Money

Independent Financial Advice

In this section you will find information about managing debt, money management, budgeting, benefits and paying for care. You will find links to local and national organisations that can provide further information and advice in these areas.

Benefits

The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare and pension policy. The following services hold different responsibilities and can provide you with support:

  • The Pension Service provides its customers with pensions, benefits, and retirement information.
  • Disability and Carer Service provides financial support to customers claiming disability benefits and their carers.
  • Jobcentre Plus provides services that support people of working age from welfare into work, and helps employers to fill vacancies. You can find information about Jobcentre Plus here.
  • Child Maintenance is responsible for the child maintenance system in Great Britain. It funds information and support for separating parents and runs the statutory child maintenance schemes.

To find out what benefits you may be able to claim, you can access benefits calculators through the GOV.UK website. A list of contact details and information are available on GOV.UK and contact details can be found here.

If you are in receipt of a care service from the Council a full benefits check for you and any household member is undertaken at the same time as the financial assessment in respect of Home/Day/Residential care. If you have any questions regarding benefit entitlement and you are in receipt of any these services please call the Personalisation and Assessment team on 01924 307317 - option 1.

The following local and national services provide information and advice about benefits:

  • The Money Advice Service is a free impartial service set up by Government to provide advice about money. They can provide you with information about benefits.
  • Wakefield Citizens Advice Bureau provides free impartial and independent advice about benefits, either face-to-face, telephone, email or online.
  • AgeUK provides online information, and an advice line.
  • Turn2us is an organisation that helps people access money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help.

Housing related benefits

Wakefield Council Revenue and Benefits Service hold responsibility for housing benefit. You can find out more about how they calculate Housing Benefit and Discretionary Housing Benefit here. Wakefield Council can also advise about Council Tax Support.

There are a number of different benefits and schemes that may assist you to reduce fuel payments.

Carers

Carers Wakefield offers support to carers and people who work with carers including information about benefits. They are available Mon-Fri 9-5 at their base at 25 King Street, Wakefield, WF1 2SR, or by telephone on 01924 305544. Carers Wakefield also administers the MyTime grant scheme, which allow carers to apply for a grant of up to £100 per annum to obtain a break from caring. The following agencies may also be able to provide support and advice about benefits available for carers:

  • The Citizens Advice Bureau provides independent information and advice.
  • AgeUK provides information and advice about Carers Allowance.
  • CarersUK provides independent information and advice about a range of benefits and tax credits you may be entitled to.
  • Carers Trust offers independent support and services including advice about benefits for carers.
  • DIAL Wakefield provides advice to carers of people who are disabled.

Emergency

The following sources may be useful if you are facing financial difficulty. 

  • Local Welfare Provision is provided by Wakefield Council and is designed to help vulnerable people in our community in times of crisis or emergency. Contact the Revenue and Benefits team on 0345 8 504 504.
  • Wakefield Council holds a list of food banks that operate within the Wakefield area. Different criteria may apply for each service.
  • Contacting the DWP agency dealing with your claim to discuss Short Term Benefit Advance.
  • Jobcentre Plus can advise about funeral payments, budgeting loans, and maternity grants.
  • The Citizens Advice Bureau can offer advice and support in times of crisis.
  • Wakefield Council Housing advice team offer advice about mortgage and rent arrears. They operate an appointment-system, drop in sessions and an advice line.

Illness, Injury or disability related benefits

DIAL Wakefield advises and provides information on a number of aspects of welfare rights and benefits for disabled people. They can also advise on the benefits mandatory reconsideration and appeals dispute process.

  • The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking concessions for people with severe mobility problems, and allows vehicles carrying people with certain disabilities to be parked near shops, stations and other facilities. Wakefield Council administers the Blue Badge scheme and can be contacted on 0846 8 506 506.
  • A Disabled Facilities Grant may be accessed for Wakefield Council residents if you’re disabled and need to make changes to your home. An example of change is to widen doors. Further information is available from Wakefield Council or at GOV.UK
  • A Disabled Persons Bus Pass can be applied for through Wakefield Council. The application form and eligibility criteria can be found here.
  • A Disabled Persons Railcard may be available if you have a disability that makes travelling by train difficult. Details are available online.
  • Royal National Institute for the Blind (RNIB) provides information and advice about the benefits of registration as sight impaired or severely sight impaired. Alternatively contact an Eye Clinic Liaison Officer or Wakefield Council Sensory Impairment Team.
  • The GOV.UK website provides information about disability related benefits.
Last reviewed: 25/02/2015