Mr Dunn's story

When Mr Dunn*, aged 68, contacted the advice and support service at Age Concern Wandsworth he was extremely anxious about his financial state of affairs. 

His next pension credit payment was not due for another week, and bank charges had left him with no money to live on.  He had no food in the cupboard and had been rationing his use of gas and electricity in his home to the extent that he had lived without heating and hot water for several weeks.  Understandably, Mr Dunn was enormously distressed about his situation.

The advice and support adviser immediately helped Mr Dunn make a telephone claim for a Social Fund Crisis Loan, an interest-free loan from the Social Fund designed to provide financial help in emergency situations.  This provided instant cash for Mr Dunn to buy food with for the coming week.  The adviser then made an appointment for Mr Dunn to meet with the Citizen's Advice Bureau money adviser to discuss dealing with his debt problems.  Mr Dunn is now well on his way to taking control and resolving his financial problems.

_{*Name has been changed, photo posed by model.}

Older people like Mr Dunn, and carers, are being helped to access good quality care through direct payments, and supported by advocacy services by Age Concern London along with 15 partner Age Concerns in a number of London boroughs. London Councils helps to fund these services