Family Early Help
Turn2Us Benefits Calculator
This calculator from Turn 2 Us takes less than 10 minutes to complete and it will tell you which means-tested benefits you may be entitled to, including tax credits. Well worth looking at with a family
You can look at the Your Situation sections to find out about other benefits that you may entitled to.
Camden Benefits and Support Advice
Camden's Welfare Rights Team have a duty advice rota that you can call to ask questions and have a consultation on anything related to universal credit, housing benefit, other benefits and income maximisation. Camden's Welfare Rights Team primarily work with Camden tenants, but they can give general advice for residents in other forms of accommodation.
You can find other sources of advice for welfare and debt in the 'Legal and Debt Advice' section here, including the Welfare Rights duty rota:
Here is the slide pack from the Welfare Rights Universal Credit and Housing Benefit webinar in October
You can also find more information about benefits, housing benefit and Universal Credit for Camden here:
https://www.camden.gov.uk/benefits-support
Financial Support for Residents Whose Income Has Stopped Or Dropped
This is a link to Camden's advice for residents whose income has stopped or dropped (may already be on benefits):
https://www.camden.gov.uk/financial-support-for-residents1?inheritRedirect=true
Financial Support for People Who Are Self Isolating
On 27 August 2020, the Government announced that people on low incomes who need to self-isolate and are unable to work from home in areas with high incidence of COVID-19 will benefit from a new payment scheme. From early October, Camden now has its own scheme for this and you can find details here
Housing and Benefits advice from Citizens Advice
https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/
Government guidance on benefits and signing up for Universal Credit
Self Employment and Universal Credit
This is a link to the government guidance about how self employed people can access universal credit
https://www.gov.uk/self-employment-and-universal-credit
Universal Credit Information from Camden's website
Universal Credit: if you’re not claiming benefits at the moment and you’re now unable to work or your income has dropped, as long as you fit the criteria, you can apply for Universal Credit or Employment Support Allowance. The Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) manages this so you will need to call them on 0800 328 5644 or go to gov.uk to apply. You do not need to go to the job centre and you can receive an advance payment from DWP.
Universal Credit Help from Camden CAB
https://www.camdencabservice.org.uk/
If you need help with Universal Credit
- Help to Claim for advice about making new claims up until your first payment
Phone 0800 144 8 4444 (free number) Mon to Fri 8am - 6pm
Webchat visit https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/benefits/universal-credit/claiming/helptoclaim/ on our website and click on the ‘Talk to an Adviser’ button half way down the page - UC Support for help maintaining your claim and problems including UC stopping, sanctions and appeals. Phone 07765 293116 leave a message with your number or text and we’ll call you back.
DWP/Job Centre Plus & Benefits
All appointments at local Jobs & Benefits offices were postponed on 16 March. If you are due to sign-on you will be excused from signing.
For those already receiving benefits, you will continue to receive your payments and rather than attend the office for routine appointments, Work Coaches will communicate with you via your on-line journal, the phone, or will simply re-schedule appointments for a later date. Nobody will be penalised for not attending the office.
Face-to-face assessments for all benefits were suspended for a period of 3 months on 16 March. Assessments for benefits will be carried out by telephone, or by considering medical evidence submitted by post. If you already have an appointment for an assessment scheduled, you will be contacted to cancel your appointment.
Camden jobcentres (Kentish Town, Barnsbury, St Marylebone and Harlesden) are currently open providing a front of house support to vulnerable clients who require support. Please only attend the office if you are well and symptom-free.
Camden DWP/Job Centre Plus contact details can be found here https://jobcentreplusoffices.co.uk/england