Benefits And Debt Resources
Some of this information is available elsewhere on our website, but for your convenience, we have brought it all together on this page.
Below are links to external websites that have useful information regarding benefits and debt, and some helplines offering telephone advice. There are also contact details for local services for Tameside residents that offer information and telephone and face-to-face advice on benefits and debt.
Please note that Tameside MBC is not responsible for the content of any external websites.
Benefits
Turn2Us www.turn2us.org.uk/ 
Useful information on benefits, charitable grants, money and tax. On-line tools to work out which benefits and charitable grants you could apply for.
Citizens Advice Bureaux Adviceguide www.citizensadvice.org.uk Useful up-to-date information on a range of huge range of topics, including benefits, housing, debt and employment.
Benefits And Work www.benefitsandwork.co.uk/ Independent website with a range of members-only guides, but anyone can use its on-line tools to estimate whether their illness or disability is severe enough to qualify for Personal Independence Payment or Employment and Support Allowance.
Low Incomes Tax Reform Group www.litrg.org.uk/ Information on benefits, tax credits and tax.
Debt & Money
National Debtline www.nationaldebtline.org Information, factsheets and sample letters regarding debt issues. Debt advice via telephone (0808 8084000) and email.
Business Debtline www.businessdebtline.org Information, factsheets and sample letters regarding debt issues for self-employed people and small businesses. Debt advice via telephone (0800 1976026).
Money Information Network Tameside (MiNT) www.mintameside.org.uk Information for Tameside residents on avoiding debt and managing your money.
PayPlan www.payplan.com/ Some information on debt solutions, plus debt advice via telephone 0800 2802816/ 020 77608980) or email.
TaxAid Self-help information, telephone advice and face-to-face advice around tax issues. Ring 0345 1203779 for advice.
Money Advice Service www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk/en Self-help information and telephone advice (0300 5005000) around money issues.
Financial Ombudsman Service www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk Help with complaints against financial businesses (e.g. banks or insurers) which have not been resolved by the businesses themselves.
Local Advice Services
Tameside Citizens Advice Bureau offers information and advice on a whole range of issues at their drop-in (09:30-12:30 every weekday) at Ashton Customer Services (Tameside MBC, Council Offices, Wellington Road, Ashton-Under-Lyne, OL6 6DL).
Tameside MBC Welfare Rights Service offers specialist telephone advice on benefits on 0800 0749985 (09:30-12:30, Mondays and Wednesdays).
Tameside MBC Debt Advice Service offers help to people with mortgage or rent arrears, contact 0161 342 3494.
Tameside Housing Advice offer advice on housing and homelessness. Their website (www.tamesidehousingadvice.org/ ) has a link to a self-assessment tool you can use to direct you to the specific information and advice you need. If you are homeless, or about to be made homeless, ring them on 0161 3312700.
The Help With Rent team covers Greater Manchester, and is one of the organisations providing advice to both private and social tenants who are struggling to pay their rent. You can ring 0845 1202093.
If you are a New Charter tenant, you can get help with debt and benefits issues by ringing New Charter on 0161 3312456.