No matter what your situation is, it's important to make the most of your money, be aware of the benefits which you may be entitled to and know your legal rights.

Many people may benefit from independent financial advice including:

• those who might need a small amount of additional income to fund care at home, or capital for adaptations or extensions to their home
• people with an immediate need for long-term residential or nursing home care
• those who are already resident in a care home and paying for their care from either their income and savings
• existing or potential care home residents who want to make sure that their savings, investments and other assets pass to their family and/or other beneficiaries
• people acting as an 'Attorney' and who are responsible for the financial affairs of someone in any of the above circumstances

Sources of independent financial advice

Money Helper

The Money Helper is a free, independent service set up by government and funded by a levy on the financial services industry where you can find information about funding long-term care.

The advice and information is available online, over the phone and face to face.

How to fund your long term care - beginners guide

Money Helper website

0300 500 5000

Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA)

SOLLA is a not-for-profit organisation which provides a database of financial advisors who specialise in giving advice on finances in later life, enabling you to plan ahead or to make the most of your money once you reach retirement and older age. All advisors on the database have to prove that they meet appropriate criteria and have the right qualifications before they are accredited by SOLLA. You can use it to find a local advisor.

Society of Later Life Advisers (SOLLA)

0845 303 2909

Age UK

Age UK can provide information on choosing and paying for care. The information on finances in this leaflet applies to adults of all ages.

Paying for care and support at home - factsheet

Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering, Barking and Dagenham Advice for 65+

The Ripple Centre, 121-125 Ripple Road, Barking, IG11 7FN

020 8532 7354

Age UK Redbridge, Barking and Havering 

barkinganddagenhamadviceageuk@gmail.com

Opening Times: Mon-Wed-Fri 9am to 1pm

DABD

DABD (uk) expert advisors carry out a free income maximisation check to establish entitlements to benefits and tax credits. They can help with any forms that need to be completed and if necessary, refer to other services or schemes that may be able to help.

020 8252 5340

DABD

Tax Help for Older People

Tax Help for Older People (TOP) independent free tax advice service for older people on low incomes who cannot afford to pay for professional advice. It doesn't matter where you live; they have a team of 20 and over 500 volunteers who can help. Advice is given depending on your situation and your query, and can be by telephone, a face to face meeting, post or by email. If your household income is less than £17,000 (after tax) per year and you are over 60, you will qualify for free tax advice.

Tax help for Older People

0845 601 3321 (local call)

Other useful websites

• Adviceguide (Citizens Advice) - for information about benefits and debt
• Advicenow - information about the law and your rights
• Benefit fraud - Directgov information if you suspect someone is obtaining benefits that they aren't entitled to
• Debt Advice Foundation - a charity offering free, impartial advice about debt
• Department of Health has information on how councils should conduct financial assessments and apply their charging policies
• GOV.UK - for detailed pensions and benefits information from the government
• HM Revenue and Customs - information on tax codes and credits, allowances, national savings and investments, and pensioners' issues
• Turn2us - helps people access the money available to them through welfare benefits, grants and other help
• The Which website offers advice on paying for care at home
• The Payments Council (a voluntary membership organisation which represents the payments industry in the UK) has produced Pay Your Way a guide on safe ways in which you can allow other people to pay for things on your behalf, whilst still staying in control of your finances