In need of financial advice? How to get help today

Transcription

1 In need of financial advice? How to get help today

2 Hackney Homes Financial Advice Leaflet Are you in debt or having difficulty making monthly bill payments? Did you know help and advice is available? Are you claiming all the benefits you are entitled to? This leaflet may help you get back on track with your finances. In debt or having trouble with your rent payment? You should contact your Housing Manager as soon as possible. They will be able to help and refer you to our Debt Counselling Service, Welfare Rights or other local advice agency such as Citizen's Advice Bureau. They will be able to advise how to deal with debt and benefits and how you can maximise your income. Are you claiming all your benefits? Every year millions of pounds of benefits go unclaimed. You may well find you are entitled to benefits of one kind or another, whether Child Benefit or Incapacity Benefit, but whether you qualify for them of course is down to your circumstances at any given time. Everyone should do an annual check to discover what they are entitled to. One thing always to remember about benefits is that the sooner you claim the better. Not all benefits can be backdated so if you don't move quickly you could be out of pocket.

3 Page 2 3 Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit Housing Benefit provides help with paying rent and Council Tax Benefit provides help with your council tax if you are on a low income. Contact Hackney Benefits Service for more information. Benefits Services Keltan House Mare Street E8 4RU Tel: benefits.callcentre@hackney.gov.uk Child Tax Credits If you're responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. Tax Credits Helpline: Working Tax Credits If you work, but earn low wages, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit. Nine out of ten families with children get tax credits, but you don't need to have children to qualify. You may also qualify if you are working and on low pay. Tax Credits Helpline:

4 Hackney Homes Financial Advice Leaflet Pension credit If you're aged 60 or over you may be entitled to Pension Credit - extra money each week. You could be entitled even if receive a state pension or personal pension. To apply for Pension Credits call Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Disability Living Allowance is a tax free benefit for children and adults who need help with personal care or have walking difficulties because they are physically or mentally disabled. It is awarded regardless of your financial circumstances. Disability Benefit Enquiry Line Attendance allowance This is for those aged 65 or over who need help with personal care because they are physically or mentally disabled. It is awarded regardless of your financial circumstances. Disability Benefit Enquiry Line

5 Page 4 5 Help and Advice Hackney Homes in partnership with Hackney Law Centre provides a debt advice service for tenants in rent arrears. You can ask your Housing Manager to refer you for our confidential and free debt and money advice service if you have debt problems. You can be referred to other agencies, if specialist advice is needed. Free debt advice organisations in Hackney Citizens Advice Mare Street Kingsland Road Hackney Dalston London E8 1HE London E8 4AU Tel: Tel: Hackney Community Law Centre 8 Lower Clapton Road London E5 0PD Telephone: info@hclc.org.uk Age Concern 22 Dalston Lane, London E8 3AZ Information line Tel: info@ageconcernhackney.org.uk Hackney Credit Union Hackney Credit Union is a financial organisation that provides straightforward, affordable financial services to anyone living, working or studying in Hackney. 225 Mare Street, London E8 3QE Tel; info@hackneycreditunion.co.uk

6 Hackney Homes Financial Advice Leaflet You should be aware that there are companies that charge a fee for managing your debts. You might see an advert offering debt advice without realising that these organisations do not offer a free service. Before asking one of these companies to act on your behalf always check to find out of if there are any fees that may be charged and how much they will be. Some National Debt Advice Services National Debtline a free telephone helpline for people with debt problems in England, Scotland and Wales. Tel: Consumer Credit Counselling Service (CCCS) a free confidential service to help provide advice on personal budgeting, advice on the wise use of credit and, where appropriate, managing achievable plans to repay debts. Tel: Advice UK a network of free, independent advice centres across the UK. Tel: Need information about a legal problem? CLS Direct can help. Tel;

7 Page 6 7 Some Community organisations in Hackney Hackney Chinese Community Services Ellingfort Road London E8 3PA Tel: Halkevi - Turkish and Kurdish Community Centre Stoke Newington Road London N16 7XB Tel: Agudas Israel Community Services 97 Stamford Hill, London N16 5DN Tel: Hackney African Development Agency 22 Ashwin Street, London E8 3DL Tel: An Viet Foundation Englefield Road, London N1 4LS Tel: London Irish Womens Centre 59 Stoke Newington Church Street London N16 0AR Tel: North London Muslim Community Centre Cazenove Road, London N16 6AA Tel: Asian Women's Advisory Service Unit 5 Mare Street Studios, Mare Street London E8 3QE Tel: Hackney Caribbean Elderly Organisation 39 Leswin Road, London N16 7NX Tel:

8 Translations Produced by Design & Comm's and Hackney Print July 2008 PJ35278