Last updated 24 September 2026. These standards apply to Benefits Expert and to our brand sites: PIPexpert, ESAexpert, ADPexpert, AttendanceExpert and EHCPhelp.
Who is responsible for our guides
Benefits Expert and its brand sites are run by Karol Slusarczyk, the founder, who is responsible for everything we publish. The same person who is responsible for the guides also reads the support inbox, so questions from claimants feed straight back into what we publish.
Karol is not a solicitor, a doctor or a DWP employee. Our guides are general guidance, not legal, medical or financial advice. Where someone needs advice about their own case, especially for an appeal or a tribunal, our guides point to free, regulated help such as Citizens Advice, local welfare rights services and disability charities.
Where our facts come from
We take rates, rules and deadlines only from official sources, mainly these:
- legislation.gov.uk for Acts of Parliament and regulations, read in their current form.
- gov.uk and DWP guidance, including the decision makers' guides that DWP staff follow.
- Social Security Scotland and the Scottish Government for Adult Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Carer Support Payment and other Scottish benefits.
- nidirect and the Department for Communities for benefits in Northern Ireland.
- The Department for Education's SEND Code of Practice for Education, Health and Care plans in England.
- The NHS for health information, for example when a guide describes a condition.
We read support groups and messages from claimants to understand what people find hard. We never treat them or other benefit websites as a source for a rate or a rule.
How we check facts
- Checked at the source before publishing. Our rule is that every rate and legal rule is checked against the primary source before a page goes live. We do not copy figures from memory or from other websites.
- Rates reviewed every April. Most benefits change in April, so we review our rates each year when the new figures take effect.
- Regular refresh of news pages. We aim to refresh pages that track changes, such as our UK benefit changes 2026 timeline, every month.
- A second check for legal changes. When the law changes, we check the change a second time against the primary source before we publish it.
How we write
- Plain English. We write for someone reading on a bad day: short sentences and everyday words, with legal terms explained the first time they appear.
- No promises. Nobody can promise a benefit award, so we never do. The decision always sits with the decision maker.
- "Likely", not "guaranteed". When we describe what might happen, we say what is likely and why. We never say an outcome is guaranteed.
- Plans are not law. A proposal, a consultation or an announcement is labelled as one until it is actually in force.
- Where the rule applies. Benefit rules often differ between England and Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, so we say which part of the UK a rule covers.
Independence
- Benefits Expert is independent. We are not affiliated with the DWP, Social Security Scotland or any other government body.
- We do not take success fees or a percentage of anyone's award.
- Our free guides stay free. Our income comes from flat-price tools on our brand sites, paid once.
How to report an error
If you think something on any of our sites is wrong or out of date, please tell us. Email support@benefitsexpert.co.uk with the page address and what you think is wrong. A link to the official source helps but is not required.
We aim to reply within 2 working days. If we have got something wrong, we correct the page.
Guidance only
Our guides and tools are general guidance, not legal, financial or medical advice. For advice about your own claim, contact Citizens Advice, a local welfare rights service or a disability charity.
Related pages