At Move it or Lose it®, our mission is to help older adults stay active, independent and connected for longer. While movement plays a vital role in healthy ageing, we also recognise that wellbeing in later life is shaped by many other factors, including financial security, access to trusted advice and knowing where to turn for support.

That’s why we’re pleased to be sharing information and resources provided by Independent Age, the national charity focused on improving the lives of older people facing financial hardship.

Independent Age’s work closely reflects the issues we hear about in communities across the UK. Many older people may be entitled to extra financial support but are missing out simply because they do not know what is available, or they feel unsure about how to apply.

By introducing our community to Independent Age’s free benefits checks, Helpline and advice guides, we hope to help more older adults, families and carers access the support they need to live well, remain independent and feel more secure.

Below, Independent Age explains more about the free support available and how to access it.

Independent Age is the national charity focused on improving the lives of people facing financial hardship in later life.

Our Helpline and expert advisors offer free, confidential support to older people without enough money to live on and their families, friends and carers. Through our grants programme, we support hundreds of local organisations working directly with older people across the UK.

We use the knowledge and insight gained from our support services and partnerships to highlight the issues experienced by older people in poverty and campaign for change.

One of the ways we support older people is by providing free financial support checks and a range of free advice guides.

Free financial support check for people over 65

When someone reaches State Pension age, they could apply for different support, but many older people miss out on extra money they could be getting each week. They may not know what financial support is available, or how to apply.

Our Helpline and specialist Advice team can help older people find out what they’re entitled to and apply for it, including help to fill in the application form.

To arrange a benefits check, older people can contact our Helpline for free on 0800 319 6789 (Monday to Friday, 08.30am to 5.30pm), or email helpline@independentage.org.

Free advice guides 

Our free advice guides and factsheets cover a range of subjects to help older people boost their income, find the care they need, remain independent, stay connected with others and more. People can order or download any of our publications for free at https://www.independentage.org/get-advice/advice-guides-factsheets-leaflets.

The information in our advice guides is clear, accurate, and trustworthy. Independent Age is a certified member of the PIF TICK – a quality mark for organisations that produce information about health. You can read more about our guides and how we produce our information here: How we produce our information | Independent Age.

More information about us and the support we provide, can be found on our website:www.independentage.org

If anyone is interested to sign-up to receive our regular emails with free and impartial information and advice for older people, they families and carers, as well as other ways we can help – they can sign-up via our website here: www.independentage.org, by entering their email address in the ‘Get email updates’ section which is towards the bottom of the page and complete the sign-up form. They’ll have the option to unsubscribe at any point if they’ll no longer wish to receive this.

Move it or Lose it® supports and empowers older adults to stay active, independent and connected through evidence-informed exercise classes, inclusive resources and a nationwide instructor network. Our community currently reaches approximately 65,000 older adults each week, helping people build strength, improve balance, maintain confidence and feel part of a supportive community.

As part of our wider commitment to healthy ageing, we are sharing information and resources provided by Independent Age, the national charity focused on improving the lives of older people facing financial hardship. We know that wellbeing in later life is influenced by more than movement alone. Financial security, trusted advice, social connection and access to the right support all play an important role in helping older adults live well.

This blog signposts readers to Independent Age’s free benefits checks, confidential Helpline, specialist Advice team and free advice guides. These resources can help people over State Pension age find out what financial support they may be entitled to, get help with applications, access clear and trustworthy information, and feel more secure, informed and supported in later life.