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Welfare and Financial Support
The Nepean Blue Mountains region has many outlets to support people with their welfare and financial needs. Through Centrelink, there are a number of financial benefits accessible for people with mental illness, particularly if they have a psychiatric or psychosocial disability. These include a range of payments and services to assist people in meeting the costs of daily household and living expenses. These payments can go towards rent or assist people with financial support when going through the education system. Payments are also available for carers and/or Indigenous Australians. Other financial support services in the Nepean Blue Mountains include:
- Centrelink Financial Information Centres
- Social Security Centres
- National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) Customer Service Centre
- Family and Community Services (FACS) Community Service Centres
- No Interest Loan Schemes (NILS)
- Financial Counselling
Centrelink delivers a range of payments and services to suit people's needs. Today, most applications can be done online however social security offices are distributed throughout the Nepean Blue Mountains region to help people discuss and formalise benefits. There are five Centrelink offices in the Nepean Blue Mountains region:
- Centrelink Hawkesbury - 309/311 George St, Windsor NSW 2756
- Centrelink Katoomba - 33-35 Waratah Street, Katoomba NSW 2780
- Centrelink Lithgow - 176 Mort St, Lithgow NSW 2790
- Centrelink Penrith - 598 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750
- Centrelink Springwood - 107-109 Macquarie Road, Springwood NSW 2777
Target Audience
Person seeking welfare support as a family, separated parent, jobseeker, older Australian, a person with a disability, a student or trainee, migrant, refugee, carer, rural or remote Australian or an Indigenous Australian.
Eligibility
Ring to determine eligibility.
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
The Centrelink Financial Information Centre is a free, confidential service that provides education and information on financial issues to all Australians. The Financial Information Service can help you to make more informed decisions about investment and financial opportunities for your current and future needs. Financial Information Service officers can talk to you about taking control of your finances so you can actively plan for your retirement and lifestyle choices while you are still working.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:30am - 4:30pm
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
The credit and debt hotline provides free telephone legal advice and financial counselling to NSW consumers on credit, debt and banking matters.
Email
info@financialrights.org.au
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 9:30am - 4:30pm
Family and Community Services (FACS) provide services across three key program areas – prevention and early intervention, child protection and out-of-home care. Service centres are located at numerous locations throughout Australia. There are 4 centres in the Nepean Blue Mountains Region:
Blue Mountains Service Centre
435-437 Great Western Highway, Faulconbridge NSW 2776 - (02) 4752 2600
Hawkesbury Service Centre
Level 1, 300 George Street, Windsor NSW - (02) 4574 6666
Lithgow Service Centre
109 Main Street Lithgow NSW 2790 - (02) 6354 0800
Penrith Service Centre
2-6 Station Street, Penrith NSW 2750 - (02) 4722 7300
Target Audience
People living with unstable and complex family structures, families experiencing economic hardship, homelessness, parental substance abuse and/or mental illness.
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
NDIS Customer Service Centres provide information to consumers as it is rolled out across Australia. The Nepean Blue Mountains region has three NDIS Customer Service Centres:
Katoomba Customer Service Centre
33-35 Waratah Street, Katoomba NSW 2780
Penrith Customer Service Centre
331 High St, Penrith NSW 2750
Windsor Customer Service Centre
309 George St, Windsor NSW 2756
Eligibility
To access the NDIS in Nepean Blue Mountains people must be aged under 18 years of age and have an impairment or condition that is likely to be permanent and stops them from doing everyday things for themselves; or need support now that will reduce their need for support in the future; or be aged under six years old with developmental delay; live in the Local Government areas of the Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow and Penrith; be an Australian citizen, a permanent resident or hold a Protected Special Category Visa.
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 8:30am-4:30pm
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Penrith
Postal Address
GPO Box 700, Canberra ACT 2601
NILS offers people on low incomes the opportunity to access safe and affordable credit for essential household items without any fees, charges or interest payments. As loans are repaid, the money is lent out to other members of the community to utilise the service. There are 7 organisations that conduct NILS projects in the Nepean Blue Mountains. They can be found at:
- Windsor District Baptist Church Emergency Relief Inc - 139 George St, South Windsor 2756 - (02) 4574 2846
- Muru Mittigar - 99-151 Old Castlereagh Rd, Castlereagh 2749 - (02) 4729 2377
- Winmalee Neighbourhood Centre - 62 White Cross Rd, Winmalee 2777 - (02) 4554 4050
- Lower Mountains Neighbourhood Centre - 33 Hope St, Blaxland 2774 - (02) 4739 1164
- Mid Mountains Neighbourhood Centre - 9 New St, Lawson 2783 - (02) 4754 2592
- Blackheath Area Neighbourhood Centre - Gardiner Cres, Blackheath NSW 2785 - (02) 4787 7770
- Josephite Foundation - Room 5 Roy St, Lithgow 2790 - (02) 6352 3159
Target Audience
People on low incomes
Eligibility
To be eligible for NILS you must have a Health Care Card or earn less than $45,000 a year (after tax).
Cost
Receive a loan information pack. Once the information in the pack is completed please phone the office to make an appointment for an interview with the NILS Loans Officer (strictly by appointment only).
Local Areas
Blue Mountains, Hawkesbury, Lithgow, Penrith
Salvation Army Moneycare provides a free and confidential financial counselling services for people facing financial difficulties or those wanting to avoid financial difficulties. There are two streams of support provided by financial counsellors and financial capability workers. Financial capability workers focus on helping people prepare and maintain budgets. All workers are trained to do presentations and workshops related to financial counselling.
Address
306 High Street, Penrith NSW 2750
Target Audience
All population
Eligibility
No criteria
Cost
Free
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm
Local Areas
Penrith, Blue Mountains
Referral
Self-referral and through other local community agencies.
Victims Services provides support, including free counselling and financial assistance to victims of crime. They help victims navigate their way through the justice system from the time they become a victim until after the end of the court process.
Address
Level 1, Justice Precinct Offices, 160 Marsden Street, Parramatta NSW 2150
Target Audience
Victims of crime, sexual assault, child abuse or families and friends of missing persons
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri, 8:00am– 6:00pm
Wesley Financial Counselling Services provide free, independent and confidential face-to-face counselling to help people in financial distress to manage money more effectively. They provide assistance in the following ways:
- Compiling budgets and money plans
- Advocacy and negotiation on behalf of creditors
- Information and advice regarding insolvency
- Counselling on bankruptcy issues
Address
30 Copeland St, Kingswoood NSW 2747
Target Audience
All Population
Eligibility
None
Email
financialcounselling@wesleymission.org.au
Cost
Free
Hours of Operation
Mon-Fri 9:00am - 5:00pm
Local Areas
Penrith, Hawkesbury
Referral
Call the number below to book a free appointment.