Looking after your personal finances

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Introduction
How mental health problems can affect your finances
How financial problems can affect your mental health
Making a start
Personal help and support
Getting into good shape
Getting organised
Planning and budgeting
Using financial products and services
Making the best use of public money
Working versus benefits
Dealing with problems
Managing debt
Understanding your rights as a householder or occupier
Understanding your rights as a consumer
Understanding your employment rights
Planning for the future
Making an advance statement
Giving financial control to others: making your choice
Useful organisations
Further reading
Appendix–budgeting table

This booklet gives you advice and information on how to keep on top of your financial affairs and maintain your home and your lifestyle, despite the difficulties caused by mental distress or mental illness.

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group has kindly supported the production of this booklet.

For further information to help you understand and manage your money, go to FACE2FACE WITH FINANCE www.rbs.co.uk/face2face

Introduction

Managing personal finances and good mental health go hand in hand. So, if you are struggling to keep control of your income and expenditure, you may find that your mental health is affected. Likewise, if you find that you cannot cope with your feelings or behaviour, your finances may get neglected.

How mental health problems can affect your finances

Mental health problems are common. Unfortunately, if you become unwell you may neglect your personal finances and create more difficulties for you to tackle when you recover. Alternatively, if you are living with a diagnosis such as dementia, you may worry about how you and your family will cope when your illness gets worse.
Mental health problems can mean:

• if your ability to work is affected there may be a sudden or, possibly, dramatic reduction in your income
• time away from home whilst you are cared for in hospital, making it difficult to keep abreast of your financial commitments
• your capacity to make financial decisions is affected, leading you to act recklessly or unwisely
• you lose the motivation to keep control of your finances
• you become vulnerable to financial exploitation or abuse.

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How financial problems can affect your mental health

The stress and worry associated with trying to maintain control over your expenditure and keep your household running on an even keel can result in:

• feelings of inadequacy and despair
• additional worries about the consequences of getting into debt
• a lack of security or pessimism about the future
• conflict within the family or amongst your carers, making it more difficult for you to achieve stability
• giving up control of your financial affairs to third parties, thus increasing feelings of powerlessness and loss of autonomy
• avoiding or failing to engage with services that might be able to help, for fear that they may be judgmental or coercive.

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Making a start

There are lots of good reasons to begin financial housekeeping as soon as possible.
It is very easy to put it off, but investing time now will pay dividends.

Getting on top of your finances will:

• give you the opportunity to look at your financial commitments and decide how to prioritise them
• encourage you to explore ways of using your money more effectively
• allow you to re-evaluate your lifestyle
• help avoid financial crises
• make you less vulnerable to financial problems if your mental health problems get worse
• increase your confidence and self-esteem as you become better informed and find sources of good quality advice.

Knowledge is power!

Plan for the future too so that you feel confident should you become unable to manage your finances yourself. Start thinking about who may be a good person(s) to deal with your financial affairs, should you, for example, need to go into hospital or your mental health deteriorates. (see 'Planning for the future'.)

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Personal help and support

Trying to keep your finances on an even keel – and coping at home – when you have mental health problems, is easier if you are getting the right kind of emotional and practical support. The following people can offer different kinds of help, depending on your circumstances:

• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and other specialist advice centre staff – for free practical advice on work, benefits and finance. CAB are a good generalist advice service, who can refer you on to specialist advisors or projects if necessary
• your local Mind group, self-help group or day centre – for advice, support and friendship
• a public services pathfinder, such as a social worker, GP, health visitor, key worker or care coordinator – to help you obtain social care, additional health services, a benefits review or access to an employment scheme
• psychological, psychiatric or outreach support workers – to help you cope with your feelings and reactions to financial pressures, or to help with motivation and organisation for work or money management (some of this help may have to be paid for)
• financial advisors, lawyers and accountants – provide paid for advice. You might need help with things such as preparing your tax returns, advice on tax credits and allowances, contracts, power of attorney or wills
• your bank or building society – for financial advice. The 'Banking Code' means that they must treat customers sympathetically and positively, but if you find it difficult to talk to them directly, it can be done via CAB, who work with them all the time
• a trusted, competent friend or representative – to help run your home or accept legal responsibility for your finances when or if you were not able to do so.

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Getting into good shape

Before you start to map out your financial situation, take time to sort through and put in order relevant papers.

Getting organised
Having your financial papers in order will save time and make it easier for you if you decide to seek some help and support from an advisor in the future. Look out papers relating to both income and expenditure; for example, P60 forms, wage slips, social security benefit details, rent or mortgage details, insurance documents, utility bills etc. You should make sure that all your bank statements are in order and that you know where you keep details of any pension plans, savings, National Insurance and tax.

Financial papers checklist

__ Wage slips
__ P60 forms (showing your tax history)
__ Social security benefits papers
__ Pension details
__ Mortgage payment details
__ Rent details (including ground rent and maintenance charges)
__ Savings accounts
__ Buildings and contents insurance
__ Life insurance
__ Car insurance
__ Car tax
__ Gas bills
__ Electricity bills
__ Phone bills (mobile and landline)
__ Water bills
__ TV licence bills
__ Credit card bills
__ Store card bills
__ Membership papers (for magazines, clubs, emergency road services)
__ Loans taken out
__ Any outstanding service bills/debts
__ Any receipts/papers for money owed to you by services or people you know

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Planning and budgeting

If you are feeling well and quite confident about dealing with financial matters, you may feel able to cope with doing an income and expenditure budget to assess your current financial situation (see Appendix).

However, if not, your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is a good starting point for money advice (for contact details see Useful organisations), particularly with regard to benefits and maximising your income. Staff there can also refer you to specialist advisors if necessary. For details of other advice agencies in your area, visit www.adviceuk.org.uk

Once you have an accurate idea of the profile of your money needs, income and expenditure, you could look for ways to make savings and improve your income. There is a huge range of things to consider.

A few examples include:

• finding the right type of bank account for your purposes
• looking for cheaper insurance (possibly via an independent broker who has access to wide market information and the skills to evaluate it)
• finding out if grants would help insulate your home
• comparing gas and electricity providers (can now be done very easily on the internet – for example at www.uswitch.com)
• seeking a better level of child maintenance from a former partner (if their financial circumstances have improved, a lawyer could help to make a claim or enforce a claim for arrears)
• thinking about taking in a lodger (there are tax concessions on renting out one room in your home).

You should also think about saving up a fund for emergencies, special occasions, holidays or expensive items. It is also important to make a will, and to make other legal arrangements to help deal with financial emergencies (see below).

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Using financial products and services

Mortgages, loans, bank overdrafts, savings schemes, pensions and the like are called 'financial products'. Although many financial products are devised to help you out with
your money situation, some products may prove to be expensive to service or maintain due to the contributions or interest payments involved (for example, a saving account that requires a regular deposit, or interest accrued on a loan).

You may be worried that if your mental health fluctuates, or you have a crisis,then you may not be able to meet your commitments to a particular financial product. Also, some companies are reluctant to sell to people who may not be able to maintain their side of the agreement.

However, some financial products have been specially designed to take account of the needs of people with disabilities or who have fluctuating incomes. There are also schemes such as shared ownership of homes, in which the financial risk of purchasing is reduced for people who are financially vulnerable. (See 'Housing' under 'Useful organisations'.)

If you feel that you need some guidance on managing your financial products, the Financial Services Authority (FSA) (see below for contact details) is a good starting point. The FSA can tell you more about:

• how to get financial advice
• choosing between different financial advisors
• different types of mortgage and interest rate deals
• reviewing your mortgage arrangements
• shopping around for the right insurance for your situation
• the difference between savings and investments
• types of investments
• savings accounts, ISAs and credit unions
• useful contacts.

If you do go on to see a financial advisor, make a list of all the financial products you currently hold, and collect any relevant papers together before your meeting. This will ensure that the advisor can you give you the best advice for your circumstances. Don't feel embarrassed about admitting that you don't understand some of the services you are using, or that you need help – that is the reason they are there.

If you want advice on disposing of your assets – for example, in order to benefit a family member with mental health problems, or to reduce the costs of paying for residential care – a specialist solicitor may be able to help. Some firms of solicitors offer financial planning services or can give you advice about where to go for further help. (The Law Society can help you find a solicitor – see below for details.)

If you are dissatisfied with any financial service or product you have bought and cannot resolve the issue with the provider, contact the Financial Ombudsman Service with your complaint. Their website (www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk) has good tips and a step-by-step guide on how to sort out your problem. (See 'Useful organisations' for further contact details.)

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Making the best use of public money

The Government and local authorities provide a huge range of benefits in cash or in kind to promote the welfare of people who are not economically strong. Help can be provided in the form of:

• equipment and services that enable health and social care
• basic cash benefits to make up for the lack of adequate income from employment
• additional cash benefits to meet specific circumstances
• reductions on your taxes to reflect additional responsibilities.

It is up to you to take advantage of all such benefits, as you will not get them automatically. Also, they sometimes need to be juggled to reap their full potential.

Help with paying for health and social care

Local authority social services departments can help you maintain your independence, if, for example, your mental health needs prevent you from fulfilling your parental role or maintaining a full economic and social life in the community. They can carry out an assessment of your needs to see which of their services would be helpful to you; for example, support or respite for you to fulfil a course of training or study, or housing support to adjust to independent living after a period of hospital care.

Social care can be provided in the form of services supplied by the local authority or by private care agencies. But local councils must now offer direct payments to service users and carers who would like to choose and manage their own services. Direct payments offer more independence and control to mental health service users. The money must be used to arrange services or equipment that you need – it cannot be used simply as a source of additional income for you or your family. However, it should include enough to pay for someone to help with budgeting and accounting if you would find it difficult to cope with this.

To find out more, telephone the National Centre for Independent Living on 020 7587 1663, visit www.direct.gov.uk or talk to your social worker or local social services department.

Councils are able to means test their social care services and ask for a contribution towards them. Not all councils do this. People on benefit or receiving up to a certain amount cannot be charged. Some types of social care are not contributory at all. So, if you qualify for social care services, it is worth finding out whether the particular services you need can be provided via a non-charging route.

Mental health service users whose treatment is under the Care Programme Approach (CPA) are entitled to a combined health and social care assessment. This means that social care services (including direct payments for them) can be accessed via the Community Mental Health Service. Social care provided via health services can also be free of contributions.

Social services or voluntary sector organisations such as local Mind associations can also help you to access charitable funds and grants, or low-interest loan schemes for many things that could support your standard of living; for example, carpeting or furnishing for a new flat or going on a family holiday.

If you are a carer, providing care to someone on a regular basis, you are entitled to an assessment of your needs relating to this. The assessment could identify the level of your need for respite (or a break from caring), equipment or additional support (for instance where lifting or transfers require more than one person). For more information about how to request an assessment, and other forms of support for carers visit www.direct.gov.uk or www.carersonline.org.uk Alternatively, you can call the freephone CarersLine on 0808 808 7777.

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Social security benefits
As a mental health service user, you may be eligible for a range of cash benefits, including Income Support, help with your mortgage or rent, council tax, child care costs and the costs of living with a disability (Disability Living Allowance). If you qualify, benefits can be a valuable source of financial support. Some benefits give automatic entitlement or "passport" to other rights, such as help with hospital fares, free school meals and lump sum payments (either a loan or a grant) for exceptional needs. Some benefits, such as income support, are means tested. Others are not, and therefore worth claiming even if you are employed or receiving income from other sources.

The social security system can be very complicated. For basic information and advice about benefits, you can telephone the Benefit Enquiry Line on 0800 882 200 if you have a disability or you are a carer. Alternatively, contact your local JobCentre Plus office or social security office – details in your local phone book or visit www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk This website also has details of what benefits may be relevant in particular circumstances and tells you how to claim.

Benefits are not always provided at the right level. If you believe your benefits have been wrongly calculated or set at the wrong level you are entitled to appeal. The time for appealing against benefits decisions is usually very limited – so appeal in time. Child Poverty Action Group, law centres, legal aid solicitors and independent benefits advice agencies can help with appeals and other problems. (See 'Useful organisations'.)

Tax credits
To qualify for tax credits you must be aged 16 or over.

If you are in low-paid work (either for an employer or self-employed) and are at a disadvantage in getting a job because of either a physical disability or mental health problems, then you may be eligible for working tax credit, depending on your circumstances. There are also other routes to claiming working tax credit – make sure you don't miss out.

If you have children, then, depending on your annual income, you may be eligible for child tax credit. It is payable to people who qualify regardless of whether they are working or not.

Tax credits are administered by the Inland Revenue. A number of special rules apply to this system. To find out more, contact the Tax Credit Helpline on 0845 300 3900 or an Inland Revenue Inquiry Centre (see your local phone book). For advice, make sure you choose an advisor or a service that is independent and in whom you can confide.

Remember

• Don't delay before you enquire about what benefits you can claim, as the rules about backdating a claim are very strict. Unless there are exceptional circumstances, you are expected to take active steps to seek advice about your entitlements when your circumstances change.
• Find out which savings can affect your right to benefits. Get independent advice from your local CAB, welfare rights agency or solicitor.
• Don't be tempted to work for cash in the 'black economy' without paying tax or reporting this to the benefit office (if you are receiving benefit). This could expose you to a penalty, including prosecution for offences. Even if you get away with it, you could be losing out: tax credits offer substantial sums to parents on low incomes who work part-time. And gaps in your National Insurance record could damage your entitlements to benefits later on.

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Working versus benefits

If you rely on benefits, one way of increasing your income is to do paid work, either full-time or part-time. However, some people worry that going back to work may affect the benefits they can claim and the total income they will receive.

Kerry has been offered casual work by her neighbour, helping out on a market stall, twice a week for the minimum wage. She would like to take the work, as she feels depressed staying at home every day, but does not know whether or when she should tell the Department of Work and Pensions, or what difference it would make to her income support and disability living allowance benefits.

Brian has been offered a full-time clerical job at £10 per hour. He is receiving the long-term rate of Incapacity Benefit and Housing Benefit. He is worried that if he starts work and then finds that he cannot cope, he will have to go back on the short-term rate of incapacity benefit which is less money than he is currently receiving.

These are examples of scenarios that a mental health service user may face when thinking of returning to or starting work. Both Kerry and Brian should seek advice for their particular situations, as working for pay does not always affect access to social security benefits or make you worse off financially.

There are, in fact, some financial incentives in the social security system that may encourage you to return to work or increase your hours. For instance:

• some of your work income may be disregarded when being assessed for benefits
• you may be eligible for childcare costs
• you may be eligible for Housing Benefit or Council Tax Benefit for a limited period when you start work, your earnings increase, or your hours of work increase
• you may be eligible for a job grant if you or your partner return to full-time paid work
• some people may be able to return to the same benefit that they were receiving before they started work.

All of the above examples depend on the fulfilment of special conditions or receiving a particular type of benefit. The earnings rules differ for different types of benefit – for instance, means tested or non-means tested. You are allowed to work without your benefit being affected in a number of situations, but you need to check the rules first.

Apart from the potential financial benefits to returning to either paid or voluntary work, it can also help you to maintain job skills and improve your self-esteem. Therefore, you will need to weigh up both the personal and financial pros and cons of entering or returning to work.

It may not always be easy to make this decision though, particularly if your mental health fluctuates. Likewise, it can be difficult to stick to a financial budget if your income goes up and down.

Make an informed decision

• Discuss it with your family and carers.
• Get advice from a local specialist advice agency such as a welfare rights agency or CAB (who can also give you contacts to independent benefit advisors in your area).
• See Mind's factsheet Seeking employment.

Warning!
The rules relating to the type of work you can do, and the effect of any earnings on your benefits, are complex. It is essential to obtain independent advice before you start a job – even if it is unpaid – from a specialist legal advisor, CAB or welfare rights agency to avoid the situation where, however innocently, you continue to draw benefit when you are no longer entitled to it. You may lose any future benefit, and it is likely that the DWP will try to recover any overpayment from you.

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Dealing with problems

Good financial planning can often become derailed when you are faced with an unexpected event or your mental health is under threat. Knowing your legal rights – or at least where to go for further help – is vital in order to keep problems to a minimum and avert a crisis. Sharing your problems with people you trust – and making the effort to seek out expert advice and information – can help you identify a realistic strategy for managing your situation more effectively.

Managing debt
If you are worried about your debts it is essential to act sooner rather than later. Find out if there is a local money advice service or a money advisor within a centre, such as a CAB or law centre.

Your local CAB can provide guidance on how to prioritise your debts, work out a realistic offer to creditors, make a financial plan and negotiate with creditors, or tell you where to go for further advice. They are also used to working on your behalf with banks and building societies to help you get through your financial difficulties.

You could also contact the National Debtline, which provides a free information and advice service on 0808 808 4000 or visit their website at www.nationaldebtline.co.uk

This organisation also publishes a free information pack to get you started with tackling your debts.

John has been persuaded by his partner to seek help as he is receiving letters from creditors threatening legal action unless he pays his debts. John contacts his local CAB and with an advisor he makes a list of all his debts together with details of his income and expenditure. His debts are split into those which must be paid to avoid loss of his home (for example, his mortgage arrears), and those debts which are less of a priority and are unlikely to lead to legal proceedings if the creditors receive an offer of repayment (for example, John's catalogue arrears). The CAB advisor also discusses with John what to say to his creditors, and takes John though the advantages and disadvantages of seeking bankruptcy as a last resort.

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Understanding your rights as a householder or occupier

Living in a stable and secure home is not only important in order to maintain good mental health, it is often a major item of expenditure and therefore an essential factor in financial planning and debt management.

Owning a home creates special responsibilities, such as making sure you are covered for certain insurable risks and maintaining mortgage, rent and loan repayments.

If you are worried that you may not be able to keep up the cost of your accommodation, or you are concerned about your rights to occupy your home or in relation to any agreement with the landlord, you should get legal advice without delay. For instance, non-payment of mortgage or rent could lead to repossession of your home – but there are mortgage insurance products available, for example, to cover you if you lose your job or income.

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Understanding your rights as a consumer

Sometimes things go wrong when you buy, rent or take out a loan for a service or product: you may find that the interest rate on a loan is unreasonably high, or that you have had second thoughts about a contract that you have signed. There are positive ways of putting things right – faulty goods can be returned, and unfair contracts can be terminated or changed.

However, if you feel you have been unfairly treated or that you can no longer fulfil an agreement you made when your judgement might have been affected by poor mental health, you may have a legal right of redress.

Freda has a diagnosis of bipolar affective disorder and is currently receiving treatment in hospital. Shortly before admission she spent a considerable sum on buying a new car which she cannot afford. She says she would not have signed the paperwork had she been well .

At these times, you need expert advice to see if you have entered into a legally binding contract. The law says that a contract may not be enforceable if you did not have the mental capacity to enter into the arrangement when you did, and the other party to the contract knew or ought to have known, that you lacked capacity. There are special rules that relate to contracts for necessaries (food, drink, clothing, essential services and so on) which mean that you have to pay a reasonable price for them, even if you entered into the contract without the necessary capacity.

If your query is about financial products or services contact the Financial Services Authority (FSA) on page (details below).

There are magazines and dedicated pages in newspapers providing consumer advice and guidance. It is worth looking at these or using the problem or advice lines that they advertise.

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Understanding your employment rights

If you start or return to either paid or unpaid work, make sure that you obtain and keep copies of important documents, such as your contract of employment (or letter of appointment). Try to make sure that you have a source of knowledge about your legal rights at work by joining a union, or identifying a local law centre or CAB.

If you are struggling to cope with your job, seek help at an early stage.

Brian has taken time off work due to stress caused by his workload and the pressure of meeting tight deadlines. He returned last month to find little change in his working conditions, despite telling his employer of his problems. He feels trapped as he can't afford to leave, but his mental health is starting to deteriorate again.

Talk to your employer, if necessary with a friend or representative, and try and negotiate a reduction in your hours or a change in your responsibilities. Make sure you are clear about what the problem is – and how you think it might be tackled.

Even if it can be resolved amicably with your boss, you might need support to maintain the confidence to sort it out, and to make sure that the same (or consequential) issues do not arise in the future.

Under the 1995 Disability Discrimination Act, employers are expected to take steps to make any reasonable adjustments or changes to the workplace in order to ensure that a job applicant or employee with mental health problems is not at a disadvantage. To find out more, contact the Disability Rights Commission's helpline on 08457 622 633 or visit their website at www.drc-gb.org (Also see the Mind guide to surviving working life.)

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Planning for the future

Your ability to take decisions about your finances may vary, or be limited, if you are experiencing mental health problems. Questions may be raised about your capacity to manage your finances if you are not feeling mentally well. This is a very different situation from experiencing difficulties in budgeting and financial planning because your affairs are complex or you need help from a financial advisor to get the best return from your money.

Making an advance statement (also known as a living will or advance directive)

Making an advance statement allows you to set out the detail of the care and treatment you would like (or refuse to have) when you are no longer able to make decisions yourself; for example, because you are too mentally unwell.

You may also use an advance statement to list any interventions that you find useful to avert a crisis or at least ensure that if you do go into hospital or lose control of your finances your recovery is as speedy as possible. It is a good idea to involve your carers in the drawing up of an advance statement so that they are clear what your wishes are. For more information, see Legal briefing: advance directives, and Mind rights guide three: consent to medical treatment.

Giving financial control to others: making your choice

Capacity
Whether you have the capacity to make financial decisions depends not only on your mental health but the nature of the particular financial decision that has to be taken. For example, some people can make decisions on how they would like to spend small amounts of money, but not larger sums.

Enduring Power of Attorney
If your capacity is significantly impaired, financial decision-making may be handed over to someone else. You may have already planned for this eventuality by creating an Enduring Power of Attorney (EPA). This is a legal document giving the person(s) of your choice the authority to deal with either all or some of your financial affairs, now or in the future; for example, if you go into hospital and you want your attorney to take over your bills or other expenditure. EPAs are especially useful if you have fluctuating periods, when you don't feel able to cope.

The law recognises that some people have the capacity to create an EPA but not the capacity to manage their money if their affairs are complex or they have substantial assets. Note: From April 2007, it is proposed that Enduring Power of Attorney will be replaced by Lasting Power of Attorney (under the new Mental Capacity Act). This will hopefully give more choice with regards to the range of responsibility that can be handed over.

Court of Protection
If you have assets and are unable to manage your financial affairs, through lack of mental capacity, and have not executed an EPA, an application can be made to the Court of Protection (CP) for someone else (known as a receiver) to be appointed for this purpose. The Court will require medical evidence of your inability to manage your assets. The Public Guardianship Office (the CP's administrative branch) can provide help and representation for you, while the CP is involved in your affairs. (See 'Useful organisations' for contact details.)

Trusts
If you are a beneficiary under a trust then you should make sure that the trustees are aware of your circumstances as they have the power to release funds when you require financial support.

Appointeeships
If your main income is from social security benefits then the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) may appoint someone to make claims, receive and spend benefits on your behalf. This person is known as an appointee.

If you are concerned about who will act as appointee in the future, then it is helpful to discuss matters in advance with someone you trust and ask them to put themselves forward to the DWP should it become necessary.

Remember

• This is a very complex area of law and is only touched upon here. Whatever your financial circumstances, if you have any questions, doubts or concerns about your finances being managed by someone else – ask for more information and get advice from a lawyer (in exceptional cases, legal aid is available). It is your money and you have the right to know why another individual has control rather than yourself. (Also see Mind's rights guide seven: managing your finances for more detailed information)

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Useful organisations

Money advice

Benefit Enquiry Line
tel: 0800 882 200

Child Poverty Action Group
94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF
tel: 020 7837 7979 fax: 020 7837 6414
web: www.cpag.org.uk
Charity campaigning for the abolition of poverty among children in the UK and for the improvement of the lives of low-income families.

Citizens Advice Bureaux (CABx)
CABx provide free, confidential and independent advice from over 3,000 locations including in bureaux, GP surgeries, hospitals and prisons. The public information website is www.adviceguide.org.uk or look in the phone book for your local CAB.

Directgov
web: www.direct.gov.uk
Website providing information on government services. Areas include people with disabilities, money, tax, benefits, employment, carers, education and learning.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA)
25 The North Colonnade, Canary Wharf, London E14 5HS
consumer helpline: 0845 606 1234
web: www.fsa.gov.uk
This is an independent watchdog which regulates financial services and protects the rights of retail customers. It provides information about financial services and how to get help when you have a problem with goods or services.

National Centre for Independent Living
tel: 020 7587 1663
web: www.ncil.org.uk
Local information on your Social Services' Direct Payments scheme, and on the other Local Support Schemes operating in your area.

National Debtline
tel: 0808 808 4000
web: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Free advice on managing your debts

Tax credit helpline
tel: 0845 300 0900 (Everyday 8am to 8pm)
Provides information about tax credits, including Working Tax Credit and Child Tax Credit.

Legal advice

The Community Legal Service (CLS)
helpline: 0845 345 4345 (for free legal advice)
web: www.clsdirect.org.uk
The CLS exists to help you find the right legal information and advice to solve your problems. A wide range of organisations, including Citizens Advice Bureaux, law centres, independent advice agencies and solicitors have met certain quality standards set by the Legal Services Commission and are accredited CLS providers. Their advice is free or you may be eligible for legal aid. The website has details of accredited CLS providers.

Law Centres
web: www.lawcentres.org.uk Contact the town hall in your area to get the details of your local law centre or visit their website.

Mind Legal Advice Line
Mind’s Legal Advice Service offers information and advice on any aspect of mental health law (but not financial advice):
tel. 0845 225 9393; email legal@mind.org.uk or write to
PO Box 277, Manchester M60 3XN

Housing

Advance Housing
1 Cygnet Court, High Street, Witney, Oxfordshire OX28 1HT
tel: 01993 709 221 fax: 01993 700 258
web: www.advanceuk.org
email: homeownership@advance.org
A registered housing agency helping people with mental health needs and learning disabilities to gain independent living.

Other advice

www.adviceuk.org.uk
Website providing contact details for a whole range of local advice services, including financial and disability advice centres, across the UK.

Disability Rights Commission
DRC Helpline, FREEPOST MID02164, Stratford upon Avon CV37 9BR
helpline: 08457 622 633 (Mon to Fri 8am to 8pm) textphone: 08457 622 644 fax: 08457 778 878
web: www.drc-gb.org
The first point of contact for all enquiries is the DRC telephone helpline. There is a
Welsh part to the website in both English and Welsh.

CarersLine
tel: 0808 808 7777 (freephone)
web: www.carersonline.org.uk

JobCentre Plus
web: www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Official bodies

Law Society
113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL
tel: 020 7242 1222 helpline: 0870 606 6575 (for choosing a solicitor)
web: www.lawsociety.org.uk
The regulatory and representative body for solicitors in England and Wales. They can also help you find a solicitor and advise you on how to make a complaint about a solicitor. They do not provide legal advice.

Financial Ombudsman Service
South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR
tel: 020 7964 1000 (switchboard) helpline: 0845 080 1800
web: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk
Deals with complaints in the areas of insurance, mortgages, investment and banking services.

The Financial Services Authority (FSA)
(See above for contact details)
Has general information about which other bodies to complain to depending on the financial service under complaint.

The Public Guardianship Office
Public Guardianship Office, Archway Tower, 2 Junction Road, London N19 5SZ
tel: 0845 330 2900 (local call rate) fax: 0870 739 5780
email: custserv@guardianship.gsi.gov.uk
web: www.guardianship.gov.uk

Voluntary organisations

Age Concern
Age Concern England, Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER
helpline: 0800 00 99 66 (free) web: www.ageconcern.org.uk

Age Concern Cymru
Ty John Pathy, 13/14 Neptune Court, Vanguard Way, Cardiff CF24 5PJ
tel: 029 2043 1555, fax: 029 2047 1418
email: enquiries@accymru.org.uk
web: www.accymru.org.uk

Alzheimer's Society
Gordon House, 10 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PH
tel: 020 7306 0606 fax: 020 7306 0808
email: enquiries@alzheimers.org.uk
web: www.alzheimers.org.uk

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Further reading

Mind factsheets

Benefits for people with mental health problems
Emergency housing
Insurance cover for people who have mental health problems
Legal briefings: advance directives
Seeking employment

Mind booklets

How to cope with hospital admission (Mind 2003)
The Mind guide to surviving working life (Mind 2003)
The Mind guide to managing stress (Mind 2005)
Mind rights guide three: consent to medical treatment (Mind 2004)
Mind rights guide seven: managing your finances (Mind 2005)

For a catalogue of publications that can be purchased from Mind, send a request with your address details to: publications@mind.org.uk or call 0844 444 4448.
Visit the online shop to see details of all the publications stocked.

National Debtline Publications

National Debtline produce a good range of detailed information packs and factsheets on debt management and budgeting. See their website at www.nationaldebtline.co.uk You can download PDFs for free or order hard copies for a fee. They have also published a £5 book Dealing with
your debts as a definitive self-help guide.

Appendix - Budgeting table

This is just a guide to see what sort of costs you should be considering. Your circumstances may mean that you have to adapt this table to suit your own particular needs. If you have access to and feel confident using a computer, it may be useful to setup a spreadsheet, so that you can change the items or costs as your circumstances change.

This booklet was written by Catherine Grimshaw and Sally Hughes © Mind 2006
ISBN 1-903567-69-6
No reproduction without permission