Family Finance

Family Finance aims to inform and educate families, leading to their greater financial well being and consequent improvements in lifestyle.

Working as part of the Family Information Service, the Benefits Information Officers provide a free, confidential and impartial information and advice service for families with children aged 0-19 (up to 25 for children with Special needs/LDD) living in Reading and West Berkshire with any enquiry they may have to do with benefits, welfare and finances.

What could a benefits officer do for me?

A Benefits Information Officer can:

• Check benefits you already receive
• Calculate Child / Working Tax Credit including the Childcare element before returning to work
• Calculate Council and Housing Benefits
• Help/ advise parents on how to fill in benefits forms

If you have a question and would like some help or advice then please get in touch via the freephone number on 0800 328 9148 or email us.

Here are some useful websites:

Jobcentre plus – www.jobcentreplus.gov.uk
Directgov – www.directgov.co.uk
Inland Revenue – www.hmrc.gov.uk
Daycare Trust – www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Direct Gov Benefit Calculator – Benefit Calculator
Consumer Credit Counselling Service – national charity offering free debt advice and an anonymous online debt counselling service – Free Debt Advice and CCCS Debt Remedy
Shelter – housing and homelessness charity offering family and debt advice and budgeting for kids

Testimonials

“Thank you for your help, I am really looking forward to my interview and I will make an appointment to see my Lone Parent Advisor this week.”

“Thank you for your help – I will let you know the outcome of the college discussion.”

“…I always find any forms a nightmare. You made it easy and straightforward. Thanks…”

“…had you not taken the time to talk I would still be at home wondering how to get back to work…”