Directory of useful organizations and contacts
Benefits advice
Age UK, Tavis House, 1–6 Tavistock Square, London WC1H 9NA, tel: 0800 169 6565, website: www.ageuk.org.uk.
Citizens Advice Bureau (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), www.citizensadvice.org.uk; www.adviceguide.org.uk.
Citizens Advice Scotland, website: www.cas.org.uk.
Money Advice Scotland, tel: 0141 572 0237, website: www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk.
Advice NI (Northern Ireland), tel: 028 9064 5919, website: www.adviceni.net.
Government benefits adviser, website: www.gov.uk/benefits-adviser.
Turn2us, to identify potential sources of funding for those facing financial difficulty, website: www.turn2us.org.uk.
Debt
Citizens Advice Bureau, free independent debt advice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, website: www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
Citizens Advice Scotland, website: www.cas.org.uk.
Money Advice Scotland, tel: 0141 572 0237, website: www.moneyadvicescotland.org.uk.
National Debtline, tel: 0808 808 4000, website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk.
National Debtline NI (Northern Ireland), tel: 0808 808 4000, website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/northern-ireland/php.
National Debtline Scotland, tel: 0808 808 4000, website: www.nationaldebtline.co.uk/scotland/.
Step Change Debt Charity: tel: 0800 138 1111, website: www.stepchange.org.
Debt Test, Money Advice Service: tel: 0300 500 5000 www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.
Pay Plan, tel: 0800 280 2816, website: www.payplan.com.
Disabilities
Age UK, tel: 0800 169 6565, website: www.ageuk.org.uk.
Attendance Allowance and Disability Living Allowance, Disability Benefits Helpline tel: 08457 123 456.
Benefit Enquiry Line (for general enquiries and claim forms for disability and carer benefits), tel: 0800 882 200 (textphone 0800 243 355).
Carer’s Allowance Unit, tel: 0845 608 4321 (textphone 0845 604 5312).
Free Tax Disc, tel: 0300 123 4321, website: www.gov.uk/tax-disc.
Pensions, Disability and Carers Service for Disability Living Allowance and Attendance Allowance (existing claims), tel: 08457 123 456.
Pension Credit, tel: 0800 99 1234, website: www.gov.uk/pension-credit.
Social Fund grants and loans, Jobcentre Plus (Great Britain), tel: 0800 055 6688, website: www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus.
Winter Fuel Payment Helpline, tel: 08459 15 15 15, website: www.gov.uk/winter-fuel-payment-helpline.
Energy-saving advice and grants
ACT ON CO2 Advice Line, tel: 0800 512 012.
Energy Saving Trust, tel: 0300 123 1234, website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
Warm Front (England), tel: 0800 316 2805, website: www.gov.uk/warm-front-scheme.
Warm Zone, website: www.warmzones.co.uk.
NEST (Wales Fuel Poverty Scheme), tel: 0808 808 2244, website: www.nestwales.org.uk.
Scotland – Energy Assistance Packages, tel: 0800 512 012, website: www.scotland.gov.uk – Home Energy Efficiency Programmes for Scotland.
Warm Homes Scheme (Northern Ireland), tel: 0800 988 0559, website: www.warm-homes.com.
To compare fuel deals, tel: 08454 04 05 06, website: www.consumerfutures.org.uk; or www.cheapestoil.co.uk.
Funeral and inheritance tax planning
Bereavement Register, tel: 0800 082 1230, website: www.the-bereavement-register.com.
Funeral Planning Authority Ltd, Knellstone House, Udimore, Rye, East Sussex TN31 6AR, tel: 0845 601 9619, website: www.funeralplanningauthority.com.
HMRC Probate and Inheritance Tax Helpline: tel: 0845 302 0900; website: www.hmrc.gov.uk/inheritancetax/.
For inheritance tax advice
Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP), Artillery House (South), 11–19 Artillery Road, London SW1P 1RT, tel: 020 7340 0500, website: www.step.org.
To register a death
General Register Office (England and Wales), website: www.gro.gov.uk; Scotland: www.gro-scotland.gov.uk; Northern Ireland: www.nidirect.gov.uk/general-register-office-for-northern-ireland.
To obtain a copy of the government booklet: ‘What to do after a death’: England and Wales: website: www.gov.uk – Death and bereavement; Scotland: www.scotland.gov.uk; Northern Ireland: www.nidirect.gov.uk.
Free prescriptions and other health benefits in UK, free booklet: HC11 ‘Help with Health Costs’ from your GP or pharmacies, website: www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcosts/.
For Scotland: free booklet HCS2 ‘Help with health costs’, website: www.scotland.gov.uk – Publications.
Prescription pre-payment certificates (England), tel: 0845 850 0030; website: www.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/1127.aspx; Scotland: www.psd.scot.nhs.uk/doctors/prepayment-certificates.html.
In Northern Ireland and Wales prescriptions are free.
Holidays
To apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Pick up a form at the Post Office or tel: 0300 3301 350, website: www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC.
House and home
For details about local Domestic Energy Assessors see EPC Register; website: www.epcregister.com.
For a free and impartial home energy check visit Energy Saving Trust; tel: 0300 123 1234, website: www.energysavingtrust.org.uk.
To find an independent surveyor/valuer
Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, tel: 0870 333 1600, website: www.rics.org/uk.
For help with property
The National Association of Estate Agents (NAEA) runs a service called ‘PropertyLive’, a network of estate agents providing access to a professional, friendly property service. See website: www.Propertylive.co.uk.
The Property Ombudsman scheme provides an independent review service for buyers or sellers of UK residential property in the event of a complaint. See website: www.tpos.co.uk.
Help for the elderly
Elderly Accommodation Counsel, Third Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP, tel: 0800 377 7070, website: www.eac.org.uk; www.firststopadvice.org.uk; www.housingcare.org.uk.
Independent Age, 6 Avonmore Road, London W14 8RL. tel: 0845 262 1863, website: www.eac.org.uk; www.independentage.org.
The Telephone Preference Service (TPS): You can register your phone number with the telephone preference service by calling 0845 070 0707 or you can do this online at www.tpsonline.org.uk.
Home improvement agencies
England – Foundations, tel: 0845 864 5201, website: www.foundations.uk.com.
Wales – Care & Repair Cymru, tel: 029 2067 4830, website: www.careandrepair.org.uk.
Scotland – Care & Repair Forum Scotland, tel: 0141 221 9879, website: www.careandrepairscotland.co.uk.
Northern Ireland – Fold Housing Association, tel: 028 9042 8314, website: www.foldgroup.co.uk.
Help for tenants
Association of Retirement Housing Managers (ARHM): c/o EAC, 3rd Floor, 89 Albert Embankment, London SE1 7TP. Tel: 020 7463 0660. Website: www.arhm.org.
Leasehold Advisory Service; tel: 0207 383 9800, website: www.lease-advice.org.
Landmark Leasehold Advisory Services Ltd specializes in providing legal services to residential leaseholders of England and Wales; see website: www.landmarklease.com.
Department for Communities and Local Government for advice on leasehold legislation and policy, tel: 0303 444 0000, website: www.gov.uk/governemnt/organisations/department-for-communities-and-local-government.
Independent financial advice
To find an Independent Financial Adviser
IFA Promotion/Unbiased.co.uk, website: www.unbiased.co.uk.
Institute of Financial Planning, One Redcliff Street, Bristol, BS1 6NP. Website: www.financialplanning.org.uk.
Personal Finance Society (PFS), website: www.findanadviser.org.
Financial Conduct Authority (formerly the FSA), 25 The North Colonnade, London E14 5HS, tel: 0800 111 6768, website: www.fca.org.uk.
Financial Ombudsman Service, South Quay Plaza, 183 Marsh Wall, London E14 9SR, tel: 0300 123 9123 or 0800 0234 567, website: www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk.
Financial Services Compensation Scheme, 10th Floor, Beaufort House, 15 St Botolph Street, London EC3A 7QU. tel: 0800 678 1100, website: www.fscs.org.uk.
Ethical Investment Research Service (EIRIS Foundation) Website: www.yourethicalmoney.org. Information about product providers and other sources that provide ethical investments.
MyLocalAdviser: www.mylocaladviser.co.uk. For financial advisers in your area.
Society of Later Life Advisers tel: 0845 303 2902; website: www.societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk.
To find a stockbroker
See London Stock Exchange website: www.londonstockexchange.com, or the Association of Private Client Investment Managers and Stockbrokers (APCIMS) website: www.apcims.co.uk.
To find equity release providers
Equity Release Council incorporating SHIP standards: 3rd Floor, Bush House, North West Wing, Aldwych, London WC2B 4PJ, tel: 0844 669 7085. Website: www.equityreleasecouncil.com.
To find a tax adviser
Chartered Institute of Taxation, 1st Floor, Artillery House, 11–19 Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RT. tel: 0844 579 6700, website: www.tax.org.uk.
Insurance
Association of British Insurers, 51 Gresham Street, London EC2V 7HQ. Tel: 020 7600 3333 for advice and information on insurance: website: www.abi.org.uk.
Association of Medical Insurance Intermediaries (AMII), Suites 21–24, The North Colchester Business Centre, 340 The Crescent, Colchester CO4 9AD, tel: 01206 848 443. Website: www.amii.org.uk.
To check whether you have enough buildings insurance: The Building Cost Information Service of the RICS, Parliament Square, London SW1P 3AD. Tel: 020 7695 1500, website: www.bcis.co.uk.
To check a car’s insurance group, www.carpages.co.uk; www.checkthatcar.com.
British Insurance Brokers Association (BIBA), to find an insurance broker, Consumer Helpline: 0870 950 1790, website: www.biba.org.uk.
Legal
To find a solicitor
Law Society, 113 Chancery Lane, London WC2A 1PL, tel: 0870 606 2555, website: www.lawsociety.org.uk.
Law Society of Scotland, 26 Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh EH3 7YR, tel: 0131 226 7411, website: www.lawscot.org.uk.
Law Society of Northern Ireland, 96 Victoria Street, Belfast BT1 3GN, tel: 028 9023 1614, website: www.lawsoc-ni.org.
Community Legal Advice (CLA). People living on a low income or benefits may be eligible for legal aid to get free specialist advice from qualified legal advisers. Tel: 0845 345 4345. See website: www.justice.gov.uk/legal-aid/.
Solicitors for Independent Financial Advice (SIFA), is the trade body for solicitor financial advisers. Its membership now also includes accountancy IFAs as members; see website: www.sifa.co.uk.
For Complaints about a legal services adviser: see Legal Services Ombudsman. Tel: 0300 555 0300. See Website: www.legalombudsman.org.uk.
Making a will
Institute of Professional Willwriters, Trinity Point, New Road, Halesowen, West Midlands, B63 3HY, tel: 0345 257 2570, website: www.ipw.org.uk.
Power of Attorney
Office of the Public Guardian, England and Wales, PO Box 16185, Birmingham B2 2WH. Tel: 0300 456 0300, website: www.justice.gov.uk – Office of the Public Guardian.
Office of the Public Guardian, Scotland, tel: 01324 678 300, website: www.publicguardian-scotland.gov.uk.
Office of Care and Protection, Northern Ireland, tel: 028 9032 8594, website: www.courtsni.gov.uk.
Leisure
Free digital TV channels
Freeview, website: www.ukfree.tv/allchannels; www.freeview.co.uk.
Freesat, PO Box 6296, London W1A 3FF. Tel: 0845 313 0051, website: www.freesat.co.uk.
England and Wales, your local council or website: www.gov.uk/apply-for-elderly-person-bus-pass.
Scotland, your local council or website: www.transportscotland.gov.uk/public-transport/concessionary-travel.
Northern Ireland, your local council or website: www.nidirect.gov.uk/free-bus-travel-and-concessions.
Cheap rail and coach travel
Rail travel in the UK, buy a Senior Railcard in UK from rail stations or some travel agents, or tel: 0844 871 4036, website: www.senior-railcard.co.uk.
Rail travel in Europe: Rail Europe Ltd, tel: 0844 48 4078, website: www.raileurope.co.uk.
For cheap coach travel: National Express, tel: 0871 781 8178, website: www.nationalexpress.com.
Money
For information and advice on money matters: Money Advice Service: 0300 500 5000, website: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk.
To trace lost savings: Get a claim form from any bank or building society, library or Citizens Advice, or see website: www.mylostaccount.org.uk.
To trace lost investments: Unclaimed Assets Register, tel: 0844 481 81 80, website: www.uar.co.uk.
Internet comparison sites: www.comparethemarket.com; www.confused.com; www.moneyfacts.com; www.moneysupermarket.com; www.which.co.uk/switch; www.uswitch.com.
Pensions
State Pension Forecasting website: www.gov.uk/state-pension-statement.
The Pension Service for any query regarding State Pension, if you live in the UK, tel: 0845 606 0265. If you are within four months of your State Pension age and have not received your claim pack and you live in the UK: tel: 0800 731 7898
If you live abroad, The International Pension Centre, Tyneview Park, Whitley Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1BA, tel: 0191 218 7777, website: www.gov.uk – State pension.
To check your State Pension age: website: www.gov.uk – State pension.
Pension Tracing Service, Tyneview Park, Whitley Road, Newcastle upon Tyne NE98 1BA, tel: 0845 600 2537, website: www.gov.uk – Workplace and personal pensions.
Pensions Advisory Service for any help understanding your pension rights, tel: 0845 601 2923, website: www.pensionsadvisoryservice.org.uk.
Pensions Ombudsman website: www.pensions-ombudsman.org.uk.
Pension Protection Fund (PPF), Knollys House, 7 Addiscombe Road, Croydon, Surrey, tel: 0845 600 2541; website: www.pensionprotectionfund.org.uk.
Money Advice Service has comparison tables, if you wish to shop around for an annuity, website: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/tables.
Service Personnel & Veterans Agency Service to claim a war widow or widower’s pension, tel: 0800 169 2277, website: www.veterans-uk.info.
Society of Later Life Advisers, tel: 0845 303 2909, website: www.societyoflaterlifeadvisers.co.uk.
Age UK Annuity Service, tel: 0800 023 2748, website: www.ageuk.org.uk.
Savings and investments
To find a credit union
Association of British Credit Unions Ltd (ABCUL), tel: 0161 832 3694, website: www.abcul.org.
Ace Credit Union Services, tel: 0191 276 3737, website: www.aceus.org.
Scottish League of Credit Unions, tel: 0141 774 5020, website: www.scottishcu.org.
UK Credit Unions, tel: 01706 214 322, website: www.ukcu.co.uk.
Money Advice Service, tel: 0300 500 5000, website: www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/tables.
To find out about investment funds
Unit trusts and open-ended investment companies: Investment Management Association (IMA), tel: 020 7831 0898, website: www.investmentfunds.org.uk.
Investment trusts: Association of Investment Companies, tel: 0207 282 5555, website: www.theaic.co.uk.
Life insurance funds: Association of British Insurers, website: www.abi.org.uk.
Ethical investments: Ethical Investment Research Service, website: www.eiris.org.
To report suspected investment scams
If you spot a scam or have been scammed, report it and get help. Contact the Police’s Action Fraud team on 0300 123 2040 or online at www.actionfraud.police.uk or the Police in your area.
Tax
Free help with tax problems if your income is low
Tax Aid, website: www.taxaid.org.uk.
Tax Help for Older People, Unit 10, Pineapple Business Park, Salway Ash, Bridport, Dorset DT6 5DB, tel: 0845 601 3321, or 0130 848 8066, website: www.taxvol.org.uk.
For tax help and advice
Association of Taxation Technicians, 1st Floor, Artillery House, 11–19 Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RT, tel: 0207 340 0551, website: www.att.org.uk.
Chartered Institute of Taxation, 1st Floor, Artillery House, 11–19 Artillery Row, London SW1P 1RT. tel: 0844 579 6700, website: www.tax.org.uk.
Association of Chartered Certified Accountants, 29 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3EE, tel: 020 7059 5000, website: www.acca.co.uk.
Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales, PO Box 433, Chartered Accountants’ Hall, Moorgate Place, London EC2R 6EA, tel: 020 7920 8100, website: www.icaew.co.uk.
Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, Chartered Accountants House, 47–49 Pearse Street, Dublin 2, Republic of Ireland, tel: 00353 1 637 7200, website: www.icae.ie.
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland, CA House, 21 Haymarket Yards, Edinburgh EH12 5BH, tel: 0131 347 0100, website: www.icas.org.uk.
HM Revenue & Customs for local enquiry centres, see website www.hmrc.gov.uk. For your local tax office, see your tax return, other tax correspondence or check with your employer or scheme paying you a pension.
Contact the Adjudicator’s Office for information about referring a complaint. The Adjudicator acts as a fair and unbiased referee looking into complaints about HMRC, including the Tax Credit Office, the Valuation Office and the Office of the Public Guardian and the Insolvency Service. The Adjudicator’s Office, PO Box 10280, Nottingham, NG2 9PF. Tel: 0300 057 1111. See website: www.adjudicatorsoffice.gov.uk.
If you have received a HMRC related phishing/bogus e-mail, please forward it to the following e-mail address and then delete it: phishing@hmrc.gsi.gov.uk.
HMRC Helplines
Claiming back tax on savings income: tel: 0845 366 7850.
Registering for gross interest on savings: tel: 0845 980 0645.
Self-assessment: tel: 0845 900 0444.
Tax Credit Helpline: tel: 0845 300 3900.
To find out about how to volunteering across UK
REACH: www.reachskills.org.uk.
Volunteer Development Scotland: www.vds.org.uk.
Volunteering England: www.volunteering.org.uk.
Wales Council for Voluntary Action: www.wcva.org.uk.
Leading volunteering organizations
British Red Cross: www.redcross.org.uk.
Citizens Advice Bureau: www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
Community Service Volunteers (CSV): www.csv.org.uk.
Lions Clubs International: www.lionsmd105.org.
Toc H: www.toch-uk.org.uk.
WRVS: www.wrvs.org.uk.
Checks for volunteering
Disclosure and Barring Service (formerly Criminal Records Bureau): Tel: 0870 909 0811. Website: www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service.
Work
To find out about rights at work
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) Great Britain, tel: 0845 747 4747, website: www.acas.org.uk.
Labour Relations Service (Northern Ireland), tel: 028 9032 1442, website: www.lra.org.uk.
Jobcentre Plus (Great Britain), website: www.gov.uk/jobsearch.
Local Jobs and Benefits Office (Northern Ireland), tel: 0800 353 530, website: www.nidirect.gov.uk/jobs-and-benefits-offices.
Careers Advice Service (UK), tel: 0800 100 900, https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk.
Skills Development Scotland, tel: 0800 917 8000, website: www.skillsdevelopmentscotland.co.uk.
Careers Wales, tel: 0800 100 900, website: www.careerswales.com.
LearnDirect UK (except Scotland), tel: 0800 101 901, website: www.learndirect.co.uk.
Professional Contractors Group (PCG): www.pcg.org.uk.
Recruitment and Employment Confederation, tel: 020 7009 2100, website: www.rec.uk.com.
To register a new business
HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), Newly Self-employed Helpline, tel: 0845 915 4515, website: www.hmrc.gov.uk.
Companies House, tel: 0303 1234 500, website: www.companieshouse.gov.uk.
HMRC Business Education & Support Team provides free training events aimed at start-up businesses and on how to run a payroll: www.hmrc.gov.uk/bst/index.htm.
Organizations providing free or subsidized help
Government resources
www.gov.uk contains the government’s online resource for businesses.
Regional or country-specific support is also available at:
Regional help – www.nationalenterprisenetwork.org.
Northern Ireland – at www.nibusinessinfo.co.uk.
Scotland – at www.business.scotland.gov.uk.
Wales – at www.business.wales.gov.uk.
Start up Britain has been set up by the government to help you find information about starting a business and contains offers and discounts available to new business start-ups: www.startupbritain.org.
PRIME (The Prince’s Initiative for Mature Enterprise) helps people over the age of 50 set up in business for themselves: www.prime.org.uk.