We've helped older people access a record £6.5 million – as many struggle to make ends meet
Demand for support remains incredibly high as people continue to face rising everyday costs, higher household bills and the challenge of managing on low fixed incomes.
Our small Information & Advice team helped 1,547 older people access a combined total of £6.5 million in benefits, grants and discounts - an average of £4,255 per person. The support can be life changing. Many callers have no idea they can claim anything, but find themselves thousands of pounds a year better off after the charity’s intervention.
Liz Ansell, Information & Advice Manager at Age UK WSBH, said: “This has been our best year ever in terms of accessing help for older people, but that’s primarily due to widespread need. Those who have scraped by previously are turning to us as their worries and debts mount. Many are cutting back on food, are cold in winter, or feel frightened about the future as their bills continue to rise. Thankfully, we can often turn things around.
“However, demand is so high that some days we’re unable to answer around a quarter of our calls. This is heartbreaking, as we know a lot of our callers are desperate for support. This year, we hope to secure donations or funding to add an additional expert to our team. With each advisor accessing over a million pounds per year, their impact would be immediate and far-reaching – offering people relief, reassurance and hope when they need it the most.”
Support us
It costs approximately £100 to provide this help to one older person, but the result can be life-changing. If you would like to support our work you can donate online:
or
Text 'livewell' to 70191 to give £10.
Age UK West Sussex, Brighton & Hove is a network partner of Age UK, but is an independent charity, raising its own funds which are all spent locally.
Real life story
One caller in her 80s felt she “wouldn’t have survived the winter” without the support of Age UK WSBH. She contacted the charity as she was increasingly worried about her finances, her deteriorating health, and her ability to stay independent.
In the short term, the Information & Advice team helped her get an emergency supermarket voucher and an electric blanket to stay warm.
Longer term, they helped her access thousands of pounds in extra annual income, grants to replace her broken cooker and fridge freezer, and discounts on fuel and water bills, giving her a brighter, more stable future.
She feels so grateful and overwhelmed by the support she received.