Make the most of your days in the future. Learn how to make your money go further now and plan for any times you need help and to pay for care.
A wide range of support is available with the government’s Help for Households campaign.
The Help for Households campaign covers cost of living payments and financial help if you are disabled or have a health condition. There’s also a tool so you can check what benefits and financial help you can get.
As part of cost of living help, Dorset Council is working with Citizens Advice to offer free, confidential and impartial support. They can help you in a range of areas, including:
It's important to make sure you get all the financial help you're entitled to.
See What benefits you can claim.
Citizens Advice offers information on benefits and tax credits if you are:
There is also information about:
Age UK’s Benefits Calculator can help you find out which benefits you could be entitled to now and in the future. It's free to use and the details you provide are kept anonymous. Based on the information you provide it can tell you if you might be entitled to claim extra money. You can also call Age UK on 0800 678 1602.
Learning to budget can help you stay on top of your bills and may save you £1,000s each year.
The government’s Money and Pensions Service offers a beginner’s guide to managing your money. It will show you how to set up a budget and get it back on track if you currently have more money going out than coming in.
If you have a pension question, the Money and Pensions Service offers impartial help.
If you have missed more than one debt payment, a confidential conversation with a trained and experienced debt adviser could help you find the best way forward.
A debt adviser can:
The government’s Money and Pensions Service will find a free debt adviser. You can connect with them online or by phone.
If you are behind with paying your energy bills, or finding them hard to pay, Citizens Advice offers advice about negotiating with your suppliers.
It’s easy to lose touch with one or more of your accounts.
You may have moved addresses or had an account opened for you as a child that you have forgotten about. Age UK say that in the UK millions of pounds lie unclaimed in inactive accounts.
It's free and easy to check if you have any:
If you think you may have a lost account Age UK can take you through the steps to reclaim the money.
Check you get all the money you have a right to.
Learn how to keep some money for your future.
You can:
Many people need to save more for the future.
An average Dorset earner needs twice as much as the State Pension to live the life they are used to.
And if you do not qualify for financial support, you will have to pay for care too.
You can get ready and plan for your future by:
Many people have to pay something towards their care. Paying for care means you get more choice over a carer or a care home.
If you pay for all your care yourself, it can cost £420 a week for 2 hours of homecare a day. If you need to go into a care home, costs per week in Dorset are more. It might cost £1,000 a week – or more if you choose somewhere more luxurious.
You can get ready for when you need care by:
You can say what happens to your money if you fall ill, cannot make decisions, or die. You can then get on with life, knowing this is taken care of.
You can choose someone you know to manage your money when you cannot. Giving them power of attorney means your bills and care will be paid for whatever happens.
So be ready for whatever might happen by:
And you can decide who to leave your money to by making a will:
