Advice

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we can arrange a telephone appointment with you to help you with any personal debts or benefit issue. We can advise you on things like:

• getting your debts written-off with a Debt Relief Order,
• working out what you can afford to pay and what you need to pay to people you owe money to,
• making a claim for disability benefits,
• finding out whether you would be better off on Universal Credit,
• appealing a benefit decision you don’t agree with
• working out a way to pay your water bill

To arrange an appointment, please call 01323 635999

Money Management Support Service

This is what we call the ongoing help and support service we give our clients, and this includes money handling where it’s needed. Helping you manage your money means you can keep as independent as possible, while tackling the issues in a calm and practical way.

People find money handling useful for different reasons. Some examples are:

• people who can’t get out to the bank to access cash – we can receive your benefits, and deliver money to you in your home
• people with substance misuse issues – we can receive your fortnightly and 4-weekly benefits, and give you a smaller, more manageable amount a couple of times a week to help you budget
• people with learning disabilities and people with mental illness, or dementia – we can support by paying your bills for you, so you don’t have to worry

We support people in lots of different ways, depending on what’s needed. Everyone’s needs are different and so our help can range from simply offering advice to filling in benefit claim forms, handling money or visiting you at home to bring your money. We help take the stress out of the situation and can give you the skills and information to manage your finances in the future.

This service is available to Sussex residents referred to us by professionals working on their behalf, like Social Services. Funding is needed to take on a client for this service, which is normally arranged by the referring professional (more information here) . Our service is normally free to clients, but where funding is not available, clients can choose to pay directly for a service. Money Guardians is what we call our service for self-funding clients.

Everything we do is:

• confidential
• impartial

Appointees

We are recognised as a Corporate Appointee by the Benefits Agency. This allows us to claim and receive social security benefits for those unable to do so themselves.

If your landlord is a housing association you may be able to access our telephone advice & casework services. We currently work with residents of: Hexagon, London and Quadrant, PA, Sovereign and Victory Housing Associations. Please call us on 01323 635999 or email advice@moneyadviceplus.org.uk for more information.

The Financial Support Line for Victims of Domestic Abuse is run by Money Advice Plus and is part of our partnership work with Surviving Economic Abuse (SEA). It offers specialist advice to anyone experiencing domestic abuse who is struggling with their money.

Surviving Economic Abuse have resources and guides that can support you.

If you live anywhere in East Sussex and you or a family member have been affected by cancer, our specialist welfare benefits advisers may be able to help you adjust to changes in your financial situation. We offer in-depth telephone advice & home visits. For more information call 01323 635989.