Getting help

Getting help, support and advice
Independent advice centres
Welfare rights websites
Government websites
Local Mind associations
Local advocacy services
Local authority welfare rights services
Personal help and support
Useful organisations
Money advice
Legal advice
Other advice
Official bodies
Managing money

Getting help, support and advice
Probably the most important thing to know is where you can get free, confidential, independent advice and assistance with any aspect of the issues you may have with your money.

In some situations free advice may not available, because the only people entitled to advise you are likely to charge a fee, such as Independent Financial Advisers. If this is the case you should check that they are properly regulated.

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Independent advice centres – including Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and other agencies such as Advice UK members can usually provide you with free, confidential, independent advice and assistance. The availability of these services will vary depending upon where you live. Contact details for your local services are usually available in local libraries, GP surgeries or community centres and on your local authority's website.

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Welfare rights websites – for people who have access to the internet, these are an increasingly popular way of accessing information about welfare rights. Citizens Advice provides a free website at www.adviceguide.org.uk that includes information on a wide-range of issues.

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Government websites – most government departments and agencies have a web site that will provide information that you may find useful. In addition the www.direct.gov.uk website provides information on all sorts of issues including money issues.

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Local Mind associations (LMAs) – there are over 200 LMAs throughout England and Wales, some of which provide specialist assistance with welfare rights. Find out where your nearest local Mind association is by contacting the MindinfoLine on 0845 766 0163 or see Mind in your area.

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Local advocacy services – if you are concerned about approaching Social Services staff on your own, an advocate can go with you to provide moral support and to act as a liaison if necessary. Contact your local Social Services department that should be able to provide you with a list of independent advocacy services in your area.

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Local authority welfare rights services – the availability of this kind of service will very much depend upon where you live. Often these services are to be found within your local Social Services Department, although some Community Mental Health Teams may have a dedicated welfare rights service.

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

• Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) and other free, confidential and independent advice services for free practical advice on work, benefits and debt

• your local Mind association, self-help group or day centre – for advice, support and friendship

• a health or care professional such as a social worker, GP, health visitor, key worker or care coordinator – to help you obtain social care, additional health services, or a review of your benefits and access to employment schemes, if you feel that employment would be helpful to you

• psychological, psychiatric or other outreach support workers – to help you cope with your feelings and reactions to financial pressures, or to help with motivation and organisation in relation to work or money management issues (some of this help may have to be paid for)

• financial advisers, 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 states that they must treat customers sympathetically and positively, but if you find it difficult to talk to them directly, it can be done via a CAB or other free advice service, which work directly with banks as a matter of course.

• a trusted, competent friend or representative – to help run your home or accept legal responsibility for your finances when or if you are not able to do so.

However, if not, your local Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) or other free, confidential and independent advice agency is a good starting point for money advice (for contact details see Useful organisations), particularly with regard to benefits and maximising your income. For details of other advice agencies in your area, visit www.adviceuk.org.uk

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Useful organisations

Money advice

Benefit Enquiry Line
T: 0800 882 200

Child Poverty Action Group
94 White Lion Street, London N1 9PF
T: 020 7837 7979 F: 020 7837 6414
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 Bureau
CAB 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
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
www.fsa.gov.uk
The FSA 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
T: 020 7587 1663
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
T: 0808 808 4000
www.nationaldebtline.co.uk
Free confidential and independent advice on how to deal with debt problems.

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

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Legal advice

Citizen's Advice Bureaux (CAB)
www.adviceguide.org.uk
For free, confidential and independent advice, including about rights and benefits. See the phone book or the CAB website for your local office

Community Legal Advice (CLA)
helpline: 0845 345 4345 (for free legal advice)
www.clsdirect.org.uk
The CLA 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 CLA providers. Their advice is free or you may be eligible for legal aid. The website has details of accredited CLA providers.

Law Centres
www.lawcentres.org.uk 
Visit the Law Centre Federation website to find out if you have a local law centre.

Mind Legal Advice Line
Legal Unit, Granta House, 15-19 Broadway London E15 4BQ
T: 020 8519 2122 (Mon, Wed and Fri 2pm to 4pm)
legal@mind.org.uk
For free legal (but not financial) advice

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Other advice

AdviceUK
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.

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

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

Alzheimer's Society
Gordon House, 10 Greencoat Place, London SW1P 1PH
T: 020 7306 0606 F: 020 7306 0808
enquiries@alzheimers.org.uk
www.alzheimers.org.uk

Carers Line
T: 0808 808 7777 (Freephone)
www.carersonline.org.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 F: 08457 778 878
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.

JobCentre Plus
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk

Official bodies

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

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
custserv@guardianship.gsi.gov.uk
www.guardianship.gov.uk

Jobcentre Plus
www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Information about benefits and employment support

Directgov
www.direct.gov.uk
Information on all public services, including employment rights and services, and financial help

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Managing money

HM Revenue and Customs
www.hmrc.gov.uk
Their website will direct you to the exact department you need to contact or your local HMRC centre (can also be found in the phone book)

Moneymadeclear
Helpline: 0845 606 1234 minicom: 0845 730 0104
www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk
Easy-to-use information from the Financial Services Authority (the UK's financial watchdog) to help you manage your money

Money Saving Expert
www.moneysavingexpert.com
Tips on budgeting and saving money

National Minimum Wage Helpline
T:0845 600 0678 minicom: 0845 915 3296

National Insurance Contributions
www.hmrc.gov.uk/nic
Lists everything to do with NI contributions and their offices, and further useful contacts