Benefits, tax credits and pensions

Benefits are essential to the welfare of many people.

As your circumstances change you should check to see whether you become entitled to extra help – don't miss out as some changes cannot be backdated.

General advice

• Direct Gov – Benefits and financial support
  Includes a link to an interactive benefits adviser which will calculate the benefits and tax credits to which you may be entitled.
  
• Advice Guide – Benefits
  Easy-to-follow help, from Citizens Advice.
  
• Department for Work and Pensions – services and benefits
  Information for working people, families, retirees and the disabled.
  
• Your money – financial help and advice
  Our own comprehensive list of links covering all aspects of money management.

Local benefits advice

These local councils offer advice on Council Tax Benefit and Housing Benefit:

• Eastbourne – benefits advice
  Phone: 01323 415807
• Hastings – benefits advice
  Phone: 01424 451080
• Lewes – benefits advice
  Phone: 01273 471600
• Rother – benefits advice
  Phone: 01424 787740
• Wealden – benefits advice
  Phone: 01323 443500

Some common benefits

• Tax credits
  Find out if you qualify, and how to claim.
  
• Income Support
  Can include help with costs such as free prescriptions from your doctor and dental treatment. It is not paid to unemployed people or people in full-time work.
  
• Job Seeker's Allowance – apply online
  If you're over 18 and working less than 16 hours per week, you may be eligible.
  
• Council Tax
  Your local district or borough council can help you with council tax benefits. Follow the link above for contact details.
  
• Housing benefit
  This is also paid through your local district or borough council. Follow the link for contact details.

Help for older people

If you are an older person, disabled or ill, it is important to make sure that you are getting all the financial help you are entitled to.

Our Adult Social Care teams can check what benefits you are getting and whether there is anything you are missing out on. We can also give you information about other sources of financial support.

• DirectGov – benefits and concessions for older people
  A useful beginners guide if you're about to retire, with a section on benefits.
• Pension credit
  A guaranteed income for everyone aged 60 or more.
• Age UK – free benefits checks for older people
  You can ask Age UK to arrange a home visit to help sort out what you are entitled to and help with the forms.
• Citizens Advice Bureau – benefits advice for the over-60s
  Clearly presented advice that you can navigate depending on your own circumstances.
• Managing your money – pensions
  Advice about types of pension schemes, pension tracing and forecasting.
• Retirement
  Making the most of your new life after retirement.
• Handyperson grant scheme
  We have a limited sum of money to spend on handyperson services offering grants of up to £200 to help older people with the cost of small jobs around the home.
• Private housing assistance in Eastbourne
  Grants and assistance are available from the council for private homeowners in Eastbourne aged over 60, or disabled, on means tested benefits.

Help with heating

• Grants towards heating, insulation and energy efficiency
  Older people and households on benefits may qualify for grants towards heating and insulation.

Help for the disabled

• Financial support for disabled people – DirectGov
• Disability benefits helplines and contact information – DirectGov
• How to register for benefits if you are disabled
  You don't have to register as disabled, but it may help you to do so. We can help with this.