Number to request Mandatory reconsideration first before they will take a call from about this. Once you have done so then you can call and Press key 5 on phone.
• If you received a letter advising the amount you receive has been reduced to due to not having enough information – Press key 6 on phone.

For any general tax credit enquiries, you must ring HMRC helpline on 0345 300 3900 and for the following items - change of circumstances unrelated to a letter, general queries and renewing your tax credits award.

HMRC automated English voice recorded menu:

Why are you calling? Options to say - payments, change of circumstances, new claims, renewals, or something else.

Press 1 – Payments, Press 2 – Change of circumstances, Press 3 – New Claim, Press 4 - Renewal or Press 5 - something else.

Is your name on the award? – say Yes

English info about website - Would you like to hear this info again? – say No

Requests NINO – say your NINO (National Insurance Number)

Then asks to take part in survey – Ignore and wait to be connected or press 2 to opt out.

Then you will be transferred to advisor where you can request interpreter in your own language.

Contact Child Benefit helpline by phone on 0300 200 3100 – have your NINO and details ready for call.

Automated English voice recorded menu:

Why are you calling? – Options to say payments, banking details, education – anything else

Press 1 – Payments, Press 2 – Banking details, Press 3 – Education, Press 4 – Anything else.

Are you the customer whose name is on award? – say Yes

English info about website - Would you like to hear this info again? – say No

Then you will be transferred to advisor where family can request interpreter in their own language.

By phone on 0300 200 7089 – (EMA do not have the ability to provide interpreters and you would need to use a family friend who is bilingual – have this person added as a third party with your consent)- by email [email protected] – have EMA reference no. ready for both call and email which can be found on EMA letter.

Press 1 – If you are calling about evidence supporting your EMA application

Press 2 – If you are calling about payments

Press 3 - To check if you qualify for EMA

Press 4 – To check progress of your EMA application or any other queries about EMA application and then press key 1 on phone for application progress or press key 2 on phone for other queries.

Contact on 0800 587 1322

This is the service that deals with recovery of any benefit overpayment. Be sure to have NI number and security info (what benefits on, address etc.) ready and know which of the partner’s names the debt is under.

Option 1: Apply yourself through online application

https://apply.financesupport.nidirect.gov.uk/549cf7a1-091e-4248-81f7-7384bc2472b2

Option 2: Phone Financial Support/Discretionary loan or grant to apply or for queries to follow up on application on 0800 587 2750.

(Important to remember this can only be applied for once every 12 months and if you are offered a loan rather than grant it will be deducted from your future benefit payments until it is completely repaid)

Option 1: Download, print and complete form yourself 

https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/sites/default/files/2022-03/budgeting-loan-form-sf500.pdf

Option 2: By phone on  0800 022 4250 Press key 1 on your phone and request an interpreter in your language.