Mr Peters' story

Mr Peters*, 78, was homeless and living on a friend's floor when he first contacted the advice and support service at Age Concern Wandsworth.  

The advice and support adviser immediately put him in contact with the local authority Homeless Persons Unit and within several weeks he had been offered a sheltered flat by a local housing association. 

The advice and support adviser sorted out problems with the payment of Mr Peters' state retirement pension which he had not received for several months.  In an effort to further raise his level of income, the advice and support adviser also helped Mr Peters to claim his entitlements to pension credit, housing benefit and council tax benefit. 

Mr Peters has now moved into his new flat and payments of his state retirement pension have been reinstated, resulting in a large backdated payment.  The advice and support adviser has submitted a claim on Mr Peters' behalf for a community care grant so he can furnish his new flat.  In addition, the advice and support service at Age Concern Wandsworth has helped Mr Peters put in a claim for an attendance allowance, a benefit available to the over-65s to help with personal care. 

Older people like Mr Peters, 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

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