Citizens Advice Bureaux to provide support in six more areas
The Scottish Government has awarded £400,000 to Citizens Advice Scotland to improve access to help for people struggling with Council Tax debt.
Building on successful pilot schemes funded in 2023-4, the additional funding will enable targeted advice on Council Tax debt to be provided in six new areas: West Lothian, East Lothian, Dumfries and Galloway, Highlands, Argyll and Bute and East Renfrewshire.
The pilot bureaux gave targeted advice on Council Tax debt as well as wider holistic support and also worked with councils to support best practice in Council Tax debt collection.
The additional funding was announced by Housing Minister Paul McLennan on a visit to West Lothian Citizen’s Advice Bureau, in Livingston, which will use the funding to provide more adviser hours and appointments and extend help to more people using outreach locations to target the most vulnerable.
Mr McLennan said: “We know how worrying public sector debt can be for people in low-income households. Advice services can provide vital support to those with money worries and debt.
“Good working relationships with local authorities can be key and the Scottish Government is working to support best practice across the whole of local government.
“The Scottish Government has both legislated and acted to ensure that people who are financially vulnerable are protected and that debt collection is handled sensitively and appropriately.
“Ministers continue to encourage public bodies to promote empathy and dignity for people struggling with debt.”
Karen Nailen, CEO of CAB West Lothian said: “Council tax debt is the single biggest debt issue that is brought to our CAB every year. It creates real pressure on people’s lives, and for many it can be a sign of wider financial distress.
“This pilot funding is vital to allow us the time and space to look at ways to tackle some of the underlying issues. Working in collaboration with West Lothian Council will enable preventative measures to be identified alongside better advice outcomes for individuals and families.”
MEANWHILE in Edinburgh the Citizen Advice Bureau is one of three advice organisations – the others are CHAI and Granton Information Centre – facing a combined cut of £1 MILLION as Edinburgh Integration Joint Board struggles to balance it’s books.
The EIJB meets on Tuesday to consinder new recommendations.
Preventing homelessness and strengthening tenants’ rights
New legislation which aims to keep people in their homes and help prevent homelessness has been published.
The Housing (Scotland) Bill will introduce an ‘ask and act’ duty on social landlords and bodies, such as health boards and the police, to ask about a person’s housing situation and act to avoid them becoming homeless wherever possible.
It also reforms provision for people threatened with homelessness up to six months ahead and includes provisions for tenants experiencing domestic abuse.
The Bill will outline proposals for a New Deal for Tenants, a key part of the Bute House Agreement between the Scottish Government and the Scottish Green Party.
Proposals include long term rent controls for private tenancies, new rights to keep pets, decorate rented homes and stronger protection against eviction.
Housing Minister Paul McLennan and Tenants’ Rights Minister Patrick Harvie will lead the Bill’s passage through Parliament.
Mr McLennan said: “Scotland already has the strongest rights in the UK for people who become homeless – but nobody should have to experience the trauma and disruption of losing their home.
“Early action, through the kinds of measures included in the Housing Bill, results in fewer people reaching the point of housing crisis. It also means people facing homelessness have more choice and control over where they live, helping them to maintain relationships in their community and stay in work.”
https://twitter.com/i/status/1772914704547033115
Mr Harvie said: “A fairer, well-regulated rented sector is good for both tenants and landlords. Tenants benefit from improved conditions and security, while good responsible landlords will thrive when their good practice is recognised by regulation.
“Scotland has led the way across the UK in improving the experience of people who rent their homes and this reform has been at the same time as significant growth in the size of the private rented sector. So progressive reform can lead to better conditions and a healthy rented sector overall.
“I want to keep working with both tenants and landlords to achieve that goal.”
THE housing bill published today by the Scottish Government fails to address the systemic issues driving the housing emergency, Shelter Scotland has said.
The charity warned that there was no realistic prospect of councils being able to fulfil new statutory obligations given that local authorities are regularly failing to meet their existing legal duties.
The bill’s publication comes in the wake of figures which show a significant decline in the delivery of social homes, which Shelter Scotland says is essential in tackling the systemic issues driving the housing emergency.
Shelter Scotland Director, Alison Watson, said:“There is a growing consensus that Scotland is in the grip of a Housing Emergency. Already four local authorities have declared housing emergencies, with more expected to follow in the coming weeks.
“Today’s housing bill was an opportunity to address the causes of that emergency and end the scandal of 10,000 children trapped in temporary accommodation.
“What we need is urgent action to drive up the supply of social homes, invest in local services and stop to councils breaking existing homelessness laws.
“Instead, we have a Housing Bill that does none of that and risks diverting frontline staff from the task in hand. By proposing new additional duties on councils already failing to deliver existing laws, we run the risk of making the situation worse.
“It is time for Scottish Ministers to listen to what our communities are telling them – declare a housing emergency and bring forward a new plan to deliver the social homes we need.”
Responding to the Housing (Scotland) Act being published, Citizens Advice Scotland Housing spokesperson Aoife Deery said: “The pandemic and cost of living crisis underlined the need for better protections for tenants and more affordable housing. In many ways the market is simply broken and urgently needs repaired.
“The CAB network in Scotland gives out hundreds of thousands of pieces of advice a year on housing, and it was one of the top areas of crossover advice – where people seeking help with housing also needed help with something else, often social security, debt or energy bills. In fact a third of all single working age households contacting CABs do so for advice on housing.
“We welcome this once in a generation opportunity to improve the rented sector and shape a fairer system. We look forward to getting into the detail of the Bill, change needs to happen with both landlords and tenants involved, we will be contributing our evidence as this work moves forward”
Cyrenians welcomes the introduction of the Housing (Scotland) Bill to the Scottish Parliament today. Long awaited, the new prevention or ‘Ask and Act’ duties included within it have the power to reach people before they become homeless and get them the right help, much faster.
‘Ask and act’ forms the cornerstone of a wider set of reforms to homelessness legislation. If passed, the Bill will require public bodies – including healthcare and justice agencies to implement systems whereby people at risk of homelessness are easily identified and directed to the appropriate services before they reach crisis point.
These duties will implement recommendations from the Homelessness Prevention Task and Finish Group (co-chaired by Crisis and Cyrenians), published in August 2023 [click here to read the Group’s report].
The group drew on its collective knowledge of the housing sector, as well as the lived experience of people who were homeless, through the All in for Change programme.
Throughout the process, building up to the publication of the Housing Bill, Cyrenians has consistently argued for increased funding to resource new prevention duties. We will continue to advocate for the necessary resource that our public bodies and local authorities will need to make the promise of the Housing Bill possible.
Ewan Aitken, Chief Executive of Cyrenians, said: ““Scotland is in the grip of a housing crisis. Several local authorities have now formally declared a housing emergency as the numbers of people facing homelessness is reaching record levels.
“But we know from our work across 60 services in Edinburgh, the Borders, Falkirk and the Lothians, that in many cases homelessness can be stopped long before people reach crisis point.
“To do that we need to widen the scope of responsibility, giving people within public bodies the right training and resource to be able fulfil this role. We believe that this, a public health approach to homelessness, is key to tackling the housing crisis.
‘We are very pleased to see the plans for prevention duties within the Housing Bill, published today. This legislation has the potential to prevent homelessness in Scotland. However, to do that, it needs to be properly resourced.
“As a charity which tackles the causes and consequences of homelessness, we regularly work with people whose situation could have been prevented, if they had received help earlier. We urge the Scottish Government to ensure that these duties are properly funded so that the bill can live up to its potential.”
Cats Protection has welcomed the new Housing (Scotland) Bill, which will for the first time give renters the right to own a pet.
The charity’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland, Alice Palombo, said: “This is a landmark day for renters in Scotland, who will finally be given the right to own a pet with an end to blanket ‘no-pet’ policies.
“We hope this new law will stop the misery faced by animal lovers who have been denied the chance to ever own a pet cat, simply because they rent rather than own their own home.
“People in rented housing pay significant amounts of their income every year on fees and rent, and it is only right they should be able to feel at home in that property. Pet ownership – whether it’s a cat or another companion animal – provides companionship to all sorts of people. Whether it’s older people at risk of loneliness or young families with children learning how to care for others, pets play a vital role in our lives.
“We’re particularly pleased to see the Bill introduces an obligation for local authority and social landlords to publish a policy relating to domestic abuse. Cats Protection operates a free fostering service for cat owners fleeing domestic abuse, but many victim-survivors can struggle to find cat-friendly housing. We hope that domestic abuse policies will include a commitment to ensuring victim-survivors can keep their pets when they settle into new housing.
“A survey by Cats Protection and Dogs Trust found a lack of sufficient pet-friendly rented housing in Scotland, with only 22% of Scottish landlords allowing pets. This puts a strain on rehoming charities, and landlord-related issues is one of the top reasons for cats coming into our care.”
The Housing (Scotland) Bill was informed by three public consultations and will now by scrutinised by the Scottish Parliament.
A new Citizens Advice Scotland campaign is encouraging people to seek advice if they are worried about their debts, as research shows over 660,000 people cite debt as impacting their mental health.
Analysis of polling from research company YouGov suggests around 665,148 people in Scotland have seen their mental health and wellbeing affected by debt.
The “Stressed about Debt?” campaign aims to encourage people who are worried about their bills or stressed about debt to seek advice from the Citizens Advice network.
People can go to www.cas.org.uk/stressed and pick an advice route that works for them, such as online self-help tools, online advice pages or one to one advice from their local CAB.
The CAB Service helps improve people’s financial situation and for some this includes debt write -off. Since last spring CABs have helped write off over £11 million worth of debt, with the average amount written off being over £12,600 per client.
https://youtu.be/Os-Qv09KO_0
CAS Financial Health spokesperson Sarah Jayne Dunn said:“There is a clear link between money and mental health and that will have been exacerbated by the cost-of-living crisis.
“Hundreds of thousands of people across the country, through no fault of their own have fallen behind on bills and find themselves in debt. Some people will be in debt for the first time, others will have seen their existing debt get worse.
“There’s no shame in having debt, and it’s completely understandable to be stressed and anxious about it. For many people, debt is something they ignore until it builds up and becomes overwhelming.
“That’s why we’ve launched the Stressed about Debt campaign, to encourage people who are worried to seek advice and not let those worries build up until they are suffocating.
“You don’t need to go to a CAB to get advice, instead you can check our online advice pages or use our interactive self-help tools.
“Our network gets real results for people – last year people who saw a gain having sought advice were more than £3,700 better off. Our advice is impartial, confidential, and crucially free – we don’t charge for our advice, and we never will.”
Scottish Government Housing Minister Paul McLennan MSP said:“I welcome this important and timely campaign from Citizens Advice Scotland.
“Advice services play a critical role in helping people to navigate the current cost crisis and to access the support and information they need. The cost-of-living crisis is putting a huge strain on households which is why the Scottish Government is doing all it can to deliver support.
“This year we will invest over £12.5 million in a range of advice services providing free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice. This includes more than £4.45 million to Citizens Advice Scotland and the network of Bureaux for the Money Talk Team, which offers free confidential and holistic advice. Access to free, confidential and impartial advice through the CAB network, either online or in person, can make a massive difference for people.”
Alex Cumming, Executive Director of Operations at SAMH (Scottish Action for Mental Health), said:“Poor mental health can be a factor in building up debt, and debt can result in mental health problems, including stress and anxiety. Debt and mental health problems often form a vicious circle, and it’s important to seek help for both.
“At SAMH, we hear time and again from the people we support, including those who contact our information service, that they are experiencing issues with money at the same time as needing help with their mental health.
“We welcome Citizens Advice Scotland’s campaign and encourage anyone who is stressed about debt to take that first step towards getting the support they need.”
As well as Citizen Advice Bureaux across the city, free and independent local debt advice is also available from a number of organisations including CHAI, Granton Information Centre and the city council’s Advice Shop.
Pilot scheme will see councils and advice services work more closely together
Extra help for people struggling with council tax debt will be on offer in three local authority areas under a pilot scheme.
The Scottish Government is providing Citizens Advice Scotland with £200,000 funding to better understand the reasons why some people end up in council tax arrears and to work collaboratively with local councils to help reduce and prevent council tax debt in future.
Citizen’s Advice Bureaux in Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire and the Scottish Borders will test different ways of working including:
Providing targeted support to individuals facing council tax debt
Simplifying the referral processes between councils and advice services
Organising mutual training sessions for council and Citizens Advice staff
Housing Minister Paul McLennan visited Roxburgh and Berwickshire Citizen’s Advice Bureau to launch the project.
Housing minister @PaulMcLennan7 visited @RandBCAB to launch the Council Tax Debt Advice Pilot Scheme.
This will fund Citizens Advice Bureaux in Renfrewshire, Clackmannanshire and the Scottish Borders to work with local councils to help people facing problem council tax debt. pic.twitter.com/2tQF8Jdlcl
Mr McLennan said: “We know many people are struggling in the cost of living crisis and that is why we are targeting resources at those most in need.
“Council tax debt is a significant issue, and one that particularly affects the most vulnerable. The three Bureaux involved in these pilots have established relationships with their local authorities. This funding will help build on those connections to help individuals tackle problem debt and also provide valuable learning on how public sector debt can best be managed.
“Advice services are critical to Scotland’s communities, supporting people to understand their rights and entitlements, maximising incomes and helping to reduce poverty. This year we will invest more than £12.5 million in a range of advice services providing free income maximisation, welfare and debt advice.”
Myles Fitt, Financial Health Strategic Lead at Citizens Advice Scotland said: “Council tax debt is the single biggest debt issue that clients bring to the CAB Service each year. The cost-of-living crisis is only worsening this problem, so we welcome the opportunity this funding provides to make a difference to peoples’ lives and financial well-being.
“Through working in partnership with councils, the three bureaux involved in this pilot will bring their deep insight into the factors and barriers that lie behind council tax debt to develop joint solutions that will help those in arrears now and in the future.”
Cash-first approach will help those facing hardship
Social Justice Secretary Shona Robison has announced an additional £2.4 million in funding to help people struggling to afford food and other essentials.
The funds will go to four organisations to distribute mainly on a ‘cash-first’ basis to people in immediate need in the face of the cost of living crisis.
A focus on crisis payments and shopping cards will allow people to choose for themselves what they need.
Ms Robison announced the funding on a visit to Prospect Community Housing in Wester Hailes, Edinburgh, where she heard how staff are helping residents through debt and income advice services.
She said: “I know people are struggling with the cost of food and other essentials right now, and this additional funding will get more support to some of those who need it most this winter.
“We are working with partners to prioritise urgent cash-first action when it comes to food insecurity and this will take some of the pressure off food banks.
“This funding has the potential to directly reach 7,500 people, and many more will benefit than this, as the Corra Foundation and Fareshare will between them distribute it further to an estimated 900 organisations.
“We want people to make sure they are getting all the support they are entitled to, so I encourage anyone who is struggling financially to get advice on what support they may qualify for – through their local authority, a local advice service, or Social Security Scotland as well as checking out our cost of living website.”
Carolyn Sawers, Chief Executive at the Corra Foundation said: “This £1 million contribution to the Household Hardship Fund from the Scottish Government provides a dignified cash first approach for those most impacted by the cost of living.
“Organisations which have received money through the fund have told us it is making a significant difference helping families with the essentials of food, fuel, and household items.
“Corra is committed to working alongside others in tackling the long-term issues of poverty. The Household Hardship fund is an important step in responding to the crisis that people across Scotland face today.”
Sally Thomas, Chief Executive of the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations (SFHA), said: “Housing associations and co-operatives are doing everything they can to help tenants keep their heads above water, heat their homes and put food on their table this winter. However our members are increasingly reporting that tenants are facing impossible decisions on and between household bills and food as costs soar.
“It’s simply not right that anyone in Scotland should be going hungry this winter. As we continue to face this unprecedented crisis, this money will be critical to helping ensure social landlords can provide a response to food insecurity that is tailored to the needs of their tenants and communities, maintaining dignity and choice.”
Allocations from the £2.4 million:
£1,000,000 to the Scottish Federation of Housing Associations for cash-first responses to food insecurity via their members
£1,050,000 to Corra Foundation for their Household Hardship Fund, providing grants to organisations working to alleviate poverty with an emphasis on cash-first responses food insecurity
£100,000 to Citizens Advice Scotland to expand their shopping card pilot, offering an alternative to a food bank referral
£250,000 to FareShare for regional purchasing where needed to supplement the supply from surplus and donations
In 2022-23 the Scottish Government has allocated around £3 billion in a range of measures which will help mitigate the impacts of the cost of living crisis on households, of which £1 billion is for support only available in Scotland and not elsewhere in the UK.
The Scottish Government’s Cost Of Living website provides information and support for people who need urgent help with money, food or fuel, Visit gov.scot/costoflivingsupport
A new report from Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) details the breadth and depth of the cost of living crisis, with soaring energy bills driving “frightening” demand for advice around food insecurity.
The charity is publishing a quarterly cost of living analysis looking at advice demand. It found that in more than 1 in 10 utilities cases, the client also required advice around food insecurity such as a food bank referral.
Comparing the first quarter of this year to the previous financial year, the analysis also shows soaring views of online advice in energy areas such as:
Across the CAB network itself, last year 26% of all utilities advice related to cost of living or income crisis measures. In the first quarter of this year that had grown to 35%.
Last year 36% of finance and charitable support advice was food bank referrals or shopping vouchers. In quarter one of this year this had grown to 45%.
The report also analyses demand across demographics, and finds that council rented tenants and those out of work, or unable to work, are seeking advice related to the cost of living at higher levels than other groups.
The charity is warning that this increased demand is before the impact of a “toxic cocktail” this winter of the energy price cap going up, higher inflation, and increased interest rates.
Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said:“The Citizens Advice network gives a wraparound service when people come to us for advice because people have complex problems and need help with multiple issues. Our data tracks the patterns and connections between the advice we are giving out and the problems society faces. What we are seeing is frankly frightening.
“More than one in every ten people seeking help with an energy issue also requires help with food insecurity. Let’s be absolutely clear what that means – some people face the prospect of freezing or starving this winter.
“This crisis is affecting everyone, but some people are especially at risk – our data shows higher demand for advice from council tenants, those out of work and those unable to work. That to me suggests broad support alone will not be enough – there needs to be targeted help for the vulnerable.
“We are seeing these issues before a toxic cocktail this winter of soaring energy bills, growing inflation and higher interest rates. People are hanging on by their finger tips and it’s the summer – how are they expected to cope when the temperature drops and bills rise?
“CABs are here for people during this crisis. We helped 171,000 people last year and a further 2.5 million checked our online advice. We are for everyone regardless of background or circumstance and it’s so important people understand we are here for them with free, confidential and impartial advice. We don’t judge, we just help.
“That help though, needs to be back up by policymakers delivering the kind or urgent and significant policy interventions to help people. Make no mistake, this is a challenge on a scale of the 2008 financial crisis or the 2020 pandemic, and will require solutions to match that.”
The introduction of Adult Disability Payment and extension of Scottish Child Payment to children under 16 will see a major increase in the number of people eligible to receive Sottish benefits in 2022.
The Scottish Child Payment will increase to £20 from April, giving increased support to 111,000 children under the age of six. Its extension to children under 16 by the end of 2022, subject to the DWP making data available, will see the number of eligible children more than double to 400,000.
Adult Disability Payment, the twelfth benefit and most complex to be introduced so far, will replace the UK Government’s Personal Independence Payment. It will be phased in from March, with nationwide rollout at the end of August.
To support this, Social Security Scotland is in the process of recruiting up to 2,000 people by autumn 2022 with the first new recruits set to start early in the New Year – the biggest expansion since its formation in 2018, creating jobs and a boost to local economies.
Minister for Social Security Ben Macpherson said: “2022 will be our biggest year yet in building a new social security system for Scotland with the powers we have.The major milestones of introducing Adult Disability Payment and extending Scottish Child Payment will be transformative for many people with a disability or health condition and for families on low incomes.
“By the end of 2022 we aim to have extended the Scottish Child Payment to all those under the age of 16 – subject to the DWP making data available – increasing eligibility to around 400,000 children.
“From April the doubling of our Scottish Child Payment will significantly help us to reduce child poverty and build a fairer society.
“The £20 payment per child per week will be four times what was originally asked for by anti-poverty campaigners and we hope to lift 40,000 Scottish children out of poverty in 2023/24.
“Applying for Adult Disability Payment from Social Security Scotland will be different to applying to the DWP, as we will deliver a much improved experience.
“There will be no private sector involvement, we have removed DWP-style assessments and any consultations that are necessary will be person centred and won’t include functional examinations.
“We’ll start from a position of trust. Also, we are offering a range of ways to make an application, including online, by post, over the phone or face-to-face; and, in contrast to the current DWP system, we’re removing the burden from individuals to provide supporting information – instead the onus will be on Social Security Scotland to collect the information we require.
“We’ll also fast-track clients who are facing a terminal illness and we will follow the judgement of clinicians instead of being tied to fixed periods of life expectancy.
“As well as the positive impact of paying benefits, Social Security Scotland is also growing as an employer. This rapid development is not only making a difference in our communities but is also creating long-term secure employment across the country, and a £280 million contribution to our wider economy – something we can all welcome.
“Scotland’s social security system is built on the values of dignity, fairness and respect, and these are the principles which will always guide us as we develop this important public service.”
Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said: “Citizens Advice Scotland supported the introduction and then doubling of the Scottish Child Payment because we know the difference it can make to families across the country.
“We’d encourage everyone eligible for the payment to apply and claim, that’s how our welfare state works – we all pay in and get the support we are entitled to when we need it.
“With the cost of living starting to really bite people can get help and advice from the Citizens Advice network to see what support they are entitled to. We’ve been helping people for over 80 years and unlocked £147 million for people last year.”
A new campaign which will help people in the Lothians struggling financially get support and access the benefits that they are entitled to has been launched.
The campaign comes as a survey reveals that just over 1 in 5 (21%) Scots living in the Lothians, wouldn’t feel comfortable receiving any type of financial benefits or grants, even if they were eligible, and seeks to address the stigma that people may have around claiming benefits.
The YouGov survey, commissioned by the Scottish Government, also found that people in the Lothians were concerned about being judged by others for receiving benefits, with 17% saying that they were concerned about being judged for receiving Universal Credit, and 10% for receiving Child Tax Credits.
These results indicate that there may be people in the Lothians who are eligible for financial support, whether that be benefits or grants, but aren’t taking the help that’s available because of how others may perceive them for doing so.
The survey comes as the Scottish Government launches a dedicated website – www.moneysupport.scot – to help those experiencing financial difficulties find the support they need.
The Money Support Scotland website contains information and contact details for a range of organisations able to provide information on benefits people could be eligible for, where to go for free and impartial debt advice and how to apply for affordable credit.
The Money Support Scotland campaign is working in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland and Advice Direct Scotland, which both help people understand what benefits they might be entitled to and how to apply for them.
The Citizens Advice network in Scotland offers free, impartial and confidential advice, with trained advisers able to help explain how people can maximise their income through benefits and grants, cut costs and help manage debt.
Its Money Map tool helps people check which benefits and grants they might be entitled to, as well as eligibility for council tax reductions and support with housing and energy costs. Advice Direct Scotland also provide financial advice and offer a free benefit calculator on their website.
Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive Derek Mitchell said:“People shouldn’t feel uncomfortable about accessing the support they are entitled to. That’s how the welfare state works – we all pay in and get support when we need it. That’s what the money is there for, and after the past few years people should be confident about getting the payments they are due.
“The reality is people are facing a perfect storm this winter of rising bills and falling incomes, so maximising your income and getting all the money you are entitled to is really important to help with bills and spending.
“Citizens Advice Scotland is proud to partner with the Scottish Government on this important campaign to ensure people get the help they need this winter. The Citizens Advice network can give people help in a variety of ways and during the pandemic we unlocked around £147 million for people through things like social security payments, employment entitlements and debt reductions.”
There’s a wide range of support available to Scots of all ages from one-off payments to help with the cost of school uniforms to ongoing support with living costs.
To find out where to seek advice on accessing the range of financial support available, visit www.moneysupport.scot.
Citizens Advice Scotland has launched our Big Energy Saving Winter campaign, which encourages people to get advice amid soaring energy prices (writes CAS Chief Executive DEREK MITCHELL).
It comes after months of turmoil in the energy market, with Bulb being the biggest supplier so far to go out of business. The spike in global gas prices saw suppliers sell energy at unsustainable losses and that has led to a shrinking of the market, meaning not only less consumer choice but also bigger bills.
In October the energy price cap, put in place to protect consumers, rose by a record amount, just as people faced a perfect storm of rising inflation and falling incomes due to things like the reduction of Universal Credit by £20 per week.
As we reveal, this all adds up to more than 1 in 3 of us finding bills unaffordable.
In polling for CAS by YouGov, people blamed rising energy prices and the cost of living, but also hard to heat homes and low incomes. Given there’s likely to be another rise in the Spring which on average will add around another £500 to bills, this situation will only get worse.
When we speak about energy bills in the winter, and Scotland’s unacceptable levels of fuel poverty, you’ll often see the cliché around “heating or eating”. But what feels like a cliché in the pages of a newspaper is the reality for too many people. 1 in 4 households were in fuel poverty before the pandemic, and as the snow begins to fall in parts of Scotland they face an incredibly rough winter.
In previous years this campaign would have encouraged people to “switch and save”. But due to the crisis in the market, the official advice is not to switch as many people will end up on a higher tariff.
Our campaign is about offering people solutions. Because that’s the good news: there is real help available. We want to ensure that people know they don’t have to feel powerless in the face of soaring bills.
There are various ways we can help them save energy, that’ll have the benefit of saving the planet as well – something to consider with COP 26 fresh in our minds.
CABs can also unlock money for people through things like social security, employment entitlements and debt reductions. In fact during the pandemic our network unlocked around £147m for people in Scotland.
So our campaign is all about making people aware of this help so they can access it.
You’ll possibly see your local CAB out in your community in the next few weeks, pushing the same message. Hopefully we’ll manage to provide some relief to at least some of the people who are suffering the cold.
So please help spread the message of our campaign. Tell your friends and family about it, re-tweet us (@citadvicescot), and if you’re in a position to amplify it in any other way, please do.
In the longer term, we need policies ensure consumers are protected and bills don’t eat up as much of people’s household income.
Until then the CAB network is here to help, as we have for over 80 years.
The Money Map tool offers free, instant support and tips for those in Edinburgh feeling the financial impact of the pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about unprecedented changes to everyday life and for many, it has impacted both personal and household finances.
Whether you’ve suffered a job loss, are self-employed, on furlough or are facing reduced hours or income, it’s a particularly challenging and uncertain time.
To help people face these challenges, Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS), supported by the Scottish Government, has created the Money Map tool.
The free, anonymous and easy to use online tool is a one-stop shop of financial support options. It brings together the many ways that people can maximise their money from benefits and grants to budgeting and tips on reducing bills such as council tax. It provides any related eligibility information and signposts people to websites where they can get more information or apply.
One of the main functions of the tool is to help minimise the stress of trying to find support through search engine browsing by bringing all the information and support together in one place. It includes a customised list function so users can save the support options that are of most use to them so that they can make sure they’re maximising their money as much as possible.
The Money Map tool contains helpful guidance for everyone, no matter their financial situation.
Myles Fitt, Head of Financial Health at Citizens Advice Scotland, runs through just some of the ways the Money Map tool can help you maximise your money at this time:
· Make sure you’re not overpaying on bills – A simple way to reduce your monthly outgoings can be by performing a simple price comparison on your bills, such as energy payments. The Money Map tool signposts users to websites that will help you discover what you can save by switching providers.
· Set a budget – This can be on a monthly, weekly or even fortnightly basis to suit your needs. A budget can help you get a true picture of your money and plan for the future. Money Map can point you to helpful resources for setting a budget, which can help you work out what you need and where possible savings could be made.
· Check you’re using the correct tax code – Make sure you check your current tax code to ensure you’re not paying too much in relation to your current financial situation. For example, if you are on a lower income, you are entitled to a different tax code and required to pay less tax. Money Map highlights how you can check your tax code and any entitlement to tax reliefs.
· Gain access to all the grants you’re entitled to – Grants enable families, students and individuals to boost their income or reduce the cost of everyday payments such as fuel payments or transport costs. Money Map points you in the right direction to access these.
· Check to see what Council Tax you should pay – By checking if you’re exempt from council tax or eligible to pay less, you can save money on paying this bill. The Money Map tool will point you in the direction of where you can check your eligibility. Last year, support from the CAB service saved clients an average of £380 in council tax payments.
· Ensure you receive benefits you’re entitled to – The Money Map tool will guide people to the appropriate online benefit checkers to make sure users are getting all the support they’re entitled to which can help meet specific needs like housing, childcare, disability and illness payments.
· Make the most of the Money Map tool – It’s there to help you. By using the bespoke list function, users can save the support options that are of most use to them so they can ensure they maximise their money as much as possible.
Communities Secretary Aileen Campbell said: “COVID-19 has impacted many people’s incomes and we know financial uncertainty is a source of worry for many people.
“This Money Map Tool provides information and support, helping people identify which benefits and grant support they may be entitled to. The Scottish Government is investing £330,000 to support the promotion of this online support service which signposts people to specific sites that can help them strengthen their financial position.
“The free, easy to use and anonymous website brings all information into one place, and can help people boost their income from sources such as grants or saving tips. I would encourage anyone concerned about money matters to use this service.”
Derek Mitchell, Chief Executive at Citizens Advice Scotland, said:“The Citizens Advice network in Scotland has been helping people for over 80 years and we want to ensure people get the help they need in a way that suits them.
“That’s why we developed the Money Map tool. We know how frustrating it can be searching endlessly online for support that is suited for you, our tool rounds up all the most helpful online sources and signposts people to where they can access and activate relevant help.
“The tool is open for absolutely anyone who is looking to boost their income or cut their cost of living. Whether that’s through access to grants and benefits or through lower bills, our Money Map can point people in the right direction.”
No matter what your circumstance is in 2021, if you are looking to improve your financial situation, think Money Map. Visit moneymap.scot
Free, independent advice is also available locally at Granton Information Centre, who have continued to operate throughout the coronavirus pandemic.
Contact Granton Information Centre by telephone on 0131 551 2459 or 552 0458, or emailinfo@gic.org.uk
