Information & Advice
- Location: Dorothy House
- Price: Free
Welcome to the Information & Advice Service.
Our Information & Advice service is free, impartial, and confidential.
We support the information and advice needs of anyone aged 55 and over.
Our advice service for pension age benefits is open to anyone of state pension age, which is currently 66. (Please note this rises to 67 in 2027).
We also offer advice to family members or carers (18+) who are supporting older relatives who are aged over 55 and live in Bath and North East Somerset. If you are of working age, and have a benefit query, we can make a referral to Citizen’s Advice on your behalf.
What do we offer?
The service is provided by a small team of staff and volunteers. We can offer advice and information on a wide range of issues, including:
▶Pension Age Benefits and entitlements, including Pension Credit & ▶Attendance Allowance
Help completing forms (due to demand, this is assessed on a case by case basis)
▶Housing & Council Tax
▶Energy Advice
▶Social care services & Care Home Options
▶Information for Carers
▶Dementia Information & Support
▶Lasting Power of Attorney
▶Wills and Estate planning
▶Ageing Well - health & wellbeing, social connections, local groups and activities, avoiding scams, staying safe online, LGBT+, plus more.
If we cannot advise on an issue, we will try to find an organisation that can help. We are part of the Community Wellbeing Hub, and are connected to many community and charity organisations, and can make a specific referral on your behalf.
Unfortunately, we cannot offer financial advice (i.e. advice about stocks, shares, investments, etc.) or on credit debts (i.e. commercial loans, overdrafts, mortgages, etc.). We cannot offer advice on immigration or asylum, or on civil, consumer, or employment law.
We do not support the application of working age benefits (ie: Universal Credit or New PIP applications), for support with these applications, please contact Citizen’s Advice Banes (0808 278 7897, Monday to Friday from 9.30am to 2.30pm.)
For your peace of mind, all our staff and volunteers are DBS checked. They are here to help you, and we ask that you treat them with courtesy and respect. We also ask that you do your best to provide accurate information when asked, as it helps our advisers ensure your have the correct advice in a timely manner.
How to get support?
Due to the high demand for our services, we can now only accept referrals via the Community Wellbeing Hub.
Please refer yourself or someone else using this form
If you’re a health & social care professional or community partner, please complete the professional referral form:
https://communitywellbeinghub.co.uk/referral-form
I need help today - where do I start?
You can find support via Age UK National website:
https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice
Age UK National Advice phone line: 0800 678 1602 (lines open 8am -7pm, 365 days per year, free to call).
Age UK Silverline Helpline: 0800 470 8090
Age UK's The Silver Line Helpline is a free, confidential telephone service that offers friendship, conversation and support to older people aged 55+. The line is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Information Guides and Factsheets: www.ageuk.org.uk/services/information-advice/guides-and-factsheets
The online version is exactly the same as the printed version, and our Advice team uses these guides and factsheets to support you. They are free and public information. You can also pick up these guides from our office in Bath, or contact reception, and we’ll send you information for free in the post.
Age UK Banes Office address: The Studio, James St West, Bath, BA1 2
Age UK Banes Reception Phone: 01225 466135
Age UK Banes Reception email: reception@ageukbanes.co.uk