A DORSET disability charity has encouraged people needing assistance with disability benefit applications to contact them.

The Diverse Abilities advice team remains open for advice and guidance and is offering telephone appointments for anyone who need help filling out a disability benefit application.

MP Justin Tomlinson, minister of state at the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), has found that there has been a significant reduction in the number of benefit applications during the coronavirus pandemic. His belief is that this is due to people being unable to access help with the application forms.

Elaine Ewing, Diverse Abilities advice service manager, said: "We understand that people may be delaying the return of forms as the DWP has extended the return by dates, however, we are here and ready to help as leaving forms until the last minute may result in a back log of applications and delays in receiving DWP decisions."

The charity can offer advice on a variety of matters, including benefit applications, lasting powers of attorney, appeals and reconsiderations. All types of disabilities and health conditions are supported by the service, for example, dementia, motor neurone disease and strokes, and all ages are considered including children and their families or carers.

For more information on the service available, visit the Diverse Abilities website or call 0300 330 5514 weekdays between 09:00 and 13:30. There is also information available on the charity's Facebook group, Diverse Abilities Advice Team.