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Welfare Rights
 Background
Welfare Rights advice is available at Caring Hands office on a Tuesday by appointment only. We also offer a Home Visiting Service for anyone who is unable to come into the Caring Hands Office. This service offers expert advice on entitlement to Welfare Benefits and guidance on debt related issues. Our aim is to examine a persons entitlement to statutory benefits and support issues of financial management, using a variety of methods. Our experts are able to help with some housing and consumer problems, including completing sometimes complicated forms. All advice is free, impartial and completely confidential, we are registered with Advice UK and our advice workers attend training seminars to make them aware of any changes introduced in relation to the benefits system. The Geographical area of cover will be confirmed prior to an appointment being made, as a general guide we would be pleased to deal with enquiries from vulnerable older people who live in the Ouseburn Ward of Newcastle upon Tyne.
Welfare Benefits
Our experts can advise and help you to claim benefits which you may be entitled to including; Income Support, Incapacity Benefit, Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Retirement Pensions and Housing and Council Tax Benefits. Help is available to complete application forms or to negotiate with relevant departments on any ongoing benefit problems. Benefits can be examined to confirm you are receiving the correct amount of entitlement.
Tax Credits
Advice is available on issues relating to family tax credits and child tax credits. This is a complicated and sometimes daunting procedure to complete, advisors can support the applicant by completing applications and may offer information on the financial benefits to expect prior to applying.
Housing
As well as offering advice on Rent or Council Tax arrears, we can help people to complete any application forms relating to housing and council tax benefits that you may be entitled to.
Debt Counselling
(Unfortunately, we are unable to directly offer appointments for debt advice at this time) Please see helpful contacts at bottom of page.
If you have found yourself in a situation where you are no longer able to keep up repayments on one or more debts like rent, catalogue, credit cards or loans etc., we will prepare a financial statement and negotiate with creditors on your behalf. The aim is to organise sensible payments that you can afford on a regular basis. Once payments have been agreed it is most important to keep up these payments, if you are not able to make an agreed payment then you should contact your creditors at the earliest opportunity to inform them of any changes in your financial status.
Appeal Tribunals
Experts can attend Welfare Benefits related tribunals only. If we are able, within time constraints, we may provide representation at Social Security, Disability and Medical Appeal Tribunals and where appropriate the Social Security Commissioners. We endeavour to support the claimant throughout the full process of an appeal and although our aim is to achieve representation for every single case, unfortunately we are unable to guarantee this at this time.
Further Information
Further information can be obtained by completing a or using the links. We’d be happy to speak with you in person at Caring Hands Office or telephone 0191 261 5234 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday or Friday between 10.00am and 3.30pm.
Helpful Links
Citizens Advice Bureau:
Newcastle City Council:
Age Concern Newcastle:
Moneywise Newcastle:
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