General advice
Universal Credit - help to claim
Our Help to Claim advisers are here to assist you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can reach them by phone, online chat, or in person.
They can help you:
Determine if you qualify for Universal Credit
Fill out the Universal Credit application
Prepare for your first Jobcentre appointment
Check that your first payment is correct
If you’re starting a new Universal Credit claim, visit our website or call our Help to Claim service at Freephone 0800 144 8444.
Free legal advice
Citizens Advice Oxfordshire advisers can help find solutions for most problems. But for some problems a lawyer’s advice is needed. Thanks to the generosity of local solicitors’ firms, we are able to offer free 30-minute advice appointments with solicitors and paralegals with expertise in family, employment, immigration and general law. We call this our Pro Bono Legal Advice Clinic.
Please contact Citizens Advice, and if our advisers can’t help with all aspects of your question themselves, they will make you an appointment with the clinic. You will receive advice on your next steps. Unfortunately we do not offer legal representation and the solicitor will not be able to take on your case beyond the 30 minute appointments. But this 30 minutes may be enough to help you with the next step or resolve your issue.
We are grateful to the Access to Justice Foundation, Oxford Brookes University and participating firms for their support.
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Trussell Trust Foodbank
We know the rise in energy costs and increased cost of living is making life harder for everyone. Talk to your local Trussell Trust foodbank in Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester and Witney. They will then refer you to our expert advisers or talk to us directly.
Whether you need debt, benefits, housing or employment advice, our advisors will give you comprehensive and confidential, free advice and support. Your details will be confidential.
Please talk to your local Trussell Trust Foodbank located either in Abingdon, Banbury, Bicester or Witney:
Banbury
01295 661304
The Peoples Church
Horsefair
Banbury
Oxon
OX16 0AH
St Josephs
Edmunds Road
Banbury
Oxon
OX16 0PP
Witney
07949 442342
Cottsway House
Heynes Place
Avenue Two
Witney
Oxon
OX28 4YG
Abingdon
01235 525086
Abingdon North:
Christ Church
Northcourt Road
Abingdon
Oxon
OX14 1PL
Abingdon South:
c/o Preston Road Community Centre
Midget Close
Preston Road
Abingdon
Oxon
OX14 5NR
Alternatively, please call Adviceline (using the contact details) from this link: https://www.caox.org.uk/adviceline.
This free advice is thanks to the partnership between The Trussell Trust and Citizens Advice Oxfordshire. As a result of this partnership, we were recently able to help a couple who had fallen into debt due to benefits changes. They were struggling to afford the essentials and relying on foodbank support. Thanks to the support provided by this Financial Inclusion Project, they are now able to meet their essential costs. They are very grateful for the support that they have received from both the food bank and advice service, and are preparing themselves in advance for the increased energy costs during the winter months to come.
