We have been working with students from Warwick University to develop helpful information about getting help with the cost of NHS prescriptions and challenging NHS penalty notices.
You can find out more on our advice pages.
Author: Alan
Need help to claim Universal Credit?
Coventry Citizens Advice have been awarded a contract by the government to support you to make a new claim for Universal Credit, from opening your account to receiving your first full payment.
They can help to set-up your Universal Credit account, verify your identity, help you to provide the right evidence to support your claim and to understand what Universal Credit means for you.
If you’re not sure what help you need you can get in touch with them and they can work out how they can support you.
The service is available in person between 9am-4pm (weekdays) or you can make a free call to them on 0800 144 8 444.
EU citizens and ‘settled status’
We are coming to Radford!
We are really pleased to announce that we are launching a new ‘drop-in’ advice session in Radford.
The first session will be on Friday 15th March 2019 and will run every Friday until further notice. Our adviser will be available between 9.30am and 12 noon.
The session will be at Pathways Family Hub which is based on the Radford Primary Academy School site, Lawrence Saunders Road, Coventry CV6 1HD
Please see our home page for details of the kind of things we can help with and how our ‘drop-in’ service operates.
Thank you to all the team at Pathways Family Hub for their kind support for our service.
Pathways Family Hub covers a very large area of the city including Radford, Coundon, Allesley, Spon End, Holbrooks, Whitmore Park and Keresley. If you have children 18 years or under you can register as a member of the Family Hub. Please ask their admin officer for a registration form that will give membership to all 8 Family Hubs across the city.
Claim Pension Credit now!
At the moment, someone over 65 living in a couple (married or unmarried) can claim Pension Credit regardless of their partners age. However, from 15 May 2019, they will only be able to claim Pension Credit if BOTH partners are over state pension age.
It is estimated that this change could mean people losing out by as much as £7000 a year if they don’t claim before the changes come into effect.
If you are living in a couple, where one of you is at least 65 and the other is under state pension age, then you should make a claim for Pension Credit as soon as possible if you are eligible to do so.
If you already claim Pension Credit you won’t be affected by the change and will continue to get Pension Credit as normal.
Pension Credit is intended to give a minimum level of income to older people. It ‘tops up’ your income to a guaranteed minimum level which is currently:
- £163 for a single person over pension age, or
- £248.80 for a couple.
- You may get an additional amount on top of this if you have modest savings.
Even if you are only entitled to a small amount of Pension Credit, you should still claim. As well as the cash, an award of Pension Credit can also entitle you to a full rebate of your Council tax bill, help with some NHS costs and help with your rent or mortgage.
You have nothing to lose by applying, but potentially a lot to gain.
If you miss the deadline to apply for pension credit under the current rules, or you become eligible for pension credit on or after 15 May but your partner won’t have reached the qualifying age, then you will need to apply for Universal Credit.
You can contact us for advice or visit AgeUK for more information about how to claim. AgeUK can also help you with an online benefit check to help ensure you are receiving your correct entitlement.
Advice in Willenhall
Please note that all our advice sessions in Willenhall are now based at the Wood Side Family Hub on Middle Ride (next to ‘The Hut’). We are not currently delivering any sessions from The Hagard Community Centre.
Drop-in sessions at Wood Side Family Hub are on Mondays (9.30 until 12 noon) and Wednesday (9.30 to 12 noon). Appointments are also available for more in-depth enquiries and help with forms.
Please see www.covadvice.org.uk/advice or contact 024 76521100 for more details.
