# Access to Benefits Assistance (A2BA)

> Free, plain-English help to prepare UK benefits claims. Built for neurodivergent users and anyone who finds bureaucratic forms hard. Everything stays on your device — nothing is sent to our servers. A service of Tessolari (be braver Ltd, 06612298). Independent — not run by the DWP or GOV.UK.

A2BA is a static, client-side web tool that coaches users through preparing UK benefits claims. It does not submit claims to the DWP. Instead it produces transcribe-ready answers, printable claim-start letters, and readiness packs that the user takes to the official online or postal claim. Form data is stored in the browser only (localStorage); encrypted backup files can be downloaded by the user. No tracking cookies; analytics via cookieless Umami.

## Services

- [Personal Independence Payment (PIP)](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/pip/): Help with the extra costs of a long-term health condition or disability. The first module — produces an indicative eligibility result, a claim-start letter to Freepost DWP PIP 1 (postal route, no stamp), a printable preview of the official PIP1, and transcribe-ready PIP2 answers across the 12 functional activities. Designed around the postal route because it is the most accessible.
- [Universal Credit (self-employed)](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/uc-self-employed/): Plain-English eligibility check + readiness pack for self-employed people claiming UC. Explains the Minimum Income Floor and the start-up period.
- [Universal Credit (jobseeker)](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/uc-jobseeker/): Plain-English eligibility check + readiness pack for jobseekers. Identifies the user's likely "work-related requirements" group (no requirements / interviews / preparation / all) and points at the right guidance.
- [Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/dla/): DLA is for disabled children under 16 (adults moved to PIP). Eligibility check + a guided DLA1A Child form-fill wizard with prompts and examples for every care/mobility narrative section. Output = transcribe-ready answers to copy onto the official DWP form by hand.

## Guides

- [The UC self-employed monthly report](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/uc-self-employed/monthly/): Practical guidance on the monthly UC journal entry. Covers the key DWP-vs-HMRC differences: cash basis, one income entry per month, one expense row per receipt over £10, the DWP expense categories in plain English, and a worked freelance-illustrator example.
- [Your Claimant Commitment (UC jobseeker)](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/uc-jobseeker/claimant-commitment/): What goes in the Claimant Commitment, what's reasonable to agree to, how to negotiate limitations for health, caring or hours, and what to do if you disagree.
- [Your work-search log (UC jobseeker)](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/uc-jobseeker/work-search/): The 35-hour-a-week expectation, what counts as work search, how to record it, and what evidence to keep.
- [Avoiding (and challenging) sanctions (UC jobseeker)](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/uc-jobseeker/sanctions/): Why sanctions happen, what "good reason" means, how long they last (lower/low/medium/higher), Mandatory Reconsideration, tribunal appeals, hardship payments.

## About and policy

- [Privacy](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/privacy/): Data model — form data lives in the browser only.
- [Cookies](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/cookies/): No tracking cookies; cookieless Umami analytics.
- [Accessibility](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/accessibility/): WCAG AAA contrast pass; Atkinson Hyperlegible default font; OpenDyslexic and serif options; light/dimmed/dark themes; text-size controls.
- [Terms](https://www.accesstobenefitsassistance.com/terms/): Free to use, provided without warranty.

## Important caveats

A2BA is unofficial guidance, not a decision. The actual claim is always made through the DWP (online, by post, or by phone). For free expert help, users are directed to Citizens Advice Help to Claim (https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim) or the Tessolari community (https://www.tessolari.com).

The PIP1 prefilled PDF is labelled a **preview only** — DWP-issued original forms filled by hand in pen are the only valid PIP claim documents.