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We believe in the importance of making sure that you get all the help that you’re entitled to. These pages give you information on benefits and tax credits if you are working or unemployed, sick or disabled, a parent, a young person, an older person or a veteran. There is also information about council tax and housing costs, national insurance, payment of benefits and problems with benefits.
The Citizens Advice information site is the best place to start looking for help and advice. Click the button below.
Our Help to Claim advisers can help you with the early stages of your Universal Credit claim. You can talk to them on the phone, online over chat or using our British Sign Language (BSL) service.
Search here for contact details of organisations who may be able to help further.
Managing claims
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Help to Claim (through Citizens Advice) | 0800 144 8444 |
Guidance on claiming UC / New-style benefits with UC |
| UC Helpline - DWP not Citizens Advice | 0800 328 5644 |
Issues with existing UC claims |
| Job Centre Plus | 0800 169 0310 |
Issues with existing JSA, IS, IB, ESA claims |
| Job Centre Plus - ESA | 0800 169 0350 |
Claim line for old style CB or IR ESA |
| Maternity Allowance | 0800 169 0280 |
Helpline for Maternity Allowance claims and issues |
| Bereavement Benefits | 0800 731 0139 |
Helpline for claims and issues |
| PIP Claim Line | 0800 917 2222 |
Claim line / Extensions for PIP |
| PIP Enquiry Line | 0800 121 4433 |
Change of circs or issues regarding PIP |
| Attendance Allowance | 0800 731 0122 |
Claims and issues regarding AA |
| State Pension/Pension Credit | 0800 731 7898 |
Claim line |
| State Pension/Pension Credit Enquiry Line | 0800 731 0469 |
Change of circs or issues regarding SP/PC |
| Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit Claim Line | 0800 121 8379 |
As named |
| Child DLA Claim Line | 0800 121 4600 |
As described |
| CWAC - Council Tax Line | 0300 123 7022 |
Reductions, changes of circs, payment negotiation |
Advice
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Dial House | 01244 345 655 dialwestcheshire.org.uk |
Welfare benefits advice and support |
| British Legion | 0808 802 8080 counties.britishlegion.org.uk |
Benefits, debt and housing for forces/ex-forces |
| Age UK Cheshire | 01244 401 500 www.ageuk.org.uk |
Benefits and care issues for 50+ yr olds |
| Maternity Action | 0808 802 0029 maternityaction.org.uk |
General benefit information for pregnant women and new mums |
| Working Families | 0300 012 0312 workingfamilies.org.uk |
General benefit information for employed parents/carers |
| MoneyHelper | 0800 011 3797 www.moneyhelper.org.uk |
Pensions advice – private and state |
| Pensionwise | 0800 138 3944 www.moneyhelper.org.uk |
Guidance for those over 50 ys old with private pensions |
| Contact | 0808 808 3555 contact.org.uk |
Guidance on Child DLA and matters affecting disabled children (no forms) |
| Carers Trust CW and Warrington | 01244 400 502 cheshireandwarringtoncarers.org |
Advice/Support for carers – ALSO PIP2 FORMS |
| Carers UK | 0808 808 7777 www.carersuk.org |
Advice on income, and general support for carers (Open over Xmas too) |
| Rethink | 0808 801 0525 www.rethink.org |
For those affected by MH issues – Guidance around MH Act, money, care, benefits, carers’ needs |
Calculators
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Turn2us | turn2us.org.uk |
Contains a basic benefit calculator, grants checker |
| Policy in Practice | policyinpractice.co.uk |
Contains a better benefits calculator |
| Entitledto | entitledto.co.uk | |
| Migrant Support | migrantfamilies.nrpfnetwork.org.uk |
General
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Citizens Advice - Help Through Hardship | 0808 208 2138 |
Food Vouchers |
| Reuse Network | reuse-network.org.uk |
National tool to find charitable support – furniture/white goods etc… |
| Biscuit Fund | www.biscuitfund.org |
Charity for one off grant |
| Section 17 Payment | 0300 123 7047 |
Local authority has a duty to support welfare and development of children |
| HELP Scheme | 0808 175 3599 www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk |
Food and fuel assistance |
| Live Well Cheshire West | livewell.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk |
Directory of community services and activities |
| HomeKey+ | 0300 124 5289 homekeyplus.co.uk |
Help with grants, handy-person work, home adaptations |
| Financial Support Line | 08081968845 survivingeconomicabuse.org |
Grants and benefits advice for domestic abuse survivors |
Chester/ Ellesmere Port
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| The Bread and Butter Thing | www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk |
Provides affordable and good-quality food from two hubs in Ellesmere Port. |
| Share Hub | 01244 662144 |
Free meals and support – Presbyterian Church, City Road, CH1 3AS. Mon, Wed, Fri 11am-1230, Tue, Thurs 6pm-7.30pm |
| Crossroads Community Hub | 07598 536 904 cchub.org.uk hello@hbc.org.uk |
Self-referral for food package in Chester – Dickson’s Drive, CH2 2BN |
| Kids Bank Chester | kidsbankchester.com |
Self-referral is ok for school uniforms |
| Port Grocery | www.facebook.com/ThePortGroceryCIC/ | |
| Soul Kitchen | soulkitchenchester.org.uk |
Food and homelessness drop-in – Campbell Community Hall, Boughton, CH3 5BR – Every Saturday at 5.30pm |
| People's Pantry | www.facebook.com/peoplespantryEP |
Stanney Grange Community Centre, Alnwick Drive, CH65 9HE |
Northwich/ Winsford
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Snow Angels | www.snowangels.org.uk |
Community services for the elderly, including delivery of shopping / pre-arranged food parcels |
| Changing Lives Together | 01606 827 120 www.changing-lives-together.org.uk |
Community group with cheap/donated furniture and white goods |
| Winsford Community Grocery | 07949 165 098 www.facebook.com/theverygreengrocerywinsford |
Members get fresh food in exchange for £4 each time |
| Motherwell Cheshire (Winsford) | 01606 557666 motherwellcheshirecio.com motherwellhub@motherwellcheshirecio.com |
Self-referral for baby clothes, equipment and supplies |
| Community Food Hub (Northwich) | www.northwichcommunity.com |
Members get supplies/food in exchange for £4 each time |
Advice/ Options
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Energy Saving Advice Service | 0300 123 1234 |
Information on grants and schemes to save on energy |
| Green Doctor | 03301 740863 www.groundwork.org.uk |
Application details for Green Doctor Scheme – energy saving (not for social tenants) |
| Simple Energy Advice | 0800 444 202 |
Info on grants and efficiency |
| CA Manchester Energy Advice Team | www.citizensadvicemanchester.org.uk |
Ombudsmen
| Service | Contact number or website | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Energy | 0330 440 1624 www.energyombudsman.org |
For complaints if a company’s procedure has been exhausted |