Considering equity release – are you benefits aware?

Turn2us is running Benefits Awareness Month throughout April, a nationwide media campaign to encourage everyone to check their benefits entitlement.

The charitable service has highlighted that 13.5m people in the UK live in poverty yet over £19 billion goes unclaimed in welfare benefits each year.

Free Benefits Calculator

As part of Benefits Awareness Month they have built a free Benefits Calculator to help us find out what financial help we might be missing out on.

Just visit Turn2us to use the calculator as well as read their research and statistics about welfare stigma and other barriers to claiming.

Really helpful resource, please share with your friends and family.

And, it would also be good to get a benefit check carried out by a free advice agency such as your local Citizens Advice Bureau and/or talk to your local council. They should not only be able to tell you what benefits you qualify for, they should also be able to help you with the application process.

Get professional advice

If you are looking to find funds to support you in your retirement, releasing equity from your property, together with home equity release schemes, are possible avenues to consider. Advice should be sought from an FSA-registered professional independent financial adviser who is qualified to advise on equity release, as personal circumstances will affect how much any individual will receive and what they qualify for. You may also want to consider talking to a specialist equity release solicitor – especially where you wish to leave part of your estate to your children.

Sources:

Kathryn at http://www.greypride.org.uk/

Turn2us http://www.turn2us.org.uk/