Self Help Resources
There are a number of steps you can take for yourself to access the information or advice you are looking for. Please follow the links below to obtain further information, seek support and apply for benefits and travel concessions.
If you cannot find the answer to your query here please do give our Helpline a call on 020 8686 0066, or email us at: asc@adviceservicescroydon.org.uk
Help and Guidance with Benefits
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Benefits Check
There are a number of benfits which you may be entitled to, including Pension Credit, Housing Benefit and Council Tax Support. You can use the Age UK Benefits Calculator to help you find out what you could be claiming quickly and easily.
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Attendance Allowance
If you need help with care, or have an illness or disability, you could be eligible for Attendance Allowance. It’s not means tested and can be used to pay for care or other relevant support as you wish.
Other Useful Links
The links below provide phone numbers and websites of a wide range of local and national organisations that may be helpful to you.
Application Forms
Please note: if you are unable to download or print the forms mentioned below, please give us a call on 020 8686 0066, and we can send you a copy in the post.
Attendance Allowance application form: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/attendance-allowance-claim-form See also https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/money-legal/benefits-entitlements/attendance-allowance/
Dial a Ride membership application: https://tfl.gov.uk/modes/dial-a-ride/membership?intcmp=4002
Taxicard membership application: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/taxicard/apply-taxicard-your-borough#8
Blue Badge application: https://www.croydon.gov.uk/adult-health-and-social-care/travel-passes-and-support/blue-badges/apply
Freedom Pass application: https://www.londoncouncils.gov.uk/services/freedom-pass/older-persons-freedom-pass/apply
For an alternative source of help with form filling, contact Clear Community Web, Tel 07523 646 277, https://clearcommunityweb.co.uk/
Financial
Cost of living advice: South West London Law Centre, Tel 020 8767 2777, https://swllc.org/get-advice/cost-of-living/
Cost of living hub: Mayor of London, https://www.london.gov.uk/what-we-do/communities/help-cost-living
Financial crisis support: South West London Law Centre, Tel 020 8767 2777 https://swllc.org/get-advice/crisis-navigation/
Advice and support on energy tariffs, energy bills and debts, home heating efficiency, plus grants for home insulation: Croydon Healthy Homes, Tel 0800 292 2529, www.croydon.gov.uk/healthyhomes
Money advice and support: Age UK, Tel 0800 055 6112, https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/
Benefits and debt advice: Citizen's Advice Bureau, Tel 0800 144 8848 www.citizensadvicecroydon.org
Council tax support: Croydon Council, 020 8726 7000, https://www.croydon.gov.uk/benefits/council-tax-support
Money and pensions advice (UK Government): Moneyhelper, Tel 0800 011 3797, https://www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en
Welfare benefits, charitable grants and financial help: Turn2us, Tel 0808 802 2000, www.turn2us.org.uk
Drop-in service for advice and form filling: Croydon Health & Wellbeing Space (open daily for drop in service), Tel 020 3154 9539, https://croydonhws.co.uk/
Welfare benefits (including benefit checks), charitable grants and financial help: Turn2us, Tel 0808 802 2000, www.turn2us.org.uk
Financial advice (including benefit checks): Independent Age, Tel 0800 319 6789, https://www.independentage.org/
Debt/tax advice: Purley Cross Centre, Tel 020 8668 0422, https://www.purleybaptist.org/Groups/302966/Purley_Cross_Centre.aspx
Housing
Housing advice and support: Citizen's Advice Bureau, Tel 0800 144 8848 www.citizensadvicecroydon.org
Housing advice and support: Shelter, Tel 0808 800 4444, https://england.shelter.org.uk/
Housing, benefits, debt and general legal advice: Centre70, Tel 020 8670 0070, https://centre70.org.uk/advice/
Housing benefit: Croydon Council, https://www.croydon.gov.uk/benefits/housing-benefit
Housing registration forms:
Homelessness/at risk of homelessness: Croydon Council, https://www.croydon.gov.uk/housing/yourhome/housing-helptool
Applying to be on housing register: Croydon Council,
https://www.croydon.gov.uk/housing/optadv/registering/register1
Applying for sheltered housing: Croydon Council,
Croydon Health & Wellbeing Space (open daily for drop in service), Tel 020 3154 9539, https://croydonhws.co.uk/
Mental Health/Safeguarding
Mental health, crisis support: Samaritans, Tel 116 123, https://www.samaritans.org/
Mental health support, counselling, employment support: Mind in Croydon, Tel 020 8668 2210, https://www.mindincroydon.org.uk/
Mental health, domestic abuse and modern slavery support: Hestia, Tel 020 7378 3100/ 020 3879 3700, https://www.hestia.org/
Croydon Health & Wellbeing Space (open daily for drop in service), Tel 020 3154 9539, https://croydonhws.co.uk/
Care and caring for others
Personal care (at home and residential), plus carers’ advice: Age UK, Tel 0800 055 6112, https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/
Advice and support for carers: Croydon Carers Centre, 020 8688 7219, http://www.croydoncarers.org.uk/
Information and advice for carers: Carers Information Centre, 020 8649 9339, https://www.carersinfo.org.uk/
Legal
Legal advice and signposting: Age UK, Tel 0800 055 6112, https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/
Legal advice: Citizens Advice Bureau, Tel 0800 144 8848, www.citizensadvicecroydon.org
Legal advice, including immigration and asylum: South West London Law Centre, Tel 020 8767 2777, https://swllc.org/
Advice, training and information: Purley Cross Centre, Tel, 020 8668 0422 https://www.purleybaptist.org/Groups/302966/Purley_Cross_Centre.aspx
Purley Cross Centre, Tel 020 8668 0422, https://www.purleybaptist.org/Groups/302966/Purley_Cross_Centre.aspx
Health and wellbeing
Health, wellbeing, loneliness, relationships and healthy living: Age UK, Tel 0800 055 6112, https://www.ageuk.org.uk/information-advice/
Befriending and neighbourhood care: Croydon Neighbourhood Care Association, Tel 020 8662 1000, https://www.cnca.org.uk/
Local groups and activities in Croydon: Simply Connect Croydon, https://croydon.simplyconnect.uk
Croydon Health & Wellbeing Space (open daily for drop in service), Tel 020 3154 9539, https://croydonhws.co.uk/
Debt
Debt advice: Debt Free London, Tel 0800 808 5700, https://debtfree.london
Debt advice: National Debt Line, Tel 0808 808 4000, https://www.nationaldebtline.org/
Debt advice: Stepchange, Tel 0800 138 1111, https://www.stepchange.org/
Debt and money advice, plus finding work: Christians Against Poverty: Tel 0800 328 0006, https://capuk.org/
Debt and money advice: CAP Croydon South, Tel 0208 668 4189, https://oll2016blog.wordpress.com/cap-croydon-south/
Age UK Information Guides and Factsheets
For general information on a wide range of topics, we recommend Age UK’s Information Guides as a good starting point.