Welfare Benefits Advice

*JUNE 2025 UPDATE*

With great difficulty the Welfare Benefit Advice Team came to the decision we have to temporarily close the service to new referrals to make sure we can support massive influx of enquiries received after the government the eligibility criteria of many of the stable benefits older people rely upon and deemed it best to make sure we supported those we had already made a commitment to by taking their referrals.

This was not an easy decision and the team will be reviewing it in the last week of June 2025 to see if we can reopen new referral once again in the meantime please contact our Gateway Team on information below for alternatives.

Our Welfare Benefits Advice Team offers a free, confidential, and independent advice service to older residents living in the London borough of Bexley. We can offer this service either at a variety of locations.

When you first contact us, we will carry out a quick Initial Assessment. This helps us to fully understand your circumstances and ensure that we provide the most appropriate level of support tailored to your individual needs.

Benefits checks: Our service can help check that you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to & give you information on other benefits you may be able to claim to maximise your income. Form Completion Service: If you live in the borough of Bexley we can help with completing forms including Attendance Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Disability Living Allowance.

We are encouraging local older people to get in touch with our team. Figures show over 2 million UK older people are living in poverty, with Black & Asian older people most at risk. Our Welfare Benefit team are encouraging pensioners to check their eligibility for Pension Credit. Pension Credit is a benefit that tops up low pensioner incomes, typically taking an older person who receives it above the poverty line.

Being found to be eligible for Pension Credit also acts as a gateway to some other benefits, potentially transforming an older person’s standard of living. This may include a free TV licence (if over 75), help with Council tax, free NHS dental treatment, Cold Weather Payment, help with rent, an extra payment with Pension Credit for carers.

For further information please contact our -

Information Service Gateway Helpline on: 0208 300 0883

you can also make an online referral or enquiry through our website: https://www.ageuk.org.uk/bexley/about-us/contact-us/

or drop in to see our Gateway team at Age UK Bexley's headquarters :

Belvedere Community Centre

Mitchell Close

DA17 6AA

Between the hours of 10:15 and 3:45 PM Monday to Friday