Welfare rights - advice
Our Advice Service provides free and confidential information
and assistance on benefits, housing and debt issues to all
residents and voluntary service staff in the borough of
Rochdale.
How we can help
Our aim is to:
- Provide free and confidential advice and information to
Rochdale residents on all social security benefits and tax
credits.
- Actively promote the take-up of benefits so that the residents
of Rochdale are aware of their rights and do not miss out on their
entitlements.
Using our advice service
Please contact us if you require advice and assistance on
social security benefits and tax credits. We offer:
- Specialist workers to assist and advise people with mental
health problems, or those who speak community languages
- Representation to residents at appeal tribunals where they have
grounds to challenge decisions about their benefits
- Training courses for other Council staff and to voluntary
sector groups.
The Advice Service also assists people with multiple debt
problems and housing problems, see the related pages
about the help we can provide.
We can give you general advice about welfare benefits, debt or
housing issues through our Advice Line. If the problem
is complicated then we can make you an appointment at one of our
advice sessions throughout the borough. If we think that your
case will need ongoing work then it will be allocated to a specific
worker.
Information about benefits
For further information about benefits is available on the
following sites:
Department for Work and Pensions
- provides general benefit information
Directgov - provides
a range of information relating to government services, including
benefits information
AdviceGuide - public
information service of Citizens’ Advice, providing access to
Citizens’ Advice Bureau information on people’s rights
Tax Credits - HM
Revenue and Customs Tax Credit website featuring information
on the tax credits available to you
The Pension Service -
provides information for individuals about pensions and other
pensioner benefits in the UK
Job Centre
Plus - pays benefits to people of working age and provides help
in finding jobs
AdviceNow - Advicenow is an
independent, not-for-profit website providing information on
rights and legal issues.