Oldham Advice Service
(provided by Citizens Advice)
Oldham Advice Service is funded by Oldham Council and delivered by Citizens Advice Stockport, Oldham, Rochdale and Trafford (CA SORT).
It offers free, confidential advice and support in one place. Whether you need help with debt, benefits, energy bills, housing or work, friendly advisors are there to listen and help.
They can also put you in touch with other local services that may be able to support you.
- 0800 033 4602 (9am – 6pm, Monday - Friday)
- 0161 850 5053 (6pm -9pm, Monday – Friday)
- Chat on WhatsApp
If you need help with benefits or are worried about your finances, support is available. The Income Maximisation Team and Welfare Rights Service can advise and check about your entitlement, guide you to access benefits, and increase your income.
Income Maximisation Team
The Income Maximisation Team can help you identify benefits and financial support you may be missing out on.
Whether you are struggling financially, have experienced a change in circumstances, or want to check that you are receiving everything you are entitled to, the team can help.
What we can help with
- Benefit entitlement checks
- Identifying ways to maximise your household income
- Support with benefit applications
The Income Maximisation Team is part of Oldham Council's Financial Inclusion Service and works closely with the Welfare Rights Service and other support services.
You can contact the team directly or make a referral on behalf of a resident.
- Email: IMT@oldham.gov.uk
- Telephone: 0161 770 3434 (voicemail service)
Welfare Rights Team
Navigating the benefits system can be challenging, particularly when claims are refused or benefits are reduced.
The Welfare Rights Team provides free specialist advice and advocacy to help residents secure the benefits they are entitled to. The service recognises that individuals must make their own decisions and that the role of the service is to give people information to exercise their rights.
The team can help with:
- Mandatory Reconsiderations
- Appeals and Tribunal preparation
- Complex welfare benefit cases
- Advocacy for vulnerable residents
- Support through challenging benefit decisions
The demand on this service is high, sometimes, resulting in long waiting times, therefore It’s important that the referrals made to Welfare Rights are appropriate and meet the guidance above.
Contact
- Phone 0161 770 6655 (9.00am to 5.00pm, Monday to Friday) voicemail only.
- Welfare Rights Service contact form
Money guidance from Money and Pensions Service
The Money and Pensions Service (MaPS) has guidance to help people manage changes to the cost of living. Its focus is on people who have not yet missed payments on their bills or credit commitments, but who are at serious risk of doing so.
The guidance on its Money Helper website helps people manage their money in uncertain times.
These resources and tools are aimed to help with:
- Help if you’re struggling with bills and payments - Money Helper website
- Living on a squeezed income - Money Helper website
- Help if you’re self-employed - Money Helper website
- Redundancy and losing your job - Money Helper website
For people who are already missing payments on their bills or credit commitments, then free debt advice services are available via MaPS’ advice locator tool.
General advice
You can contact the Benefits Service for advice about:
- Council Tax
- Benefits
- Your application and payments
Contact
- Contact the Benefits Service form
- Phone: 0161 770 6633 (Monday to Friday 9am - 5pm)
Are you struggling with the cost of living? We can help
It's ok to reach out for help if you need it.
We know it's a difficult time for many, so please be aware that support is available.