Information & Advice

Please note, this service is not available outside Age UK East London - Head Office's catchment area.

Email: info@ageukeastlondon.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8981 7124

Age UK East London provide free, quality-assured, independent Social Welfare information and advice across Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets.

Our helpline is open Monday to Friday 10am – 4pm

Age UK East London provides free, quality-assured, independent information, advice and support for people aged 50+ and their carers living in Hackney, Newham and Tower Hamlets only.

We help people understand their rights, maximise their income, access support services and remain independent

What happens when you contact us?

When you first speak with a member of the team, they will complete an initial assessment to understand your situation and identify the support you need.

Some enquiries can be resolved immediately with information and guidance. Where more detailed support is required, we will place you on our waiting list for an appointment with an adviser.

We provide home visits to those that require it, but also appointments at one of our 3 East London Offices and other sites. We can also deliver appointments by phone and video call as needed.

Our service is delivered by experienced and highly skilled advisors and advice volunteers. We have Bengali, Urdu, Punjabi and French speaking team members. We can organise third-party translation services for any language required.

Urgent cases are prioritised based on need.

What can we help with:

Welfare Benefits
- Understanding your entitlement to benefits and help for you to claim.
- Application form filling for Pension Credit, Attendance Allowance, Housing Benefit, Council Tax Reduction, and other Pension-age welfare benefits.

Other money and Financial Support
- Charitable grant applications, or where to go for sources of financial assistance

Social Care and Carers' Rights
- Help with Care funding information and Financial Assessment Forms
- Help you understand care act assessments, social care services, carers' rights, carers’ assessments, and entitlements
- Help you to plan for Later Life, including providing information on Lasting Power of Attorney, Wills and Funeral plans
- Understand finding a care home or getting some help at home, and how care is funded



Housing Information and Guidance
- Share information or signposting about housing options, repairs and disrepair concerns, rent arrears, adaptations and equipment
- Where specialist housing casework is required, we will refer you to a specialist organisation.

Accessing Local Services
- Connecting you to social activities, community groups and organisations
- Let you know what other services we provide and how to access them
- Share information or signposting about other support you could access

What we cannot help with directly

We do not provide:
- Immigration advice
- Legal advice
- Financial or investment advice
- Specialist debt advice
- Housing casework or representation
- Consumer dispute casework

Where possible, we will signpost or refer you to an organisation that can help.

Information Guides and Factsheets

We can provide free Age UK factsheets and information guides covering:
- Money Matters
- Housing
- Health
- Social care
- Dementia
- Caring responsibilities
- Planning for later life

Advice Quality Standard

We hold the Advice Quality Standard which provides you with assurances that we have met certain criteria that demonstrate commitment to quality.