Money matters
Each year, more than £2.2 billion of pension credit and housing benefit goes unclaimed by older people in the UK. Are you eligible?
Use our benefits calculator to check whether you are eligible
Please note: Staffordshire County Council does not administer benefits. You will need to apply for benefits at GOV.UK website and apply through your district/city councils for housing benefit.
Web forms for claiming pensions and other benefits can be found on the Department for Work and Pensions website.
Information about claiming for disability benefits from the DWP can be found on the Disability Service Centre website.
Attendance Allowance (for those over state pension age) helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
Carers' Allowance is paid if you care for another person - who receives certain benefits - for more than 35 hours a week.
Personal Independence Payment (for those aged 16 - state pension age) can help you with some of the extra costs if you have a long term ill-health or disability.
Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs.
Disability Living Allowance is being phased out and replaced by Personal Independence Payments (PIP) for those aged 16 up to state pension age, for under 16s Disability Living Allowance for Children is still available.
Housing Benefit can help to pay your rent if you are on a low income.
New Style Employment and Support Allowance is available if you are unable to work due to ill health, but your financial circumstances mean you are unable to claim Universal Credit (e.g. a partner still working and earning a good salary, savings above £16,000). It is non means tested but does require a National Insurance Contribution record.
Pension Credit is a means tested top up benefit for pensioners. Pension Credit gives you extra money to help with your living costs if you’re over State Pension age and on a low income. Pension Credit can also help with housing costs such as ground rent or service charges.
Local Council Tax Support is also available to help those on low incomes pay their Council Tax. You need to apply to your District Council for this. A list of District and Borough Councils is available on our website.
Details of other local organisations which can help with money, debt and benefits
For information and advice on saving money, budgeting, debt management and ways to make your money go further:
This service has:
The government's website has information on all areas of money management, including:
They have information on savings, debt, benefits and employment.
Or you can call their advice line:
You can get debt advice from this charity run by the Money Advice Trust.
This is a national charity that helps people in financial hardship get welfare benefits, charitable grants and support services.
You can get a list of financial organisations that can give you support.
Use our handy 'entitled to' benefits calculator to see what you're entitled to.
This website has advice on spotting financial abuse.
Make use of their advice on low-cost energy solutions.
Advice on how to reduce bills and make your home more energy efficient.
Services are provided by or through Jobcentre Plus. Help is available for customers with limited or no english skills who need communication support to claim benefits.
You can contact First Contact, where you will be able to speak to an interpreter who will be able to answer any questions you may have and help you make a claim to the appropriate benefit.
Contact them by:
Disability employment advisors provide specialist support to people who need employment advice who:
- are recently disabled
- have a disability or health condition that has deteriorated
They give support to disabled people who are:
- experiencing difficulties getting a job
- employed and are concerned about losing their job, due to a disability
They can offer a range of support, advice and information from:
- employment assessment
- job seeking advice and support
- training advice and information
- advice and information about keeping your job
- work choice
- information about the disability symbol
For information on help for disabled people in employment you can speak to the disability employment advisors at your local Jobcentre Plus office or Jobcentre.
You can find the address of your local office on the Direct Gov website.
Information can be found on no recourse to public funds network's website.