Help and support from Citizens Advice

It is important to make sure that you get all the help that you are entitled to. If you wish to appeal a decision about your entitlement to benefits, for example Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Universal Credit, we can help you.

We have a specialist team dedicated to helping you with your welfare benefit appeal up to and including an Upper Tribunal. The team also deals with welfare benefit complaints and complex benefit cases.

If you do need specialist welfare benefits advice and representation, you can be referred to the PALS project by our General Advice Team.

The benefits appeals advice service is delivered via the PALS project (Project Advice Liverpool and Sefton). Funded by a local benefactor, the Project is delivered by Citizens Advice Liverpool and Citizens Advice Sefton.

 

Pension Wise is a free and impartial government service about the different ways you can take money from your pension.

Pension Wise can help you if you:

• have a UK based defined contribution pension (not a final salary or career average pension)
• are aged 50 or over

Book an appointment on the Pension Wise Website

Call Pension Wise on 0800 138 3944

LGBTQ+ hate incidents and hate crimes are acts of violence or hostility based on a person’s actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity.

We can help you make a report to the police, understand your rights, liaise with organisations on your behalf, and help you to access specialist support services such as counselling.

We will represent you so that your voice is heard.

We can also make referrals to other services within Citizens Advice Liverpool who will provide practical advice on housing, debt, benefits, employment and more. And we can help you access social support, such as activities and groups, in your area.

If you would like to find out more, we can help you get advice.

For more information:

• Learn more about hate crime here.
• Visit Hate crime advice online
• Call our support worker on 0151 522 1400 ext 5006
• Email us at: LGBTHateCrime@caliverpool.org.uk

You can also contact one of our partner agencies:

 

Universal Credit is a benefit you can claim if you are of working age and on a low income or unemployed.

It might be worth claiming Universal Credit if you are struggling to pay the bills, have recently lost your job, have a disability/are too ill to work, or you are caring for someone.

Our Help to Claim team can support you in the early stages of your Universal Credit claim, from the application through to your first payment.

This includes:

• checking if Universal Credit is the right benefit to claim (and its impact on other benefits)
• assistance with completing the claim
• checking the impact of immigration status on your claim
• advising on support available while you wait for your first payment
• helping you to prepare for Jobcentre appointments
• checking your first payment is correct
• advice on how to challenge incorrect first payments.

Our advice is free, confidential and impartial

The information below is aimed at those who arrived in the UK before 31 December 2020 – and their close family members.

A new Immigration system came into place in the UK on 1 January 2021.

If you came to the UK after this date, and are not sure what this means for you, then give us a call.

• For further information visit: EUSS information online
• Call our EUSS team on 0151 522 1400 ext 5002
• Email us at: EUSS@caliverpool.org.uk

If you are from the EU, EEA* or Switzerland, you and your family might be able to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme to continue living in the UK.

The deadline for most people to apply for pre-settled or settled status through the EU Settlement Scheme was 30 June 2021.

You may still be able to apply if you are in one of these situations:

• you started living in the UK by 31 December 2020 and you need to make a late application;
• your family member has pre-settled or settled status and you wish to join them in the UK.

We would encourage you to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme as soon as possible. Contact us now to begin the application process to the EU Settlement Scheme.

Frequently asked questions

I need to apply to the EU Settlement Scheme: what support can you give me?

Our support team can help you complete your application to the EU Settlement Scheme. We will be able to help you with the following:

• submit a late application (e.g. if you couldn’t apply on time for practical or ‘compassionate’ reasons)
• submit an application for close family members living outside of the UK (if you have settled or pre-settled status)
• find and upload residence evidence for your application

I’ve received my status confirmation – can you still help me?

Yes, we can help you upgrade your settlement status from pre-settled to settled. We can also show you how to view and prove your status, e.g. to employers, landlords and educators.

Why should I apply to the EU Settlement Scheme?

Having ‘pre-settled status’ or ‘settled status’ under the EU Settlement Scheme will mean that you have a right to:

• stay in the UK
• work
• study
• claim benefits – including the State Pension
• use the NHS
• open a bank account
• rent a home

* The EEA includes EU countries and Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. Check which countries are in the EU and EEA (opens in a new window)

Whether you need information about understanding your bill, switching your provider, or making your home more energy efficient – we can advise you.

Our Energy Advice team is dedicated to helping to combat fuel poverty in Liverpool, providing one-to-one advice and support to people experiencing difficulties with their energy costs.

Energy bills have surged during lockdown as people continue to work from home, homeschool and self-isolate.

If you have a more serious problem, such as high or incorrect bills, and need advice on challenging your energy provider, then we can help. We can also help you access the Priority Services Register, a scheme that offers extra assistance and services to certain groups of people.

For more information visit our Energy Advice pages.

We advised more than 3,500 people in Liverpool with debt issues last year.

Debt and money worries can strike anyone at any time. Dealing with money issues can sometimes be off-putting and you may feel a bit anxious about seeking help.

Citizens Advice Liverpool will give you the information you need to make the right choices for debt problems – to give you peace of mind once more.

Our friendly, specialist team can advise you on a range of debt and money matters, including:

• Checking liability for debts
• Arranging a “Breathing Space” hold on creditor actions
• Insolvency solutions, including Bankruptcy, Individual Voluntary Arrangement and Debt Relief Order
• Debt Management Plans and informal offers to creditors
• Priority debt issues, including mortgage arrears, rent arrears, council tax arrears, energy arrears, hire purchase arrears and magistrates court fines
• Dealing with county court forms and process
• Write off of debts in certain circumstances
• Charitable support
• Budgeting and maximising income.

We will always be happy to chat with you, no matter how big or small your concerns. All advice given will be tailored to your individual needs.

Get Advice today for free, confidential and impartial money advice.

Citizens Advice Liverpool is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority for money and debt advice. Our Money Advice team members are accredited to standards set by the Money and Pensions Service.

It is a treatment option that helps patients work towards debt reduction, financial stability, better housing and employment conditions, and reduced social isolation. It also provides a wellbeing service that aims to combat loneliness and isolation in our community.

We give a helping hand to patients whose circumstances make them vulnerable to mental distress.

This includes patients with:

• long-term health problems or disabilities 
• people who are living with a diagnosis of cancer 
• people with acute respiratory conditions
• parents of young children who are struggling to make ends meet
• people who are unemployed or in low paid jobs 
• those who care for others but need support themselves

By providing this service we are able to reduce the number of patients presenting with problems that can be solved with practical support.

The service is made up of two linked but distinct parts:

• Enhanced Citizens Advice Support, providing practical (anti-poverty) support to vulnerable patients on matters such as welfare benefits, debt and housing, and employment. See video (above right) for more information.  
• The Wellbeing Link Worker Service, a pathway to health-enhancing activities and community services, including confidence-building, training, volunteering and access to employment opportunities. Find out more about this service

Our link workers meet with patients, and together, they create a personalised wellbeing plan – a plan that works for the individual. Patients are then linked to activities and services in their communities – services that reduce isolation and support them to lead their best lives.

We also offer support to the following priority health areas:

• Mental health
• Respiratory conditions 
• Cancer support 
• Perinatal support 

Find out more about how we can help patients with these priority conditions