About Us
The Welfare Benefits Unit offers specialist welfare benefits advice to those who work with members of the public. Our experienced advisers provide independent support through our advice line, publications, training, consultancy, campaigns and projects.
Founded in 1968, the Welfare Benefits Unit (WBU) provides essential, free second tier welfare benefits support. We operate as a second-tier hub, providing expert advice, training, and casework support to a wide network of client-facing partner organisations, including local authorities, housing associations and frontline charities.
Our Vision & Purpose
Vision
An inclusive society where everyone is valued, financially secure and can participate equally.
Purpose
Maximise benefit entitlement by ensuring access to expert advice, improving the capability of advisers, disseminating information and influencing policy.
Key Priorities
- Authoritative and accurate benefits advice, training and publications.
- Professional, courteous, quality-assured service, meeting our partners’ needs.
- A focal point for welfare rights work and entitlement maximisation, supporting North Yorkshire and York residents.
- Influencing local and national decision-making and policy direction, promoting claimants’ rights.
Values
| Justice | Professional competence | Compassion | Integrity |
| Quality | Customer focus | Independence | Reliability |
“Having used the Welfare Benefits Unit for more than ten years I have had positive results each time.”
Annual Reviews
WBU Annual Review 2024 to 2025
WBU Annual Review 2023 to 2024
Funding
The Welfare Benefits Unit is primarily funded by North Yorkshire Council and City of York Council. We also rely on sales of our Advisers Guide, Training, Publications and Consultancy services to support our work.
We receive grant funding from a number of sources. In 2025/26 this included Two Ridings Community Foundation, Legal Education Foundation, Lloyds Bank Foundation and the Sylvia and Colin Shepard Charitable Trust.
Thank you to all our supporters.
“I think this is an excellent service. Very good advice and the advisers always ring back and follow up.”
Comments or Complaints
The Welfare Benefits Unit is committed to providing high quality services. We welcome your feedback in order to improve. We would like to hear from you if you have any comments about the services we provide or if you have a complaint. Please see our Comments and Complaints Policy use the contact form or contact our Chief Executive.
Privacy Statement
The Welfare Benefits Unit takes your privacy seriously and will only use your personal information to provide products or services you have requested from us. From time to time we would like to contact you with details of other events and publications we offer. We will not pass your details to anyone outside our organisation. You can read our Privacy Statement here.
