Pension Credit advice session

The surgery is being held on 4th November 2024 from 2pm to 4pm at Far Cotton Rec Centre, Towcester Road, Far Cotton, NN4 8NG. (No booking needed)

Experts from Community Law Service, AGE UK Northamptonshire, WNC Money Advice Team and WNC Customer Services will be on hand to help residents check their eligibility for pension credit and if eligible, will guide them through the application process step by step.

Cllr Emma Roberts said “We want to ensure our residents get all the support they are entitled to this winter. People in receipt of pension credit are often eligible for other support too, this could be Housing Benefit, Council Tax Support, warm home discounts and energy grants. At the surgery we will be on hand to help everyone understand all the help they are entitled to.”

Cllr John Bright, Chairman of Far Cotton and Delapre Community Council added “we would urge anyone worried about their fuel bills this winter to come along to this surgery. Even if you aren’t entitled to pension credit there may be other help available for you. Sometimes people aren’t aware that they are entitled to a range of help including carers allowance or attendance allowance, so please do come and speak to our experts”.

As well as providing advice on benefit entitlement, AGE UK Northamptonshire can also arrange a home energy check and you can speak to their advisers about this during the surgery.

The advice teams will also try to help residents with any general queries about council services and where these can’t be resolved on the day can be followed through with the relevant teams.

Anyone with queries ahead of the sessions can contact Kate Houlihan the Clerk at Far Cotton and Delapre Community Council [email protected] or Cllr Emma Roberts [email protected]

Cllr Emma Roberts and Cllr John Bright would like to thank the Community Law Service, AGE UK Northamptonshire and the teams at WNC for their response to support this surgery.

Notes: For the team to submit your pension credit application during the surgery, you’ll need the following information about you and your partner if you have one:

• National Insurance number
• Information about any income, savings and investments you have
• Information about your income, savings and investments on the date you want to backdate your application to (usually 3 months ago or the date you reached State Pension age)
• You’ll also need your bank account details. Depending on how you apply, you may also be asked for your bank or building society name, sort code and account number.
• Information about your housing costs, such as mortgage interest, service charges, or ground rent