Free, impartial, confidential advice on a range of issues including; debt, housing, employment, the law.

Free, impartial, confidential advice on a range of issues including; debt, housing, employment, the law.

Free, impartial, confidential advice on a range of issues including; debt, housing, employment, the law.

Cost of living support

If you are having difficulty living at home because of a disability, we may be able to help you to carry out essential adaptations so that you can continue to live independently. This work can be funded by a disabled facilities grant. You can apply for it if you own your own home, rent or live with your family.

To apply for a grant in the first instance, apply to Occupational Therapy Direct by phoning
0845 600 4555 (Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm and Fridays 8.30am to 4.30pm) or emailing to  OTdirect@hants.gov.uk  They will arrange for an occupational therapist (OT) to visit you to assess your needs.

You may be able to claim local council tax support if you are the named person liable to pay the Council Tax, and you are on a low income. If you are a joint tenant, we may also be able to help you with your share of the Council Tax. You can submit your claim on-line.

Please telephone or visit website for further information.

Housing Benefit provides help with paying your rent.  The amount of help to which you may be entitled will depend on your income, savings and family circumstances.

You can apply for Housing Benefit if you pay your rent to a private landlord, to a Housing Association or if you are a council tenant. Your income and circumstances are taken into account. If you are eligible, the amounts vary from part to all of your rent, call Fareham Council . There is a a Housing Benefit calculator on the borough Council website.

You may be able to get help with some of the extra costs caused by long term ill-health or disability.

The amount you get depends on how your condition affects you, not the condition itself.

You’ll be assessed by a health professional to work out the level of help you can get. Your rate will be regularly reviewed to make sure you’re getting the right support.

You could get a weekly carer’s allowance if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.

You don’t have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.  You won’t be paid extra if you care for more than one person.

You can apply online or by post: Carer’s Allowance claim form

You may be able to claim Attendance Allowance if your ability to keep safe or look after your own personal care is affected by physical or mental illness or disability. It doesn’t cover mobility needs.

Attendance Allowance has 2 weekly rates, and the rate you get depends on the help you need.

Attendance Allowance won’t reduce any other income you receive, and it’s tax-free. You don’t have to have someone caring for you in order to claim, and you can use the money to help with extra costs you have due to disability. You can get an Attendance Allowance claim form by calling the Attendance Allowance Service Centre or claim online.

Pension credit is available to people who have a low pension income. Additional amounts could be available for severe disability or carer responsibilities.

Pension Credit can be applied for over the telephone. Quite a lot of information is needed so have your national Insurance number, details of any income, savings, rent and bank account details ready before making the call.

Offering confidential, independent, free and impartial advice.

We offer free debt advice that is based on a comprehensive assessment of your situation. We’ll then provide practical help and support for however long it’s needed.

National Debtline is a debt advice charity run by the Money Advice Trust. We are a free and confidential debt advice service for people in England, Wales and Scotland. We have helped millions of people deal with their debts. Our team of expert debt advisers care about improving your situation and will help you to take control of your debts.

We know that life happens, but there’s always a step forward. We provide independent personal money advice for the real world that helps you take control of your finances.

Free, impartial debt counselling for anyone, regardless of faith.

SOLLA helps people and their families in finding trusted accredited financial advisers who understand financial needs in later life.

Free, impartial, confidential advice on a range of issues including; debt, housing, employment, the law.

Veterans UK administer the armed forces pension schemes and compensation payments for those injured or bereaved through service.

Offer help and support to individuals and families of those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces.

Free and impartial information, help and advice on pensions.

The Pension Service is part of the Department for Work & Pensions. It provides information about pensions and pensioner benefits. Also use these contact details to enquire about the Winter Fuel Payment and the Cold Weather Payment.

Working in partnership with Gosport Borough Council, Parity Trust offers a Home Improvement Loan designed to help homeowners access secured finance to pay for essential home repairs and adaptations. This can include topping up the costs not met by a Disabled Facilities Grant. Parity Trust advisors provide a full financial review and guide you through the home improvement process.

We are an environmental organisation who are tackling food waste. We collect ‘food waste’ that is still fit for human consumption from various places and offer it to ANYONE & EVERYONE in our cafes or shopping boutiques. A shopping boutique is a place you can shop; it is surplus food that we are unable to cook with that day/week. We provide a pay as you feel system, you decide the value of your food and our service. At our branch you can do that by offering time, cash, skills or item donations.  Pop up Cafes: Everyone is welcome to the cafes; it is open to the public. You don’t have to fit into a category to eat with us.

This service is accessed through over 25 agencies in the area that come into contact with people that are likely to require assistance, such as Health Visitors, Probation Service, Social Services, Job Centre Plus, Council Housing offices, Fareham and Gosport Family Aid, homeless charities, etc. People may access the service through one of the many referral agencies in the Fareham and Gosport area up to four times in one year.  This is to prevent them from becoming dependant on the service and also ensures that we can support as many people as possible.  We rely on the agency to decide the need and to manage the relationship with their client.

If you are eligible for care through Adult Services, and do not wish to use the care provided, Direct Payments is a payment from Hampshire County Council used to pay for care or services arranged by you, or someone acting on your behalf. You should contact your social worker to discuss further.

Universal Credit is a new benefit that has started to replace six existing benefits with a single monthly payment.  Universal Credit will help you to be better off in work, start a new job or work more hours.

Universal Credit will eventually replace:

• Income based Jobs Seekers Allowance
• Income related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Housing Benefit

To get an estimate of what benefits  and tax credits you might be entitled to,  you can use one of the online Benefit Calculators and answer the questions online.

Advice for older people on housing, care & support, finance & your rights.

Independent charity offering advice to individuals and organisations on energy efficiency. Information on price comparisons for the utility companies, as well as how to get the best deal or discounts available.

The Energy Saving Trust is a non-profit organisation that provides free and impartial advice on how to save energy and therefore money.

EAC is the Elderly Accommodation Counsel, running housing advisor service and hosting a database of information about almost all accommodation available for older people in the UK, to buy or to rent, also provides financial advice.

Financial abuse: spotting the signs and leaving safely