Advice Changes Lives: Andrew's story

We continue our Advice Changes Lives series by bringing you ‘Andrew’s’ story.  Through the series, we are highlighting how early legal advice can be transformative for people.  Whatever situation our clients find themselves in, we want to ensure that their rights and entitlements are clearly defined and accessible to them.

Recently, Law Centre NI Welfare Rights Adviser, Bridget Corr, successfully represented our client Andrew in a Personal Independence Payment appeal, resulting in an arrears payment of benefits totalling almost £53,000.

Andrew’s story

Despite having a severe disability, our client Andrew was initially assessed as having no entitlement to Personal Independence Payment – a benefit paid to people who have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability, or difficulty doing certain everyday tasks because of their condition.  As a result of this decision, Andrew had been losing out on £226 per week since 2018.  Bridget successfully represented Andrew at appeal and he was awarded an arrears payment of almost £53,000.

Speaking after Andrew’s case concluded, Bridget said: “I am delighted that Andrew has won his appeal and has been able to finally access what he should have been entitled to over the last four years to help him to live an independent life.”

Andrew’s words sum up perfectly how much Bridget’s support, advice and representation meant to him: “I don’t know how to thank you.  I am very, very grateful.”