Knowsley Guide to Benefits and Financial Advice for Older People

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1 Knowsley Guide to Benefits and Financial Advice for Older People This booklet provides information on what benefits and help and support are available to older people. It also provides some useful contact details for agencies who can give you FREE impartial advice about your finances. Promoting financial inclusion in Knowsley The future is Knowsley

2 Page Benefits and Financial Help 3 Other Help and Support 5 Local Debt / Money Advice Services 9 National Help Lines and Websites 11 Contacts 13 Index 18 2

3 Benefits/Financial Help Attendance Allowance Attendance Allowance is a tax-free benefit for people aged 65 or over who need help with personal care because they have physical or mental disabilities. Customers may get Attendance Allowance if: They have a physical or mental disability, or both Their disability is severe enough for them to need help caring for themselves They are aged 65 or over when they claim Attendance Allowance is not usually affected by any savings or income that the customer may have. Contact details see: Benefits Enquiry Line - page 13 / Jobcentre Plus - pages 14/15 Budgeting Loan These are interest free loans (from 30 to 1,000 in total) for the cost of items such as furniture, household equipment, clothing, footwear or items to help customers look for or start work. To be eligible they or their partner must have been getting Income Support, income based Jobseeker s Allowance, Pension Credit or payment on account of one of these for at least 26 weeks. Contact details see: Jobcentre Plus - pages 14/15 3

4 Housing and Council Tax Benefit Help towards the cost of rent and council tax charges. Level of benefit paid is based on the income and number of people in the household and the amount of rent and/or council tax charged. The council has a team of Benefit Visiting Officers who can visit customers in their homes to provide support and advice on Housing and Council Tax Benefits and other welfare benefits. Contact details see: One Stop Shops - page 16 Knowsley Housing Trust also offers a welfare benefit visiting service to their tenants. Appointments can be made by telephoning Pension Credit Customers aged 60 or over may be entitled to Pension Credit. It's made up of two elements: Guarantee Credit element (which guarantees a minimum income if the customer is on a low income) Savings Credit element (which may be payable from age 65) Customers may be entitled to more Pension Credit if they have caring responsibilities, are severely disabled or have certain housing costs. Contact details see: Pension Service - page 16 Winter Fuel Payments Winter Fuel Payments are for households with someone aged over 60, to help customers pay towards the higher bills received in winter. The exact amount they get depends on the customers circumstances during the qualifying week. They may even qualify if they are working. In line with changes to State Pension age for women, the qualifying age for Winter Fuel Payments will rise gradually between 2010 and 2020, from 60 to 65. This means that from winter 2010/11 onwards, both men and women will need to have reached women s State Pension age by the end of the September qualifying week. Contact details see: Winter Fuel Payments - page 17 4

5 Other Help and Support Age Concern Knowsley Supports people over 50 throughout Knowsley and aims to help them get the most from life. In addition to familiar activities such as Clubs, Visiting, and Home Services, Age Concern Knowsley is authorised by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions to receive benefit claims and applications from people aged 60 or over for Attendance Allowance, Bereavement Payment, Carer s Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Incapacity Benefit, Pension Credit, State Pension, and Winter Fuel Payment. Age Concern Knowsley can also offer access to other financial services for older people, such as insurance products designed specifically for this group and regulated Equity Release products for those who wish to release money from property. Contact details see: Age Concern - page 13 Care at Home Knowsley s domiciliary care service provides personal care for adults and older people, supporting them to live independently and protecting them from exploitation and harm. Customer s can complete an online application or telephone and a member of the team will contact them. A care assessment will then be carried out which will help to identify what the customer is having difficulty with and how help can be provided to help the customer to continue to live at home. Contact details see: Knowsley Access Team - page 15 5

6 Council Tax Discounts A sole person, living alone is entitled to a 25% Council Tax discount. Other reductions to the Council Tax may also be available if the property is not the customer s main home or if one of the residents in the property is a full time student; student nurse; apprentice; in a youth training programme; is being looked after in a care home; is mentally impaired; is 18 or 19 and has just left school; is caring for someone with a disability; or whose spouse or partner is under the age of 18. Exemptions are available for unoccupied houses (subject to certain criteria) and for homes occupied entirely by full time students or by mentally impaired residents. Anyone struggling to pay their Council Tax is encouraged to contact the Council to find out if they are entitled to any discounts and to discuss affordable payment arrangements. Contact details see: One Stop Shops - page 16 Energy Efficiency Grants Provide information, grants and advice on home energy efficiency measures and grants to help customers save money on fuel bills and to make their house warmer and more comfortable. Contact details see: Home Energy Team - page 14 First Stop Offer free, independent information for older people, their families and carers on care, housing, health and legal advice. Contact details see: First Stop - page 14 Free Travel Passes National Travel Passes are available for people over 60 and disabled people who fit certain criteria. The passes will let them travel for free at off peak times on local buses anywhere in England. They can also use Merseyrail and Mersey Ferries Services in the Merseyside area. Contact details see: Merseytravel - page 15 Help the Aged Provide information to older people and their carer s on issues such as housing, health and finance. Contact details see: Help the Aged - page 14 Home Improvement Agency The Home Improvement Agency helps vulnerable owner-occupiers by providing advice on repair issues and finding suitable contractors. It also helps with grants, loans and provides information about the Equity Release Scheme. 6

7 Other activities include: Home From Hospital scheme providing essential and speedy repairs to unfit properties which are preventing vulnerable patients from being released from hospital A Handy Person scheme for carrying out minor repairs for vulnerable owner-occupants Contact details see: Home Improvement Agency - page 14 Housing Grants Depending on the customer s circumstances, they may be entitled to a range of housing grants. These include: Disabled Facility Grant for people with a disability who need to adapt their home to help them live more independently Renovation Grant to make their dwelling fit for human habitation Energy Efficiency Grants such as the Warm Front Grant or Knowsley Warm Streets to ensure their property benefits from energy efficient resources such as loft insulation and cavity wall insulation Rent Deposit Bond Scheme for households unable to fund a deposit and need to secure privately rented accommodation Contact details see: Housing Strategy Team - page 14 Knowsley Alzheimer s Society The society provides support, advice, information, respite, care and advocacy services to carers. Contact details see: Knowsley Alzheimer s Society - page 15 Knowsley Pensioners Advocacy Services Provides advice and support to enable older citizens to obtain their full rights providing services such as Welfare Rights Advice and Assistance, General Advocacy, Advice, Information & Signposting, Befriending and T.A.S.K. (Trader Approved Scheme Knowsley). Contact details see: Knowsley Pensioner Advocacy Services - page 15 Knowsley Warm Streets This is a scheme set up by the council to ensure owner-occupiers and those who privately rent can benefit from improving energy in their homes. Knowsley residents can have the following improvements made at no cost: Loft insulation (if there is less than 100mm in the loft) Cavity wall insulation Hot water tank jacket Contact details see: Home Energy Team - page 14 7

8 Renovation Grant A renovation grant is a discretionary grant which owner-occupiers or qualifying tenants may apply for, subject to eligibility. Customer or their partner must be 60 or over, or have a child living with them who is under 5. The main purpose of a renovation grant is to make or maintain a dwelling fit for human habitation. Customers may be eligible if they meet any of the following criteria: They are in receipt of an income related benefit or tax credit They are registered as disabled Their total household income is not more than 14,600 per year Contact details see: Housing Strategy Team - page 14 Supported Housing Provide information and advice on what to do if the customer or a member of their family is looking at the possibility of applying for supported housing. It includes: Sheltered accommodation and nursing homes for the elderly Housing options for people with disabilities In the case of nursing homes and housing for people with a mental health problem or disability, the health and wellbeing service will need to carry out an assessment of their needs. Contact details see: Housing Strategy Team - page 14 Supporting People Programme Supporting People is the government programme for funding, planning and monitoring housing related support services. Its aim is to improve the quality and effectiveness of the support services at a local level to help vulnerable people to live as independently as possible in the community. This could be in their own homes or in hostels, sheltered housing other specialised supported housing. It provides complementary support for people who may also need personal or medical care. Supporting People only funds housing support. Supporting People offers support with: Debt counselling Life skills training Form filling Advice on paying bills Provision of emergency alarms The programme has commissioned services that are aimed at helping those who are at risk of losing their tenancy and those who may possibly become homeless in the future. Contact details see: Supporting People - page 17 8

9 Local Debt / Money Advice Services Many of these organisations also provide other general and specialist advice services. Citizens Advice Bureau Provide free advice on legal, debt, housing, employment and benefit issues. Contact details see: Citizens Advice Bureau - page 13 Credit Unions These are non-profit making financial co-operatives which offer convenient saving facilities and low cost loans to their members. Some also provide Christmas savings accounts and insurance services. Enterprise Credit Union and Knowsley Mutual Credit Union also offer emergency loans. Contact details see: Credit Unions - page 14 Fazakerley Advice and Information Resource Centre Provide advice on housing, debt and welfare benefits and law. Contact details see: Fazakerley Advice and Information Resource Centre - page 14 9

10 Huyton Advice Centre Provide advice on debt, budgeting, employment law and welfare benefits and signposting to other services. Contact details see: Huyton Advice Centre - page 14 Kirkby Unemployment Centre (KUC) Provide an integrated package of support measures that inform, advise and guide local people into jobs, education, training and business opportunities. They also provide budgeting, debt, employment law and welfare benefits advice. Contact details see: Kirkby Unemployed Centre - page 15 KMBC Trading Standards Provide advice on credit issues under Consumer Credit Act Contact details see: One Stop Shops - page 16 Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) Provide free debt counselling, budget advice and financial literacy education programmes to members of Enterprise Credit Union. Contact details see: Money Advice and Budgeting Service - page 15 Prescot and Whiston Community Advice Centre Provide welfare benefit advice and signposting to other services. Contact details see: Prescot and Whiston Community Advice Centre - page 17 Victims of Loan Sharks Loan sharks operate by offering illegal loans at extreme rates of interest, which prove impossible to repay. They use threats and violence against those who fall behind with their payments, forcing many victims into crime. Loan sharks prey on people at their most vulnerable. Borrowing from a loan shark can seem like an easy option but often it will lead to a spiral of debt. Knowsley Council is working in partnership with the North West Illegal Money Lending Team to tackle loan sharks. The team provides support to victims and witnesses including access to legal support, affordable credit and debt advisors. Contact details see: Shop A Shark - page 17 10

11 National Help Lines and Websites Can give advice about how to make the most of your money as well as sign-posting you to other support and advice services. Community Legal Advice Offer free, confidential and independent legal advice. Contact details see: Community Legal Advice - page 13 Consumer Credit Counselling Service Offer free, confidential advice and support to anyone who is worried about debt. Contact details see: Consumer Credit Counselling Service - page 13 Consumer Direct Give practical advice on all kinds of consumer problems from credit issues to faulty household appliances. Contact details see: Consumer Direct - page 13 11

12 Financial Services Authority Provide advice on how to make the most of your money. They provide information to help you make a decision about your finances. Contact details see: Financial Services Authority - page 14 National Debt Line A helpline that provides free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems. Contact details see: National Debt Line - page 16 Pay Plan Give immediate access to a full range of free debt advice and free debt solutions. Contact details see: Pay Plan - page 16 12

13 Contacts Age Concern Knowsley Nutgrove Villa 1 Griffiths Road Huyton Knowsley L36 6NA am-4.30pm, Mon-Thur 9am-4pm, Fri Benefit Enquiry Line am-6.30pm, Mon-Fri 9am-1pm, Sat Citizens Advice Bureau Halewood The Halewood Centre Roseheath Drive Halewood Knowsley L26 9UH am-5 pm, Mon-Fri or Huyton Nutgrove Villa 1 Griffiths Road Huyton Knowsley L36 6NA am-5pm, Mon-Fri or Kirkby 2 Newtown Gardens Kirkby Knowsley L32 8RR am-5pm, Mon-Fri or Prescot 10 Church Street Prescot Knowsley L34 3LA am-3pm, Tue-Thurs or Community Legal Advice Consumer Credit Counselling Service Consumer Credit Counselling Service Wade House Merrion Centre Leeds LS2 8NG Consumer Direct

14 Credit Union Enterprise Credit Union Hall Lane Huyton Knowsley L36 6AX am-4pm, Mon-Fri Halewood Community Credit Union The Halewood Centre Roseheath Drive Halewood Knowsley L26 9UH am-4pm, Mon-Fri Financial Services Authority am-6pm, Mon-Fri First Stop am-5pm, Mon-Fri Help the Aged am-4pm, Mon-Fri Knowsley Mutual Credit Union 11 Market Square Kirkby Knowsley L32 8RG am-5pm, Mon-Fri Southdene Credit Union 63/65 Henlow Avenue Kirkby Knowsley L32 9RN am-2pm, Mon 12-2pm, Fri Fazakerley Advice Information Resource Centre The Community Centre Formosa Drive Fazakerley L10 7LQ 9am-12pm Home Energy Team Knowsley MBC or Home Improvement Agency KHT Head Office Lakeview Kings Business Park Prescot Knowsley L34 1PJ Housing Strategy Team Knowsley MBC Huyton Advice Centre 1 Griffiths Road Huyton Knowsley L36 6NA

15 Jobcentre Plus Kirkby Jobcentre Plus St Chad s House St Chad s Drive Kirkby Knowsley L32 8RW Huyton Jobcentre Plus Edendale House Lathom Road Huyton Knowsley L36 9XS Belle Vale Jobcentre Plus Crown Building 302 Childwall Valley Road Liverpool L25 2UF St Helens Jobcentre Plus Gregson House 2 Central Street St Helens WA10 1UF Knowsley Access Team Knowsley MBC Knowsley.AccessTeam@knowsley.gov.uk Knowsley Alzheimer s Society Willow House 168 Dragon Lane Whiston Knowsley L35 3QY Knowsley Carer s Centre 1st Floor 143 Bewley Drive Kirkby Knowsley L32 9PE knowsley.carers@btconnect.com Knowsley Pensioner Advocacy Services CVS Building 149 Cherryfield Drive Kirkby Knowsley L32 8SE Kirkby Unemployed Centre Westhead Avenue Kirkby Knowsley L33 0XN Drop in: 10am-1pm, Mon-Fri Merseytravel Ticket Unit Merseytravel 24 Hatton Garden Liverpool L3 2AN am-4.30pm, Mon-Fri 15

16 16 Money Advice and Budgeting Service Hall Lane Huyton Knowsley L36 6AX National Debt Line One Stop Shops Kirkby One Stop Shop Municipal Buildings Cherryfield Drive Kirkby Knowsley L32 1TX Housing Benefits am-6pm, Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm, Sat Trading Standards General Enquiries Huyton One Stop Shop Municipal Buildings Archway Road Huyton Knowsley L36 9XJ Housing Benefits am-6pm, Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm, Sat Trading Standards General Enquiries Halewood One Stop Shop The Halewood Centre Roseheath Drive Halewood Knowsley L26 9UH Housing Benefits am-6pm, Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm, Sat Trading Standards General Enquiries Prescot One Stop Shop Aspinall Street Prescot Knowsley L34 5GA Housing Benefits am-pm, Mon-Fri 10am-12.30pm, Sat Trading Standards General Enquiries Pay Plan Pension Service The Pension Service PO Box 15 Chester CH70 8BG

17 Prescot and Whiston Advice Centre Prescot Centre/Eccleston St Prescot Knowsley L34 5GA Drop in: 9.15am-1pm, Mon-Fri Appointments: pm, Mon-Fri Shop A Shark Knowsley MBC or Anonymous 24 Hrs a day stoploansharks@knowsley.gov.uk Text: loan [space] sharks [space] your message to Supporting People Knowsley MBC Warm Front Grant am-6pm, Mon-Fri Winter Fuel Payments Winter Fuel Unit 16 Coalfield Way Ashby de la Zouch LE65 1JF

18 Index Age Concern Knowsley, p5, 13 Attendance Allowance, p3 Benefit Enquiry Line, p13 Budgeting Loan, p3 Care at Home, p5 Citizens Advice Bureau, p9, 13 Community Legal Advice, p11, 13 Consumer Credit Counselling Service, p11, 13 Consumer Direct, p11, 13 Council Tax Discounts, p6 Credit Unions, p9, 14 Energy Efficiency Grants, p6 Fazakerley Advice and Information Resource Centre, p9, 14 Financial Services Authority, p12, 14 First Stop, p6, 14 Free Travel Passes, p6 Help the Aged, p6, 14 Home Energy Team, p14 Home Improvement Agency, p6, 14 Housing and Council Tax Benefit, p4 Housing Grants, p7 Housing Strategy Team, p14 Huyton Advice Centre, p10, 14 Jobcentre Plus, p15 Kirkby Unemployment Centre (KUC), p10, 15 KMBC Trading Standards, p10 Knowsley Access Team, p15 Knowsley Alzheimer s Society, p7, 15 Knowsley Carers Centre, p15 Knowsley Pensioners Advocacy Services, p7, 15 Knowsley Warm Streets, p7 Merseytravel Ticket Unit, p15 Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), p10, 16 National Debt Line, p12, 16 One Stop Shops, p16 Pay Plan, p12, 16 Pension Credit, p4 Pension Service, p16 Prescot and Whiston Community Advice Centre, p10, 17 Rennovation Grant, p8 Shop A Shark, p17 Supported Housing, p8 Supporting People Programme, p8, 17 Victims of Loan Sharks, p10 Warm Front Grant, p17 Winter Fuel Payments, p4, 17 18

19 Knowsley Guide to Benefits and Financial Advice for Lone Parents and Families 15

20 The future is Knowsley