Benefits, Grants & Advice
You might be entitled to help, are you aware of the following;
• Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment – one off payment of up to £754.65 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns 6 months for families who are in receipt of specific type benefits.
• Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – one off payment of £314.45 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who are in receipt of specific type benefits.
• Best Start Grant School Age Payment – one off payment of £314.45 when a child starts Primary One, for families who are in receipt of specific type benefits.
• Best Start Foods – a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families who are in receipt of specific type benefits, to help buy healthy food.
• Carer’s Allowance Supplement – an automatic payment made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.
• Funeral Support Payment –money towards the costs of a funeral, at a difficult time like this, for people on who are in receipt of specific type benefits and are responsible for paying for a funeral.
• Job Start Payment – £314.45 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job.
• Young Carer Grant – an annual payment of more than £383.75 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more.
• Child Disability Payment – a payment providing extra money to help with the costs of caring for a child with a disability or ill-health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland that was previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
• Adult Disability Payment –a payment providing extra money to help people who have a long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment people in Scotland previously delivered by the Department for Work and Pensions.
To see if you are eligible and apply for any of these grants visit your local council website. Alternatively, you can contact A&BC on 01546 605 514 or WDC on 01389 738 555.
New Welfare Rights Service
Contact your Housing Officer for referral to Phil at Citizens Advice Bureau – 01389 761486 option 2.
WDCAB provides a free, confidential and impartial service for all residents of West Dunbartonshire and Dunbritton Tenants who reside in Argyll & Bute. We offer advice, assistance and representation on a range of issues from Debt and Benefits, Housing, Energy Suppliers, Consumer Rights, Employment and many other issues. We have trained Advisers and a comprehensive information system that we refer to, so you can be sure that the service we provide is reliable and up to date.
Even where we can’t help directly with an issue we can advise where to get the help and support that you need. We can be contacted directly on 0800 4840136 Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 4pm.
We are now working with Dunbritton Housing Association to take referrals from Housing Officers. This means that any tenant of the DHA, whether you live in West Dunbartonshire or Argyll and Bute, can be referred to us. If you are experiencing difficulties, we would encourage you to talk to your Housing Officer who can make a referral to us.
COMMUNITY LINKS SCOTLAND ENERGY ADVICE SERVICE UPDATE
Dunbritton are still working in partnership with Community Links Scotland to provide an energy advice service for all tenants. If you are struggling with the rising energy costs or would like a referral to one of our energy advisors, please contact your Housing Officer for referral on 01389 761486 option 2.
Help during the cost of living crisis
Your local council may be able to help if you need urgent help with things like food, heating and electricity.
The Scottish Government have set up a Cost of Living Support Scotland web page which can offer assistance with;
• Energy and Bills
• Benefits and Income
• Children and Families
• Debt and Money
• Health and Wellbeing
• Older or Disabled People
Access to this information is via this webpage; costofliving. campaign.gov.scot
Advice Direct Scotland
Advice Direct
Scotland provides funding and support. This includes the Home Heating Support Fund which offers households financial relief to help with significant financial hardship, no matter the fuel or payment method.
They also offer help for anyone who needs to resolve an issue with their energy supplier. Find out more by calling 0808 196 8660 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or via the Energy Advice Scotland website.
If you are thinking about claiming Universal Credit for the first time, help is available.
Government changes mean more people in paid work are now entitled to Universal Credit.
Whether you’re looking for answers to quick questions or step-by-step support to make your claim please get in touch.
Experienced staff can provide you with an estimated award and can let you know if it’s the correct benefit for you.
Any changes to report to Universal Credit?
Don’t delay...report any changes online today!
To ensure that your payment is correct you must notify Universal Credit right away if you have any changes. These will include changes to your rent. There are many more factors that can affect your payment - if you’re not sure please ask us.
You can report a change by either: Signing into your Universal Credit account and following the change of circumstances link on the home tab or by calling the Universal Credit helpline above.
HELP TO CLAIM...
Did you know Citizens Advice Scotland can help you claim Universal Credit?
Housing Benefit
Are you entitled to Housing Benefit?
Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re on a low income or claiming benefits. You can now only make a new claim for Housing Benefit if:
• you, and your partner if you’ve got one, have reached State Pension age – check your state pension age on GOV.UK
• you or your partner have been getting Pension Credit since before 15 May 2019
• you live in temporary accommodation
• your landlord’s a council, charity or housing association and they give you care or support – for example if you live in sheltered housing
Are you getting any Housing Benefit?
West Dunbartonshire Council (WDC) or Argyll & Bute (A&BC) can review your claim at any point and could cancel it if you do not respond to any letters. Don’t delay, respond today!
There are many changes that could affect your Housing Benefit, it’s important that these changes are reported promptly, or you run the risk of your claim being cancelled.
Discretionary Housing Payment
If you are entitled to Housing Benefit or Universal Credit housing element and you still cannot manage to pay your full rent, you may qualify for extra help.
Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) can be considered to help meet the shortfall between Housing Benefit or the housing cost element of Universal Credit. For example, if you have a spare bedroom you can apply for DHP to pay this or if your housing costs are reduced due to a non-dependant charge you can apply under financial hardship.
To apply for the Discretionary Housing Payment please visit your local council website.
Call A&BC on 01546 605 514 or WDC 01389 738 555 Disability Benefits0800 028 1456
Remember, any changes of circumstances for anyone who lives with you can impact on your Housing Benefit award – these should be reported to WDC or A&BC as soon as possible.
Do you have a health condition or disability where you have difficulties with daily living or getting around? This could be a condition that affects your physical or mental health. If you think this might apply to you, full support can be provided to assist you to make a claim by calling Citizens Advice Bureau 0800 028 1456.
Scottish Child Payments - 0800 182 2222
Scottish Child Payments helps towards the costs of supporting your family. It’s a weekly payment of £25 that you can get for every child you look after who’s under 16 years of age. You’ll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful.
It’s up to you what you chose to spend the money on. You could use Scottish Child Payment for things like:
• travel costs
• nappies and other essentials
• childcare
• family days out
Scottish Child Payment does not affect any other Scottish Government benefits that you, or any person in your household, currently get. For further information on the Scottish Child Payment and how to apply visit https://www.mygov.scot/scottishchild-payment or phone 0800 182 2222
West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare
West Dunbartonshire Community Food Share is a registered charity that aims to provide support to those affected by poverty and food insecurity. Their service is free and available to anyone living in West Dunbartonshire who has no food or money, you do not need a referral to access their services. They aim to provide an emergency food parcel by home delivery the next working day. Other services provided include:
• School uniform bank
• Holiday brunch bags
• Baby bank
Check them out on Facebook: https://www.facebook. com/people/West-Dunbartonshire-CommunityFoodshare/100068887425898/
Anyone living in West Dunbartonshire and in need of support can contact West Dunbartonshire Community Foodshare at 01389 764135 or Freephone 0800 345 7050 between the hours of 10am-4pm Monday to Friday.
Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank
Helensburgh and Lomond are an independent foodbank run entirely by volunteers. All the food they provide is donated by residents and local businesses to support others in the community. They aim to issue food to individuals and families experiencing food poverty in the Helensburgh and Lomond area. Anyone who finds themselves in crisis is welcome to drop in at any of their Foodbank sessions, there is no need to obtain referral from any other agency.
For further information please have a look at the Helensburgh and Lomond Foodbank Website: https:// helensburghlomondfoodbank.org/ or contact the team at helensburghfoodbank@ gmail.com
Food for
Thought…
Food for thought is a charity that aim to alleviate food poverty in our communities. Food for thought are West Dunburonshire’s only charity that provides emergency food aid 5 days per week. They run their foodbank support service Monday to Friday 10am-5pm form unit 15 in the Artisan Shopping Centre, Dumbarton, G82 1LL. You can pop in at any time where one of their staff will be happy to help!
Food for thought also run an outreach centre every Tuesday between 11am-12pm at CARTA centre, Alexandria
If you cannot make it to the outreach centre or the Office but are in need of support, you can contact the team on 01389 743908
Visit the Dunbritton Website www.dunbritton.org.uk/support/
For more information on everything you read in our ‘Money Matters’ magazine, visit the support section of our website – www.dunbritton.org. uk /support/. Here you will find links and contact details for everything you need. From Universal Credit to Foodbanks, you will find it all here.
Looking after your Mental Health
Need help now? Call free on 0800 83 85 87
Opening hours
Weekdays: Monday-Thursday 6pm to 2am
Weekend: Friday 6pm-Monday 6am
Whatever you’re going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. We’re here 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
Call 116 123 for free
Mental health services at NHS 24
Anyone can experience mental health issues, at any point in their life. You don’t have to deal with these problems alone.
NHS 24 mental health services are available to everyone in Scotland. The services we offer include listening, offering advice, and guiding you to further help if required.
Call 111
A QUESTION?