Legal and money matters

Money and legal matters main

Finance and legal matters can be complicated. This section contains welfare benefit and advice on managing money and debt. You will also find the framework for mental capacity, and making your wishes known about financial, legal and life decisions, and how to make arrangements for others to manage your affairs.


Welfare Benefits − will help you understand which benefits you might be entitled to and give you details about how and where you apply for them. It also gives you information about the social fund and advice about help with funeral costs.

Money and debts - gives you information to help you manage your money, and about where you can access advice if you are having difficulties with money worries or debts.  

Managing someone else's affairs

If someone is ill or disabled, either temporarily or long-term, are out of the country for a while or unable to make decision for themselves someone else can manage their affairs. Our mental capacity page explains mental capacity and gives information on organisations who safeguard against its abuse. 

You can look after someone else's affairs with either

Protecting your rights and decisions


We also provide information to enable you to make your wishes known prior to any incapacity or death. 


Further information


If you would like further advice you can email welfarebenefits@derbyshire.gov.uk or call our Benefits Helpline on 0845 120 2985.

It is helpful when you email if you can give a phone number so someone can call you back.

For more information about receiving a Direct Payment, you can visit our My Care Journey pages.

You can find out about the charges and fees associated with moving to a care home in our Accommodation and Housing section.

If you need to adapt your home to make it easier for you to get around, you may consider applying for a Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) through your district/borough council.

Complaint, comment or compliment

If you have a complaint, comment or compliment about Adult Care services then please see our complaints process.

Also on our website

Information on other websites

Advice Derbyshire (opens in a new window)

Organisations that can help you

Here's a list of organisations from the Derbyshire Directory that will be able to provide help, support or advise you further. Click on the headings for more information about how and where to contact each organisation.

  • Acas (National)
    The aim of ACAS (Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) is to improve organisations and working life through better employment relations. The ACAS Helpline is for both employers and employe…
  • Amnesty International (Chesterfield)
    Campaign for human rights principally for individuals outside the UK.
  • Asylum Aid (National)
    An independent, national charity assisting UK refugees. Helps the most vulnerable and disadvantaged people seeking asylum in the UK by giving them free legal advice and representing them in their asyl…
  • Chesterfield Law Centre
    Provides free legal advice, information and representation in social welfare law to individuals and groups. Takes on cases in community care, employment, housing, immigration, disability, race and sex…
  • Citizens Advice Bureau - Heanor (Mid-Derbyshire)
    Offers free advice to help you resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems. There are also offices in Alfreton, Ashbourne, Bakewell, Belper, Darley Dale, Duffield,He…
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Amber Valley, Derbyshire Dales and Erewash)
    Offers free advice to help you resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems. There are also offices or outreach services in Ashbourne, Bakewell, Belper, Heanor and Il…
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Ashbourne)
    Offers free advice to help resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Bakewell Medical Centre)
    Offers free advice to help resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Bakewell)
    Offers free advice to help resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Baslow)
    Offers free advice to help resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Belper)
    Offers free advice to help resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Chesterfield)
    Offers free advice to help you resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (Erewash)
    Gives free independent, impartial and confidential advice on consumer rights, debt, discrimination, education, employment, family, personal issues, housing, legal problems, benefits, utilities, immigr…
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (High Peak)
    Free advice, assistance and representation. Also has offices in New Mills and Glossop.
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (North East Derbyshire)
    Offers free advice to help you resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems to residents of North East Derbyshire. The bureau holds a Community Legal Services Quality M…
  • Citizens Advice Bureau (South Derbyshire)
    Offers free advice to help you resolve debt, legal, housing, discrimination, employment and other problems.
  • Clowne Enterprise Ltd
    This group provides start-up support and business incubation for small businesses and aspiring entrepreneurs. It supports the regeneration of the Clowne community.
  • Community Legal Service Direct (National)
    Provides free information, help and advice on a range of common legal issues.
  • Derby and District Law Society
    Advice on choice of local solicitors with appropriate specialism(s), advice on complaints procedure in cases where poor service is received.
  • Derby Women's Centre
    As a leading provider of support and activities for Derby and Derbyshire women, Derby Women's Centre has been an invaluable service for local women for over 30 years. They are a women's-only organisat…
  • Derbyshire Asbestos Support Team
    The group advise anyone diagnosed with an asbestos related disease or their carers/families, and offer support by putting people in contact with others who have the same disease. Advice is given at ma…
  • Derbyshire Contracts Advice Network (Chesterfield)
    The Derbyshire Contracts Advice Network brings together voluntary groups, advisers and commissioners to improve skills and knowledge around procurement, tenders and contracts. Provides advice about a…
  • Derbyshire Housing Aid
    Derbyshire Housing Aid is an independent charity offering specialist legal advice, advocacy and representation services on Housing, Debt and welfare benefit issues. Helps people tackle their legal …
  • Derbyshire Rape Crisis (Derby)
    Offers telephone and face-to-face support and counselling to any gender, aged 14 years upwards, who has experienced rape or sexual abuse at any time in their lives. Forensic medical examinations with …
  • North East Derbyshire and Dales Magistrates' Court (Chesterfield)
  • Resolution (National)
    Lists family law solicitors.
  • Shelterline (National)
    Legal and housing advice line offering independent information and advice in confidence to anyone with a housing problem.
  • Trade Union Safety Team (Countywide)
    Will help anyone injured by work and provide health and safety information to employees and trade union representatives. Also offers free diagnostic tests for vibration white finger and industrial dea…
  • United Kingdom Disabled People's Council
    This organisation advises disabled people and member groups on funding and legal matters via its parliamentary and campaigns officer.
  • Welfare Benefits Information and Advice Team - Derbyshire County Council
    The service has staff based throughout the county to offer help and advice on benefits, tax credits or employment issues to residents of Derbyshire from initial claim onto appeal representation if nec…

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