More Than Just Creating Music: Benefits Advice Centre

The People’s Orchestra (TPO) is far more than just creating music as it is playing an even more vital role in the community during the cost of living crisis.

As a support network to improve lives in the Midlands and nationally, its work spans everything from providing experience and training to help someone find work to helping the most vulnerable get benefits they require.

Struggling residents, who are often the most desperate in the community, have turned to West Bromwich-based TPO to ensure that they don’t miss out on essential cash from PIP, Universal Credit and other claims. Here’s some of the success it has had.

Leading the benefits advice service is Imran Tarajia, who worked with the government’s Department for Work and Pensions for around 20 years. He joined The People’s Orchestra two years ago and has made a significant difference to many lives since then.

He now handles benefit-related enquiries from across the country and explains that many referrals and requests come through the Benefits Advice Centre Facebook page.

“The People’s Orchestra helps people into work but there’s also people who are entitled to benefits but find it too time-consuming or difficult to sort out,” said Imran.

“I’ve got lots of experience on dealing with forms about state pension, jobseeker’s allowance, Universal Credit and more but especially in PIP (Personal Independence Payments). I’ve had quite a few successes now.

“Many people struggle with it especially if they have a health condition. They don’t realise how stringent agencies are with point scoring and you have to answer everything completely.

“When people are told they aren’t entitled, they leave it, but I get involved and know how to make a new application or request consideration for someone.”

A recent case saw Imran secure a much-needed result for a single mum along with around £5,000 in back payments of Universal Credit owed to her. He’s also helped various men gain financial support after being evicted.

“People come to me struggling with the cost of living crisis, I do a benefits calculation and often find they are missing out on payments,” he adds.

“Normally it is at least £200 for people and the £5,000 case was rare, but she was at breaking point and very stressed as being harassed by the job centre to look for work.

“I went through her circumstances and one of her children had a disability. Although she’d reported it, they hadn’t made changes on their system and not made the payments of around £600 a month.

“It had to be reported as a change of circumstances you see. The system is so complicated for people and that’s where my experience comes into play.

“Sorting it out for people who need and are entitled to this money is the part of the job I love. To see their reaction, that relief that someone has listened to them and supported them. That makes my job satisfying as it is making a difference to someone’s life.”

Those people at their wits end have started coming from all walks of life since the pandemic, Imran tells me. He has noticed how many more people are turning to food banks for support.

“There’s all sorts of people,” adds Imran. “Even those from well paid jobs. There’s people with caring responsibilities or who have been made redundant and it’s a big shock.

“At the moment, there’s a problem of people with mental health issues who can’t get benefits. They may have failed health assessments and are expected to find work but I’m seeing a lot of information left out in their assessment.

“They are given five to 10 minutes to go through the questions and half the time, when they get the results, they say ‘that’s not what I said’.  Many people don’t take it further and leave it, especially if they have mental health issues.

“They are left behind by the system. That’s the biggest thing I see that they’re letting people down on.”

Imran’s expertise means he knows what steps to take to try and get a decision overturned in someone’s favour. Yet, he explains it is always easier if he can reach someone before they have put in an initial application.

“I sit with them and find out about their health conditions and how it affects them so I can put it on paper,” explains Imran.

“It’s a really worthwhile job but I want to get the word out there as I feel I could a help a lot more people.”

The Facebook Benefit Advice Centre page can be found here. Leave a message on the page or contact Imran by emailing: [email protected].