Money Matters Advice Service

Our Benefit Advisers and Welfare Rights Officers can help you with:

• full benefit entitlement check
• general benefit advice
• completion of benefit and Tax Credit applications
• appealing benefit decisions along with advice and representation with appeals
• ‘Into work’ calculations if you are changing your working hours or returning to work
• liaising with Scottish Government, Tax Credits and DWP on your behalf
• referring to other services where needed

Information on current benefit and pension rates can be found on the Government website.

You can check your entitlement to means tested benefits on the entitledto website.

Our Money is not the only problem online resource provides finance and wellbeing support information.

Benefits available

Bereavement

• Bereavement Support Payment
• Funeral Support Payment
• Guardians Allowance
• National Bereavement Support
• Statutory Parental Bereavement Pay and Leave
• Tell us once
• Universal credit
• Veterans
• Widowed Parent’s Allowance
• What to do after a death (in Scotland)

Caring responsibilities

Benefits are available for those with caring responsibilities. This can be a sole benefit or a top-up to an existing benefit.

Important: claiming these benefits may affect the person you are caring for. Always seek advice before claiming.

• Carer’s Allowance
• Carer’s supplement
• Council Tax discounts or exemptions
• Universal Credit
• Young carer grant
• Young carer’s package

Care leavers

16 and 17 year-olds who have left local authority care don't get Universal Credit or other income related benefits, as the council is responsible for providing financial and housing support. There are exceptions: 

• Council Tax discount if 18-26 and cared for by local authority on 16th birthday
• Financial support for care experienced students
• Leaving foster or local authority care

Ill health or disability

There is a range of benefits available for customers who are disabled or have health problems. Some of these benefits can passport you to additional benefits and elements.

• Adult Disability Payment
• Blue Badge
• Care of gardens scheme
• Child Disability Payment
• Concessionary travel card or Disabled persons rail card
• Disabled Persons Parking Bay
• Council tax discounts and exemptions for disabled resident(s) or those requiring overnight care  
• Motability (for certain benefits)
• Statutory Sick Pay
• TV licence discount/exemption
• Universal Credit
• Vehicle tax exemption/discount (for certain benefits)

Low income or not in work

There is a range of benefits available for those looking for work, temporarily unable to work or those on a low income. These may be paid as

• income replacements
• income top-ups or as crisis payments, depending on your situation

Some benefits have additional elements that can be added on or can passport you onto other benefits.

You may also be able to apply for help with your Council Tax, mortgage or rent (for existing claimants or in certain circumstances).

• Budgeting loans (for certain benefits) or a budgeting advance (Universal Credit only)
• Cold Weather Payment
• NHS Help with health costs
• Universal Credit
• Winter Fuel Payment
• Working Tax Credit (existing claimants)

Pension age

If you are on a low income or are suffering from ill-health, please review the other sections on this page for full information.

• Care of gardens scheme
• Concessionary travel card
• Pension Credit
• State Retirement Pension

Pregnant and/or have children

We can also provide advice on the benefits available for children with health issues.

• Best Start Grant
• Child Disability Payment
• Child Tax Credit (already in receipt of Tax Credits) or Working Tax Credit (already in receipt of Tax Credits)
• Child Winter Heating Assistance
• Education benefits for those with children in Nursery or School
• Help with health costs
• Scotland's Baby Boxes
• Universal Credit

Not born in the UK

Immigration advice and benefit entitlement can be confusing. The following websites can help:   

• Biometric residence permits (BRPs)
• Ethnic Minority Law Centre
• EU Settlement Scheme
• EU settlement scheme (late applications)
• Right of Abode
• Visa and Immigration Scotland

Students

• Council Tax student discount or exemption
• Education Maintenance Grants
• Help with health costs in Scotland
• Universal Credit

For student income or student loan enquiries, contact your college or university.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit supports those on a low income (in or out of work) and replaces the benefits listed below (along with Tax Credits) with a single monthly payment. If you make a claim for Universal Credit and you are in receipt of any of the benefits below, these will stop.

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credits or Child Tax Credits

Universal Credit can be complex. For help with calculating entitlement, making a claim, managing your account or challenging a decision, please contact us, the Universal Credit Service Centre on 0800 328 5644, or go to www.gov.uk/universal-credit/how-to-claim.

What you need to make your claim:

• your own email address and mobile number (if claiming as a couple, this is needed for each applicant)
• your landlord’s name and address and the amount of rent you pay
• your Bank, Building Society or Credit Union account details (for your payment to be made)
• details of anyone who lives with you
• childcare provider’s details and the amount you pay (if relevant)
• details of savings or investments
• details of wage or other income you receive
• proof of ID

What happens when you apply:

• payment is made 5 weeks after you submit your claim
• for late applicants, you can ask for your claim to be backdated up to one month. This must be requested the week before your payment is due
• you will receive a telephone or face-to-face appointment with your local Jobcentre to verify your ID, income and Housing Costs
• you will receive a telephone or face-to-face appointment with your work coach to agree your claimant commitment, which you must accept for the benefit to be awarded
• you can access an advance payment when you claim, which is up to one month of your expected award. This is a loan and payable via deductions over 48 months
• payments are monthly, but you can request these to be twice monthly
• you can ask Universal Credit to pay your rent directly to your landlord

What you must do to maintain payments:

• report any changes in circumstances
• check your journal
• attend all appointments arranged (to avoid being sanctioned)
• complete any requested actions within the timescale given
• report any errors in your payment

South Lanarkshire residents must make a separate claim for Council Tax Reduction. If you have a spare room or have been affected by the Benefit Cap, you can also apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment.

Universal Credit can be complex. If you need help with calculating entitlement, making a claim, managing your account or challenging a decision, please contact us or the Universal Credit Service Centre on 0800 328 5644.