What we do


Citizens Advice Redbridge (CAR) was set up in 1939 and has a long and successful history of providing advice to the residents of Redbridge and campaigning on the issues that affect them. We share this mission with the Citizens Advice service, a national network of over 300 local advice agencies.
General advice sessions
Please note our advisers work mainly from home and we do not offer appointments on demand. Most clients can be helped by phone or email. CA brand image

For help claiming Universal Credit:
Phone: 0800 144 8 444
Textphone: 18001 0800 144 8 444

For General Advice:
Advice line: 0808 2787872




Impact and value

The impact and value of our work is huge. We assess it by keeping records and compiling statistics. Research conducted by Citizens Advice shows we achieved the benefits below.

Our story in numbers

Top issues in 2017/18

Outreach Services

We provide debt advice to secure tenants,leaseholders and temporary accommodation tenants in order to prevent homelessness and improve the tenant’s financial situation. Due to the pandemic we are currently not providing face to face services at the local housing offices. Instead this service is provided remotely with clients being contacted by phone. If you require our assistance and would like to be referred to us please contact your rent officer/income recovery officer. If you are a leaseholder please contact leasehold services.

You can also access our services at GP Surgeries. The GP Outreach Project aims to provide free, confidential and impartial advice sessions for all residents of Redbridge. We offer GP’s and community groups a non-clinical referral option specifically for advice on Social welfare law. Typical inquiry areas include Housing, Employment, Debt, Welfare benefits, Immigration, Consumer, Family and Legal issues. The project aims to reach everyone in the Redbridge community who might benefit from our services, especially those with complex needs and those who otherwise might not be able to attend sessions. The pandemic has created obvious challenges relating to face to face sessions. However, we can provide practical alternatives in giving advice by telephone, e-mail and virtual appointments; tailored to the client’s needs.

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 work coach appointment.

Call us for free: 0800 144 8 444 (England) or 08000 241 220 (Wales), 8:00am to 6:00pm, Monday to Friday.

Online Services: Online Web Chat is usually available 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday. If no advisers are available, the chat box won’t appear. Web Chat lets you talk to a trained adviser online about your Universal Credit application process – in the same way as you would over the phone or face to face.

You can access Web Chat by clicking this link.

Visit our help to claim page online to read more about applying for Universal Credit.

This includes information on how to check if you are eligible and explains what each stage of the application process involves.

Annual report

For more about our work and achievements over the past year.