Working out what benefits or tax credits you’re entitled to can be tricky, especially with recent welfare changes. Find out where to get free expert advice online, face-to-face or by calling an advice helpline.
Citizens Advice
Citizens Advice can give you free, confidential, impartial and independent benefits advice.
Advice offered
As well as benefits advice, they can help you resolve problems with debt, housing and many more issues
Services provided
- online
- home visits
- face-to-face
- advice helpline
- email (in some cases).
Suitable for
Everyone.
Contact Citizens Advice
Find your local branch to arrange an appointment, or view a list of phone numbers:
How to get access to a food bank
If you’re facing an emergency and have no money to pay for food, you might be able to use a food bank.
You usually can’t go directly to a foodbank. Most of them will ask you to get a referral voucher from an organisation in your community before you can use them.
Places where you can get a foodbank voucher include:
- Citizens Advice
- your local council
- GP or health visitor
- Support worker
- Social worker
- Children’s Centre
- Police.
If you think you need to use a food bank, follow these steps:
- You can search online for food banks in your area. You’ll be able to find out where they are and which local community organisations the foodbank works with who can organise a voucher for you.
- Or, a referral organisation can help you find the nearest food bank and give you a voucher. For help with this, go to the Citizens Advice website.
- When you arrive at the referral organisation, you’ll be asked for some basic information to find out your needs and check if you can get a voucher.
- If you qualify, the referral organisation will give you a voucher to take to the foodbank to exchange for food.
- If you need to use a food bank again, you’ll need to get another referral.
Things to think about if you need a foodbank voucher
If you think you’ll run out of food by the end of the week, it’s important to plan ahead. Most food banks aren’t open at the weekend, so try to get a referral before the weekend.
Before visiting a community referral organisations, or a Citizens Advice branch – make sure you check they’re open first, before travelling there.
If you’ve got your voucher but you’re not able to travel, your nearest food bank might be able to deliver. Contact them to find out.
Some foodbanks put a limit on the number of times you can use them. If you find yourself relying on them too often, they’ll be able to help you find other support.
Finding a food bank
Find an independent food bank near you at Food Aid Network
You can find your nearest Trussell Trust food bank at Trussell Trust
Finding a referral organisation
Find your nearest Citizens Advice, and its opening times, on the Citizens Advice website
If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Advice NI
Find details for your local council at GOV.UK Opens in a new window
Law Centres
Law Centres provide free legal advice and representation to disadvantaged people. They may be able to help you with expert advice if you have a complex benefit problem or you want to appeal against a decision made on your benefit entitlement.
Advice offered
As well as benefits and welfare rights advice, Law Centres offer legal advice on issues including employment and housing.
Services provided
- face-to-face
- telephone (in some areas).
Suitable for
Anyone who can't afford to pay for legal support.
Contact your local Law Centre
In England, Wales and Northern Ireland, find your nearest one at Law Centres Network
In Scotland, find your nearest Law Centre at Shelter ScotlandOpens in a new window
Macmillan benefits advisers for people affected by cancer
A Macmillan benefits adviser can help you work out what financial help you’re entitled to.
Advice offered
They offer specialist advice to help ease money worries.
Including information on:
- loans
- grants
- benefits
- tax credits.
Services provided
- face-to-face
- home visits
- telephone.
Suitable for
Anyone affected by cancer.
Find a Macmillan benefits adviser
Find one near you at Macmillan Cancer Support
Age UK benefits advice for older people
Some local branches of Age UK offer a free, confidential benefits advice service.
Advice offered
Practical assistance to make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.
Services provided
- face-to-face
- home visits
- telephone
- help with completing claim forms.
Suitable for
Anyone who’s over State Pension age and living in the area covered by the local branch.
Contact Age UK
Call the Age UK Helpline: 0800 169 6565 (8am to 7pm, 365 days a year).
Check out Age UK
Or put ‘Age UK’ plus the name of your local area into a search engine.
Gingerbread Single Parent Helpline
Gingerbread provides advice and practical support for single parents, including advice on benefits and tax credits.
You can call free on 0808 802 0925 (Monday: 10am to 6pm, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday: 10am to 4pm, Wednesday: 10am to 1pm and 5pm to 7pm). Or check out the Gingerbread
Northern Ireland
Visit Parenting NI You can also call them free on 0808 8010 722 (Monday to Thursday: 9.30am to 3.30pm, and Friday: 9.30am to 12.30pm).
Other free help and advice
Debt advice
If you’re worried about keeping up with debt repayments, there’s lots of free, confidential help and advice available.
Housing advice
If you have rent or mortgage arrears, or you’re worried about losing your home, Shelter offer confidential advice on a range of housing issues.
- Visit Shelter England to get advice
- Visit Shelter Scotland to get advice
- Visit Shelter Cymru to get advice
- Visit Shelter Northern Ireland to get advice
Help that’s local to you
If your problem is complex, Advicelocal can help you find free and impartial adviceOpens in a new window in your area on:
benefits
Council Tax
housing
employment
disability and social care
asylum and immigration.