Hounslow Council


Welfare benefits and money advice

Hounslow Welfare Benefits and Money Advice Unit is a specialist unit provided by the council for residents, council staff, voluntary organisations in Hounslow and staff in other organisations (such as health care and housing associations) who are working with Hounslow residents.

We provide the following services:

  • Copies of current leaflets

  • Information about benefits that you may be entitled to

  • Debt advice

  • Hounslow Community Funeral Services

Services are confidential.

What do we do?

We offer appointments to see people who either

1. Have rent, mortgage or secured loan arrears and are facing repossession action or

2. Have a complicated benefit problem, such as an appeal and cannot use another advice service due to their disability (for example they are housebound or have serious mental health problems)

If you have one of these problems, you need to be referred to us. This can be done by another advice agency, housing officer, social worker or community group or you can call our public helpline on 020 8583 5016.

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Outreach advice sessions

We currently run advice sessions at the following places:

  • Hounslow Homes Area Offices: - Debt and benefit advice sessions for council tenants. Contact your housing officer if you have rent arrears and would like an appointment.

  • Canal House, Brentford: - Benefit sessions for people with mental health problems. Contact Canal House direct or your social worker or CPN if you would like an appointment.

  • Mulberry Centre: - Benefit/Debt advice sessions for cancer patients and their carers. Contact the Centre direct if you would like an appointment.

  • Brentford County Court: - Drop in advice session on Monday mornings 9.30-11.30 for people who have possession hearings about rent or mortgage arrears and need advice.

Telephone advice

If you need advice call us on 020 8583 5016. Our advice line is open:

  • Monday 2 - 4pm

  • Tuesday 2 - 4pm

  • Wednesday 10 -12pm

  • Thursday 4 -7pm

  • Friday 10 -12pm

The Minicom number for people who have hearing difficulties is 020 8583 5013

If you work for the council or any other organisation and need advice regarding one of your Hounslow service users, call our consultancy line on 020 8583 5015 between the following times/days:

  • Monday 2-5pm

  • Tuesday 2-5pm

  • Wednesday 10-pm

  • Thursday 4-7pm

  • Friday 10-1pm

The first part of the session is shared with the public helpline so may be more difficult to get through.  The asterisk indicates the sessions where the last hour is for staff consultancy calls only. Outside these times, staff are welcome to leave a message and you will be called back during the next consultancy session.

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Download advice leaflets

For printed copies of our advice leaflets or more information call our leaflet line on 020 8583 5014 stating what you are interested in.

Alternatively, please download our leaflets here:

Training

We provide free training to voluntary organisations in the borough. Contact us for more information about this.

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Campaigns information and social policy

We run a take-up campaign every year to try and make sure that different groups are claiming what they are entitled to. Without identifying individual clients, we use their experiences in trying to change policies and the way that the law works. If you are part of an organisation and want to talk to us about these types of issues, contact us.

Benefit and tax credit rates

The latest benefit and tax credit rates are available to download from this page. We have kept the 2007-08 rates for reference and comparison.

Contact

The benefits and tax credits that you may be able to apply for will depend upon your circumstances. If you are not sure about anything you should always seek advice.

Tel: 020 8583 5016

Email: wbmau@hounslow.gov.uk

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