IF you are disabled, elderly, living on your own, or even all three the arrival of official-looking brown envelopes can be worrying.

When the contents involve the ending of social security benefits it cabn be frightening - but there is help available.

Retired RAF officer Peter McCann works for the Andover branch of the Citizens Advice Bureau.

The unexpected chance to take part in a training course led him into the work which he has made his own area of expertise - dealing with appeals over benefits many of which are allowed.

He spends up to 25 hours a week on cases which at any one time number in the region of 20, mostly involving the disability living allowance.

People in distress over the possible ending of a benefit will find him a professional presence.

He underwent weeks of training to undertake appeals, and he has the added advantage of having been on the other side of the fence - as a member of tribunals deciding whether to allow a benefit appeal.

He sees many people, often initially distressed and makes the point that anyone and everyone should make contact with the CAB, either at its South Street offices or at its Outreach Projects, if their benefits are being altered.

It gives them the chance to get professional advice on whether to proceed or not with an appeal.

He also feels many people welcome the chance to put their own points of view at the appeal hearing.

Decisions are made at the end of the tribunal, often within 10 to 15 minutes, sometimes on the spot.

Mr McCann puts together 90 per cent of the case to be presented before the tribunal hearing and reveals that probably 80 per cent are successful.

People are often 'overwhelmed' when the refusal of a benefit is overturned, he says.

"They say that without the CAB they would not have thought of appealing because people find a refusal very, very stressful.

"But I do it every day.

"It is easy for me but for a lot of the appellants it is very worrying. People sometimes will not turn up for appeal hearings.

"They cannot face it but the key to the involvement of the CAB is the support they get."