Is this ethical?

If the information is available free online or via organizations then not everyone is aware of that or has access to the internet.

There are also organizations like Benefits and Work where you pay a small yearly fee and it gives you access to a tremendous range of online resources for benefits and filling out the forms.

People can charge what they like for a business service, I have found that the quickest way to be rid of someone who wants a favour is to offer to give them a price! Like the cheeky neighbour who wanted to park her car on my drive.

300 quid seems a lot especially as it is not certain that the claim will be successful so it could be 150 quid for nothing.

Given that people making DWP claims are, by definition, in need of cash, I feel it is cynical exploitation.

It begs the question; why are DWP forms so complicated that you need expertise to fill them and why is no help or guidance available automatically?

If done at all it should be no win no fee.

No it isn’t ethical.
Also there’s no guarantee that she really knows how to fill it in, and could just go from one customer to the next scooping up the cash.

Jackiest

Maybe the unethical bit is that the forms are too complicated for the average person claiming to fill in.

I’m not sure they’re necessarily too complicated - certainly for Attendance Allowance you do need to know what specifically to state, IIRC how things are on the worst days/nights, not glossing over anything.
This is where e.g. Age UK knows the ropes, so to speak.

I think the fee is quite reasonable. So long as there are free alternatives for those not willing/not wanting to pay l don't think it's unethical.

No I think that is totally unethical. Also the applicants are giving her a lot of personal information.
I would be very concerned if anyone I knew was sucked in to what sounds like a very dodgy situation and someone vulnerable could be badly affected.

CAB will also help and some Carer's organisations.

Our Local AgeUk has produced a guide to filling in AA forms.

But, obviously depending on the fee, I can see that someone helping fill in any firm might be a big help.

Maybe the unethical bit is that the forms are too complicated for the average person claiming to fill in.

Iam64

Often, people offer to complete the application for a percentage of the allowance . It’s not ethical

Thank you, someone who understands!

I don’t think you understand, she is charging for this.
Apparently it is £150 up front and £150 if the claim is successful.

I think a fee is a bit much though. There are plenty of organisations that will do it for free and imagine people can call for advice if there is nowhere close to them to help.

Often, people offer to complete the application for a percentage of the allowance . It’s not ethical

I am applying for attendance allowance soon and is quite a daunting task whilst caring for my DH so have been advised to ask AgeUK for help with it. This was advised by our occupational therapist and is not at all unusual or unethical.

Feet haha

She's not volunteering, she's charging for a service. How much is her feet?

Maybe there’s no such services in her area and she’s spotted a situation where she can volunteer to help people? Some of the DWP can be quite overwhelming apparently. Nice thing to do I think.