Welfare rights

If you get a service from Social Care Services, for example a home care, you will be offered benefits advice and help with filling in the forms.

However if you have no contact with Adult Care or Children and Young People services you may be able to get help and advice about benefits from the Practice Advice Team.

Practice Advice Team

Many people do not claim the benefits they are entitled to. In some cases this can up to thousands of pounds each year.

The Practice Advice Team offer advice on benefits and help with claiming. They work in the Mid Suffolk, Suffolk Coastal, Ipswich Borough and Babergh areas of Suffolk and with people who are aged 60 and over. The Practice Advice Team is independent to the Pension Service, and can offer confidential and practical advice on claiming benefits.

You can contact the Practice Advice Team and arrange a home visit to discuss your benefits by ringing: 01473 581802

Financial Inclusion and Advice Service

The Financial Inclusion and Advice Service is a second tier service based within Social Care Services. The Welfare Rights Team within FIAS supports County Council staff and people from other organisations to give advice to their customers.

This brochure about Financial Inclusion explains about courses and training opportunities (PDF, 789Kb)

Advisors Helpline (for staff and professionals)

If you are an adviser working in the council, the health service or for any other organisation in Suffolk you can use our daily helpline to get advice about your customer's benefits, housing or debt problem

Please do not use this number if you are a member of the public. We will have to refer you on to another advice organisation.

There is more information associated with this area of work:

Financial Inclusion and Advice Service