Specialist Advice Services
Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove runs an Advice Service that offers advice on any topic, available to all, by freephone or email, Monday to Friday.
We also provide a range of specialist projects that advise people who are in particular situations, on specific topics.
The service provides a free, confidential welfare benefits advice service to people affected by cancer and their carers, throughout Sussex.
We are able to provide advice by appointment.
We can advise and assist with applications for all welfare benefits.
The service is available Monday to Friday excluding bank holidays.Â
To book an appointment or speak to the Administrator please call between 10am and 3pm or you are welcome to leave a message and we will get back to you as soon as we are able.
Telephone / Text:
07483 171 832
Email:Â [email protected]
Energyworks - our Energy Advice Service
Energyworks is a partnership project between Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove (CABH) and Brighton & Hove Energy Services Coop (BHESCo).Â
We provide a free and impartial advice service to Brighton and Hove residents experiencing fuel poverty, to help them reduce their utility bills and make their homes warmer.
Energyworks Adviceline: 0333 090 9150
Lines are open:
Monday     10.00 – 13.00 and 13.30 – 16.00
Tuesday     10.00 – 13.00 and 13.30 – 16.00
Wednesday  10.00 – 13.00 and 13.30 – 16.00
Thursday    10.00 – 13.00Â
Friday       10.00 – 13.00 and 13.30 – 16.00
Email: [email protected]
You can find more information about Energyworks and other energy advice and support, here.Â
Energy Reach Community Project
The Energy Reach Community Project provides in-person energy advice and income maximisation for marginalised groups in the city. This is an outreach project, delivering advice in venues across Brighton & Hove.
This project is funded by Southern Gas Network.
Examples of advice we deliver include:Â
Energy Advice:
- Understanding billing and meters
- Reducing energy costs
- Managing fuel debts and negotiating with suppliers
Income-Maximisation:
- Benefits checks
- Reducing bills
- Applying for grant funding
If you’re a local group or organisation and want to find out how this service can help the people you support, please fill in this form.
Someone will be in touch with you within a week.Â
You can find further energy advice here:Â
Debt Advice
Our Money Advice Service Debt Advice Project helps people with financial problems.
This service provides help with the following:Â
- Starting over by clearing debts with bankruptcy or Debt Relief Orders.
- Lowering credit card payments.
- Checking for available benefits and other ways to boost income.
- Disputing debts that the client shouldn’t have to pay.
- Defending against money claims and helping fill out court forms.
- Handling problems with bailiffs.Â
You can access this service in different ways:
- Contact our Advice line on 08082 78 78 15
- Email us here
We may refer you to other specialised organisations which are part of our Financial Inclusion Partnership. You can read more about it here.Â
Our Money Advice Service Debt Advice Project is currently unavailable.Â
In the meantime, you can refer to this list of local and national organisations that offer debt related support.Â
Get help applying for Universal Credit
Our Help to Claim service can support you in the early stages of your Universal Credit claim, from the application, through to your first payment.
Help to Claim is a dedicated service from Citizens Advice. It’s free, independent and confidential. Our trained advisers can help with things like how to gather evidence for your application or how to prepare for your first JobCentre appointment.
Call us for free: 0800 144 8 444 (England)Â
Chat to an adviser online: citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim  Â
For online advice visit: citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim  Â
Advice for people on the Major Trauma ward of Royal Sussex County Hospital
Our Major Trauma Signposting Partnership provides support and advice to people with serious injuries as a result of major trauma on matters such as welfare benefits, housing, legal services and more. Available from a referral on the ward only.
Partnerships
The Moneyworks partnership has merged with the Advice Matters partnership to provide a single point of contact for advice via Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove.
You should click here to get help. We can refer you to partners for advice and casework after assessing your situation.
All the same partners are working together in a new Advice & Financial Inclusion partnership to deliver services for residents in Brighton & Hove.
We are funded by Brighton & Hove City Council and we all fundraise from other sources to try to maximise the advice, financial inclusion and food and energy help that residents need.
You can read more about the partners here and contact any of them directly for help: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Citizens Advice Brighton & Hove
Money Advice Plus
St Luke’s Advice Service
Possability People
BHT Advice
YMCA YAC (Youth Advice Service)
Brighton Unemployed Centre Families Project
Hangleton & Knoll Project
Wave Community Bank                                                    Brighton & Hove Food Partnership Emergency Food Network
If you need urgent help to get food, don’t wait for an advice appointment. Please go to the
Food Partnership Emergency Food page.
If you need urgent help with energy issues, please contact our Energyworks team.
Partner Organisations
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Free pension advice service for over 50s
Pension Wise is a free and impartial government service about the different ways you can take money from your pension.
You can book a phone appointment – a 45-minute conversation between you and a Pension Wise guidance specialist – by ringing this number: 0800 138 3944 or booking online at: www.moneyhelper.org.uk/en/pensions-and-retirement/pension-wise
You’ll get guidance on:
- your pension options
tax - which options might
- be suitable for you
- what you can do next
For the duration of the coronavirus pandemic, all appointments will be held over the phone.
At the end you get a summary of the pension options and possible next steps.
To book an appointment you should be 50 years old or over and have a defined contribution pension.
Pension Wise guidance specialists are impartial – they don’t recommend any products or companies and won’t tell you how to invest your money.
Advice on consumer issues
The Citizens Advice Consumer Helpline is a telephone and on-line service offering information and advice on consumer issues in the UK.
It provides advice if you have a problem with goods and services in the UK and will explain your consumer rights.
Some examples of where the Consumer Helpline can help are
- Advise you if you have a problem or disagreement with a trader.
- Help you make a complaint about a trader that you believe has done something wrong.
- Provide general advice on how to avoid unscrupulous traders or “cowboys”.
- Explain consumer-related issues such as warranties, buying on credit, Internet shopping, refunds and replacements etc.
- Provide advice on avoiding trading scams and rip-offs.
- Direct you to a regulator or other organisation if it is better suited to assist you.
They can be contacted on 03454 04 05 06 and online at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/consumer/get-more-help/if-you-need-more-help-about-a-consumer-issue/
