Casework Service
The casework service provides specialist welfare benefit advice, casework and representation and specialist debt advice, casework and representation. This service is available to residents of Sussex who are referred to us by professionals who are working on their behalf (i.e. Social Services). Funding is required to take on a client under the casework service. See the Referrals page for more information on referring a client onto the casework service.

If there is no funding available, advice can be obtained through MACS Advice Line.

The casework service helps people maintain independence when they have problems coping with money matters due to health and/or social difficulties. For example:
• Mental Ill Health
• Learning Disability
• Physical Disability
• Substance Misuse
• Being housebound due to infirmity

What can MACS help with?
• Benefit entitlements, claims, reviews and appeals
• Debt advice and negotiating with creditors
• Advice and assistance with budgeting money
• Applications to Charities
• Organising the purchase of household items
• Liasing with other organisations
• Accessing other services

This service can include a unique facility we call money-handling where we can receive income on our client's behalf and distribute it to pay bills. MACS case service is tailored to the needs of individuals and can range from offering advice and filling in benefit claim forms to money-handling and visiting the client at home to deliver their money. Our service is:
• Confidential
• Impartial
• Free to the service user

Appointees
MACS is recognised as a corporate appointee by the Benefits Agency. This allows MACS to receive Social Security benefits for people who are unable to do this themselves and MACS can act on their behalf.

Advice Line
A specialist welfare benefit and debt advice telephone line is available to the general public. This service is impartial and confidential. The Advice Line is also used to discuss how to refer a client to the casework service and any other services that may assist them.

Telephone: 01273 664040
Mondays: 10.00am -1.00pm
Thursdays: 10.00am -1.00pm

This service is currently unfunded so the future of this service is uncertain.

Our Core Values
Throughout our work we will:
• Be fully committed to the active promotion of good equal opportunities practice
• Provide a service which is free of direct cost to the client
• Seek to achieve the highest possible standards in everything we do
• Acknowledge people's dignity and privacy and treat all people with courtesy and respect at all times
• Be open transparent and accountable
• Value the contribution of everybody involved in the service
• Work in ways to enhance people's capacity to regain control of their financial situation
• Work to ensure a solid reputation and secure financial basis for the organisation which will enable us to meet our objectives