Are you missing out on money you are entitled to?

Talk to the team to find out if you are missing out on any extra money that could be in your pocket.

We are on hand to help you maximise your income by checking if you are eligible for any additional benefit payments. The service is confidential and free of charge to all council tenants, and the team can even assist in making the application on your behalf. As the three examples below show, a quick chat with us can result in extra money (sometimes as much as several hundred pounds per week) being paid into your bank account.

Sue* from Thornhill is now over £150 a week better off. Sue is single and recently retired. She receives state pension and a small private pension and has some health concerns. Our Welfare Rights team assisted Sue to make a claim for Attendance Allowance, which was awarded at the high rate. This, in turn gave her eligibility for Pension Credit and Housing Benefit. Altogether Sue’s benefits increased by over £150 per week!

Richard and Bev* discovered a change to their circumstances could mean an extra £400 a month. The couple are in their 40s and have two children both under 16. They receive Universal Credit and Child Benefit. Once of the children has a disability and receives Child Disability Living Allowance and Bev receives Carers Allowance. We advised the couple how they would be better off if Richard started working. We completed a better off calculation which showed that Richard only needs to work for 16 hours a week, and their benefits would increase by £400 per month!

Phil and Debra* now save over £1,000 a year on utility bills. The couple have one child and receive Universal Credit and Child Benefit. They were struggling to pay their water and council tax bills, and the financial strain was causing a lot of stress and worry. We helped complete a financial assistance form for Southern Water and made an application for Council Tax reduction on their behalf. In total we reduced their water and council tax by over £1,000 a year. This has had a significant impact on improving their mental health as they can now afford the payments without slipping into debt.

*All names have been changed.

As these examples above show, it is definitely worth speaking to us to see if we can help you maximise your income. We know that for many people the complex benefit system can feel daunting or associated with stigma, but we are here to offer confidential, friendly support. Our goal is to identify any potential benefits you may be missing out on, to ensure you receive every penny that you are entitled to. There is no need to feel embarrassed about talking to us to see if we can help increase your monthly income. Simply get in touch or call 023 8083 2339 and we can chat on the phone, visit you at home or meet at the council office. The Welfare Rights and Money Advice service is open 9am to 1pm Monday to Friday.