From: “Reading Borough Council” <webmaster@reading.gov.uk>
Date: 18 Feb 2015 16:03
Subject: Free Benefits Advice Sessions for Older People in Tilehurst
To: <Racheleden.whitley@gmail.com>
Cc:
Free Benefits Advice Sessions for Older People in Tilehurst
18/02/2015
Reading Borough Council Press Release
THE COUNCIL is encouraging older people and their carers in the west of the Borough to take up benefits that they may be missing out on.
Following the successful ‘If it’s yours, claim it!’ campaign in Caversham last summer, Reading Borough Council is extending its free advice sessions to Tilehurst and providing support for older people who may be struggling financially or are concerned about their fuel bills.
The Council worked in partnership with Age UK Reading and Reading Citizens Advice Bureau during the last campaign, and Reading CAB are returning to offer help and advice on how to claim Council Tax Support, Pension Credit and Attendance Allowance at the following free advice sessions:
Firtree Social Club
YMCA, Parkside Road
Tuesday 24 February, 11am-12pm
Tilehurst Library
School Road, Tilehurst
Thursday 12 March
10am – 1pm
Maples Resource Centre
Carers Meeting
Amethyst Lane, off Liebenrood Road
Thursday 19 March 2pm to 3.30pm
Councillor Jo Lovelock, Leader of Reading Borough Council said:
“As part of our continuing work to tackle poverty we pledged to organise a proactive and effective benefits take up campaign, particularly targeting older people who at the moment are missing out.
“This latest series of free advice sessions follows a successful programme in Caversham, where four benefit surgeries run by Reading Citizens Advice Bureau for the Council identified total potential gains for residents of £36 597 across a range of benefits.
“I am delighted to see this programme extended and would like to encourage anyone over 60 or their carers to come along to a session to find out if they are missing out on money that they are entitled to. I am also asking that the leaflets are made available at venues such as Extra Care Housing so that awareness is raised in as many places as possible.”
The sessions will also provide help and advice on fuel bills, insulation and draught exclusion, home energy checks and emergency support to keep warm as part of the Council’s Winter Watch Scheme that runs until the end of March.
More information on benefits claims and Winter Watch can be found here:
Council Tax Support
Visit becs.reading.gov.uk or call Reading Borough
Council on 0118 937 3707
Pension Credit
Visit www.gov.uk/pension-credit or call 0800 99 1234
Attendance Allowance
Visit www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance or call
0345 605 6055
Winter Watch
Visit beta.reading.gov.uk/winterwatch or call 0118 937 3747
ENDS
Notes for Editors:
Reading Borough Council Press Releases can be found online at http://beta.reading.gov.uk/article/1908/News–Press-Releases/
Media Contact: Anna Fowler
Tel: 0118 937 3957
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