Where can I get help and advice about benefits?

Citizens Advice can give you free, confidential, impartial and independent benefits advice.

As well as benefits advice, they can help you resolve problems with debt, housing and many more issues

• online
• home visits
• face-to-face
• advice helpline
• email (in some cases).

Everyone.

Find your local branch to arrange an appointment, or view a list of phone numbers:

• England and Wales Citizens Advice
• Scotland Citizens Advice
• Northern Ireland Advice NI

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:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.
4. If you qualify, the referral organisation will give you a voucher to take to the foodbank to exchange for food.
5. If you need to use a food bank again, you’ll need to get another referral.

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.

Find an independent food bank near you at Food Aid Network

You can find your nearest Trussell Trust food bank at Trussell Trust

Find your nearest Citizens Advice, and its opening times, on the Citizens Advice website

If you live in Northern Ireland, go to Advice NI

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.

As well as benefits and welfare rights advice, Law Centres offer legal advice on issues including employment and housing.

• face-to-face
• telephone (in some areas).

Anyone who can’t afford to pay for legal support.

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

A Macmillan benefits adviser can help you work out what financial help you’re entitled to.

They offer specialist advice to help ease money worries.

Including information on:

• loans
• grants
• benefits
• tax credits.

• face-to-face
• home visits
• telephone.

Anyone affected by cancer. 

Find one near you at  Macmillan Cancer Support

Some local branches of Age UK offer a free, confidential benefits advice service.

Practical assistance to make sure you’re getting all the benefits you’re entitled to.

• face-to-face
• home visits
• telephone
• help with completing claim forms.

Anyone who’s over State Pension age and living in the area covered by the local branch.

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 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).

If you’re worried about keeping up with debt repayments, there’s lots of free, confidential help and advice available.

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 

If your problem is complex,  Advicelocal can help you find free and impartial advice  in your area on:

• benefits

• Council Tax

• housing

• employment

• disability and social care

• asylum and immigration.