A range of support is available for people in and out of work. This can be for issues such as energy bills, benefits and debt as well as specific help for families and people with disabilities.
From 14 November 2022, you can apply for Scottish Child Payment for children aged up to 15 years old. This payment was previously available for under 6’s only.
The Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family with a payment of £25/week for each child. It does not affect any other benefits that you, or any person in your household, currently receive.
Scottish Child Payment is one of 5 family payments you can apply for from Social Security Scotland, such as Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods.
Contact Social Security Scotland to apply on Freephone 0800 182 2222. Or visit mygov.scot if you are a BSL user, wish to apply online or by post.
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment helps with expenses associated with pregnancy or with having a new child, for example a pram or additional heating. It provides £642.35 for a first child and £321.20 for second and subsequent children. The application window is from the end of the 24th week of pregnancy to 6 months after the birth. The payment also provides support for people who have had a stillbirth.
From 14th November there are new exceptions to the general rule that an individual is only entitled to the higher Pregnancy and Baby Payment of £642.35 when they are applying in respect of their first child. This will provide greater support for families in the following situations:
Applications will now be able to be taken by phone, online and paper application form from 13th December.
You can also find out what support is available to help with the cost of living, including income and disability benefits, bills and allowances, childcare, housing and travel from Cost of Living Support Scotland.
The Priority Services Register is a free service aimed at getting vulnerable customers the extra support they need. Apply for this service at the Priority Services Register.
This is a payment paid once a year to parents and carers of disabled children and young people under 19 who receive a qualifying benefit. If you’re not receiving this payment but think you may be eligible, contact Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222 Monday – Friday 8am to 6pm or online by webchat.
Money worries can affect everyone at some point in their lives when circumstances change, such as ill health, family job loss, disability, caring responsibilities, relationship breakdown or bereavement. Visit the NHSGGC All About Money page for more information.
Asking and responding to patients’ money worries is part of Inequalities Sensitive Practice, which is about taking into account each patient’s social circumstances and how they are affecting their health. It also relates to person centred care. Money advice support is for patients, parents/carers or staff of all ages, regardless of their working status. Visit the NHSGGC Money Worries page for more information.
NHSGGC has a partnership with Home Energy Scotland. This means patients and staff struggling to pay for fuel and requiring improvements to equipment receive the support they need. Freephone 0808 808 2282 between 8am and 8pm, Monday to Friday, and Saturdays 9am to 5pm.
This service offers free, independent, confidential and impartial advice on a wide range of money matters. Visit the Families Money and Debt Advice Support Service for more information.
Contact has cost of living advice. Find out whether you’re eligible for financial support for your household living costs.
Family Fund has information about grants and support.
National Deaf Children's Society has Money and benefits information on how to get help with the cost of living and the organisations offering advice and support.
Fighting UK Poverty - Turn2us has information about benefits and grants relevant to your situation.
Children 1st has Money Advice on coping with the rising cost of living.
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. Call them on 0808 800 9060 from Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or apply via the Home Heating Advice website. 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.
NHS Inform has a range of advice for patients on money and debt.
Financial inclusion information prepared by Michelle Guthrie on behalf of NHSGGC Mental Health Improvement Team Feb 2022
The cost of living crisis presents an ongoing challenge for everyone, and you may be finding it difficult to make ends meet. As part of its response to this situation, the Scottish Government launched a new website costofliving.campaign.gov.scot, bringing information on support, grants, benefits and advice into one place to help you find what support you may be entitled to.
The website is laid out under the following headings:
Energy and bills
Household expenses, rents and travel costs are increasing. If you find that paying bills is becoming too difficult, you might be eligible for several benefits or schemes that could help.
Benefits and income
Many people are worried about money just now. There are benefits, grants and free
services available that may help you increase your income, if balancing household costs is becoming too difficult.
Children and families
Parenting is hard at the best of times, but when money worries hit it can be overwhelming. From free school meals to help with day-to-day costs, you could be eligible for support.
Debt and money
If you are worried about money or how to deal with debt, you are not alone. Anyone can find themselves overwhelmed by financial worries, but there is support and advice available to help you.
Health and wellbeing
The rising cost of living is on everyone’s mind and can have an impact on our mental health and wellbeing. If you feel overwhelmed, support and tips are available to help you cope.
Older or disabled people
Rising costs can have a bigger impact on some people including older people, disabled people and those who care for them. Make sure you are getting all the assistance you are entitled to.
Currently the UK Government is making some ‘cost of living payments’ that will be issued automatically to those who qualify, so you do not need to make a claim. They have also announced similar support again for next year.
Payment to low-income households
Payment to pensioner households
Payment to people in receipt of a disability benefit
Payments to all households with a domestic fuel supply
There are Government approved providers that offer free, impartial and confidential money advice and support.
Benefits
Debt advice
Community lenders
Local support services
Support if you are having difficulty coping with things
Other places that provide information about the cost of living
Information correct as of publication in December 2022.
You may have heard about the ‘Cost of Living Crisis’ or ‘inflation’ recently, where in the UK energy prices are going up, daily essentials are becoming more expensive, and some people are struggling to make ends meet. Visit Young Scot Cost Crisis for more information.
You might be worried about the cost crisis and not sure what to do or would like some information or advice on what support you can get.
It’s really important to get support and share how you’re feeling with other people. That might be talking to a family member, friend, youth worker, teacher or other trusted adult. There are also specialist organisations that you can speak to over the phone, by email, web chat or on WhatsApp who can provide advice and information about your situation.
Visit Young Scot Cost Crisis Helplines to find out more about the different organisations, what support they offer and their opening times.
The Young Scot National Entitlement Card (Young Scot NEC) is free of charge to 11 to 25-year-olds (inclusive) living in Scotland. Use it for money off the things you love. Visit Young Scot National Entitlement Card for more information.
