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Information and advice

'We were very grateful for the advice and extra money we have received.  We have never claimed or asked for any benefits before, we never thought we qualified!  ... We have been married for 64 years and this is the first time we have had money to spare.  I only wish we had known sooner!'

Mr and Mrs H, Leigh

Due to the current coronavirus situation, we are not able to offer home visits but can still give telephone and email support.  Please contact us if you need help.
 
Our information and advice service assists all people aged 50 and over, their relatives, friends and carers who are resident within the Borough of Wigan.

In 2019-20, we supported local older people to gain £2,228,435 in benefits which would otherwise have remained unclaimed.

The service is free and offers information and advice on a wide range of issues such as:

  • Disability benefits including Attendance Allowance, Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment and Carers Allowance;
  • Welfare benefits to top up your income including Pension Credit and help with housing costs;
  • Working age benefits such as Employment and Support Allowance (which has replaced Incapacity Benefit) and Universal Credit;
  • Availability of grants and loans from the local authority, DWP or other agencies;
  • Help with the completion of local authority application forms including Occupational Therapy self assessments, and the Blue Badge scheme;
  • Consumer issues.

We offer information, advice and practical assistance such as completing forms and writing letters. An appointment is necessary for completion of a benefit claim or other application forms but general telephone advice is available most days of the week.

Appointments can be arranged at an office in central Wigan but we also offer a home visiting service to those who are housebound or would have difficulty travelling.

All enquiries are dealt with confidentially and impartially, and we will not pass individual details onto third parties without prior permission.

 Age UK produces a range of factsheets that cover most situations encountered in everyday life. These are free of charge and available on request.

Quality

The Information and Advice Service has achieved the Advice Quality Standard.

Impact

To learn more about the impact of our Information and Advice Service, click here.

To hear Sheila, one of our advisers speaking about a client she has helped, click here.

 

Free booklets and online information

For further information, please contact us:

Telephone: 01942 615880