Here you can find information on benefits that are available and find out if you are eligible for financial support. Some of the rules about benefits depend on the applicant's age. In many cases, the rules change from the age of 60.

Benefits advice

Advice Now (Advice Service Alliance)
Find out here how the benefits system works and how to claim. There is also information about the benefits you may be able to claim if you are caring for a disabled person and benefits you may be able to claim if you have children aged under 18. Includes child benefit and benefits with extra payments for children.

Benefits Adviser
This tool from Direct.gov asks you to answer questions anonymously online about your savings, income and outgoings. This then enables you to check which benefits you may be able to get and compare benefits if your situation changes.

CAB Advice Guide
Provides independent advice on your rights - practical, up-to-date information on a wide range of topics, including benefits and housing, employment rights and discrimination, debt and tax issues.

The Social Fund and other sources of financial help
This page gives information about lump sum payments from the Social Fund and other grants that may be available to older people on low incomes.

Age UK's advice on claiming benefits  
This page lists a number of benefits that are available.

The Be Smart Be Safe fact sheet on Benefits and money worries
This factsheet offers help on managing your money, understanding pensions, and finding out about the different benefits you could be entitled to and how to claim them.

Turn2us
This charity helps people access money that may be available to them - through benefits, grants and other financial help. All their advice is free and confidential.

For disabled people

A guide to financial support for disabled people
This page shows that there is a wide range of disability-related financial support, including benefits, tax credits, payments, grants and concessions. This is a general overview of each of these things with links to detailed information.

Attendance Allowance factsheet from Age UK
This information sheet contains basic information on the Attendance Allowance. An Attendance Allowance (AA) is a weekly benefit paid to help people for the extra costs associated with having a disability or long-term health condition.

Attendance Allowance factsheet from ECC
This information sheet contains basic information on the Attendance Allowance from Essex County Council.

Disability Living Allowance factsheet from Age UK
This information sheet contains basic information on the Disability Living Allowance. If you need help with personal care or have difficulty walking, you may be able to get Disability Living Allowance (DLA) but you must make a claim before you turn 65.

Disability Living Allowance factsheet from ECC
This information sheet contains basic information on the Disability Living Allowance from Essex County Council.

Concessions

Concessions for older people
This page from Age UK contains details of the concessions available to older people.

Housing and carers allowances

Paying for Care and Support at home
This factsheet explains what assistance may be available to help you meet the cost of any care needed to enable you to stay in your own home.

Carer's Allowance - support for you, so you can care for someone else
Carer's Allowance is a benefit for people who are unable to work full-time because they are caring for a severely disabled person. It doesn't matter whether the carer lives with the person they care for or lives somewhere else. The  Carers section  provides information about support for carers.

Financial help with home repairs and adaptations
This factsheet gives information to older homeowners about help available to them to fund repairs and adaptations.
Further information about housing options can be found in Housing

Energy advice and benefits

The Home Heat Helpline
This is a free national helpline offering access to grants for free home insulation and reduced or 'social' tariffs from energy suppliers, as well as advice on managing your bills and reducing your energy use.

Energy Efficiency Grants  
This website provides information on grants that are available and what you can receive help with.

Energy Saving Trust
The Trust's local advisers provide free, impartial advice on making your home more energy efficient. They can also tell you about grants for implementing energy efficient measures that may available in your local area.

Herts Essex Energy Partnership
This scheme allows some people in Essex to get free or discounted cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and heating.

National Energy Action
This charity campaigns for affordable warmth and better energy efficiency for people who are particularly vulnerable to the cold.

National Insulation Association
This site provides information on installing insulation and how to find an approved National Insulation Association installer in your area who can arrange a free survey and quotation for your property, and provide details of the grants available.

Stay Warm
This service from e.on is exclusively designed for the over-60s. StayWarm allows you to pay a fixed price for 12 months for all your energy by monthly Direct Debit.

Cold weather payment
If you're on a low income, a Cold Weather Payment may be available to help you for each week of very cold weather in your area. This page gives information on how much is paid and if you may be eligible.

Winter fuel payment
If you have reached the qualifying age you may get a Winter Fuel Payment to help pay for keeping warm in winter. This page provides information on who qualifies and how the payment is made.