MSPs from Holyrood’s Social Security Committee have called on people across Scotland to claim benefits they are entitled to through a phone line service offered by Citizens Advice Scotland. Continue reading MSPs mark Challenge Poverty Week
A new benefit to support young people starting a new job after a period of unemployment will be introduced next Spring. The Job Start Payment is a new payment to help young people with the cost of starting a new job. Continue reading Young workers to benefit from Job Start Payment
From tomorrow, the new Funeral Expense Assistance payment will become available to people who claim certain benefits in Scotland. It is a move by the Scottish Government towards eradicating funeral poverty which has pushed 1 in 7 families into debts of up to £1990. Continue reading Community Renewal praises Scottish Government’s measures to tackle funeral poverty
Thousands of families are being pushed into poverty – with UK Government welfare changes set to reduce spending on social security in Scotland by £500 million a year, Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said.
The 2019 Annual Report on Welfare Reform shows the largest welfare cuts since 2015 are as a result of the benefit freeze, two-child cap, and changes to the work allowance. Continue reading Impact of UK welfare cuts revealed
An inquiry has been launched by Holyrood’s Social Security Committee as estimates suggest a huge number of benefits remain unclaimed by those eligible for them. The inquiry aims to explore the extent of the issue and what can be done to tackle it.
Statistics from HMRC and DWP estimated that in 2016/17 only 31% of families without children eligible for Working Tax Credit claimed, while only 60% of those eligible for Pension Credit claimed.
However, the full extent of benefit non-take-up in the UK is unknown because of difficulties in estimating eligibility.
The Committee is now looking for information on issues related to benefit uptake including why estimates of take-up are available for some benefits but not for others, and the impact of awareness raising campaigns in improving benefit uptake.
The Committee is also investigating how technology could help automate some benefits to improve take-up and how take-up rates for the new Scottish social security benefits will be impacted by their link to the take-up rates for UK benefits.
Bob Doris MSP, Convener of the Social Security Committee, (above) , said: “There can be any number of reasons for low benefit uptake rates, but it is absolutely essential that we learn the scale of this challenge and take every possible action to improve uptake.
“There is no doubt the stigma of claiming benefits hinders uptake while too often people are simply not aware of the benefits they are entitled to. Administration processes are also often too complex, and our inquiry is determined to identify any barriers to benefit uptake and how we can remove these.
“The Committee will consider the Scottish Government strategy on benefit uptake which will be published in October, but what is clear is that everything possible must be done to ensure those in need receive the full benefits they are entitled to.”
Other issues the Committee is keen to explore include if different approaches are required for different benefits, and the impact of various eligibility criteria upon take-up rates.
The call for views is open until Monday 21 October.
You can let the Committee know your views here:
Have the Tories got a heart after all? An extra month to claim back childcare costs could mean parents avoid missing out on up to £1,100 per month … Continue reading Change of heart? Parents and guardians given extra time to claim back childcare costs with Universal Credit
The new Best Start Grant package is putting more money in the pockets of low income families than the DWP system it replaced.
Since it started making Best Start Grant payments last December, Social Security Scotland has made more than 42,000 payments to families in Scotland, totalling £12.9 million. Continue reading Best Start Grant: greater support for low income families
Free advice service helps low income households save more than £6 million.
Low-income families who seek free financial advice from the Money Talk Team are on average now £1,850 better off.
The service offers one-stop, personalised advice on dealing with debt and ways to reduce household bills.
With around 450,000 cases of unclaimed benefits in Scotland, it also helps low-income families identify what financial support might be available. The service is supported by Scottish Government funding of £3.3 million over two years.
In the last nine months, the Money Talk Team has helped a total of 3,198 people be better off by more than £6 million – meaning households benefit by more than £1,850 on average. A total of nearly 8,000 people have accessed the service.
Launching a national advertising campaign to raise awareness of the Money Talk Team, Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “The Money Talk Team is making a huge difference to the thousands of families that have already taken advantage of this free service.
“The friendly, experienced advisers talk callers through the options available, letting them know exactly what they are entitled to and helping them save money.
“But there are still too many families out there not getting what they should be.
“If you’re a parent struggling to pay the bills at the end of the month, you’re not alone. It doesn’t matter if you’re in or out of work, one call to the free phoneline is all it takes to get some advice that could be a massive help to your household.”
Money Talk Team is the new name for Financial Health Check, which started in 2018 and is delivered by Citizens Advice Scotland. It can be accessed through their free helpline on 0800 085 7145 or by visiting a local Citizens Advice Bureau.
Disabled people will have more choice in how they apply for benefits when the Scottish Government takes responsibility for Disability Assistance next year. Continue reading Disability benefits applications to be made easier
