Advice for older people
Our Advice service is for people aged 50+ and their carers who live in the west of Newcastle. All advice is free and confidential.
We offer our advice in a range of ways to suit people:
- – Advice Drop-in
- – Home visiting service
- – In-person appointments
- – Telephone enquiries
We help to do a full benefit entitlement check and establish any entitlements to benefits, we can assist with claiming, form filling and appeals.
Dementia Advice
We have a Dementia specific Advice and Information service, which can help you get all of your entitlements, maximise your income and support with form filling, Blue Badge Applications, wills and lasting power of attorney.
Read more about our Advice Service including drop-in opening times and contact details.
Common financial advice enquiries
We are regularly asked for advice on financial benefits including Pension Credit, Attendance allowance and Carer’s allowance. We’ve compiled some information below on these topics, but if you’d like further advice please just get in touch.
Pension Credit
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.
Pension Credit is separate from your State Pension.
You can get Pension Credit even if you have other income, savings or own your own home.
If you get Pension Credit you can also get other help, such as:
- – Housing Benefit if you rent the property you live in
- – Support for Mortgage Interest if you own the property you live in
- – Council Tax Reduction
- – a free TV licence if you’re aged 75 or over
- – help with NHS dental treatment, glasses and transport costs for hospital appointments
- – help with your heating costs
For more information or to see if you qualify contact our advice worker or go to gov.uk
Attendance Allowance
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you.
It’s paid at 2 different rates and how much you get depends on the level of care that you need because of your disability.
You could get £76.70 or £114.60 a week to help with personal support if you’re both:
- – physically or mentally disabled
- – State Pension age or older
It does not cover mobility needs.
The other benefits you get can increase if you get Attendance Allowance.
You do not have to have someone caring for you in order to claim.
If you do have a carer, they could get Carer’s Allowance if you have substantial caring needs.
Carers Allowance
You could get £86.45 a week if you care for someone at least 35 hours a week and they get certain benefits.
You do not have to be related to, or live with, the person you care for.
You do not get paid extra if you care for more than one person.
If someone else also cares for the same person as you, only one of you can claim Carer’s Allowance.
Carer’s Allowance can affect the other benefits that you and the person you care for get. You have to pay tax on it if your income is over the Personal Allowance.
For each week you get Carer’s Allowance you’ll automatically get National Insurance credits. You may also be able to apply for:
- – support from your local council
- – a Council Tax Reduction
- – Universal Credit if you’re on a low income or out of work
- – Pension Credit if you’re over working age
- – grants and bursaries to help pay for courses and training
- – Income Support (if you get the severe disability premium and you’re on a low income)
- – income-based Employment and Support Allowance (if you get the severe disability premium and you cannot wor
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