Money advice roadshow announced

Money advice events are to be held across Plymouth to help people get to grips with recent benefit changes.

Plymouth City Council is teaming up with organisations across the city to help people who have been affected by the recent changes to benefits.

The focus will be on supporting carers and people living with a disability. Information, advice and support will be available to help people understand the recent changes and for people to find out if they are receiving the benefits they may be entitled to.

The roadshow, which includes events in Plympton, Crowhill and Plymstock, follows a successful Family Advice Day held in June.

Starting in September the first two events will be hosted by Age UK. Residents can pop along to the William Venton Centre at the back of the Plymstock Broadway car park on Monday 9 September or Elspeth Sitters House at Hoegate Street on the Barbican anytime between 10am and 12pm.

Advice Plymouth, Call 24, More than Mobility, Health Watch, Age UK, Plymouth City Council and the Befriending Project will be among the organisations there on the day.

Visitors will be able to get information and advice about the range of support that is available for carers and people with disabilities including money, mobility support and advice on emergency equipment.

There will also be an opportunity to sign up to the Plymouth Energy Community, a co-operative set up by Plymouth City Council to help residents save on their energy bills.

To make information more accessible for communities, staff from the Council's Revenues and Benefits department will be touring the libraries for two weeks. Carers and people with disabilities or their families will be able to talk to them about whether they would be entitled to other exemptions or reductions to their Council bills.

Council staff will be available from 10am to 3pm:

Monday 23 September - Plympton Library
Tuesday 24 September - Central Library
Wednesday 25 September - St Budeaux Library
Thursday 26 September - Peverell Library
Friday 27 September - Crownhill Library
Monday 30 September - Plymstock Library
Tuesday 1 October - North Prospect Library
Wednesday 2 October - St Aubyn Library
Thursday 3 October - Stoke Library
Friday 4 October - Southway Library

Cabinet Member for Co-operatives and Community Development, Councillor Chris Penberthy said: "We received some really positive feedback from residents and partners following the family advice day.

"Being able to repeat something similar, specifically tailored for carers, people with disabilities and their families is equally important. Getting out into the communities and making information more and more accessible for people is something we will be doing more and more."

The Council has produced a second money advice booklet to explain the changes and entitlements for carers and people with disabilities. The booklet is available from Council Offices, the Job Centre and all city libraries, Housing Associations, and other support organisations and welfare groups such as Advice Plymouth and Citizen Advice.

It can also be downloaded at http://www.plymouth.gov.uk/welfarereform