Households across the capital are feeling the pinch of the current cost of living crisis with many wondering what help exists out there and how they can access it.
To help constituents of Edinburgh City Council, the local authority has created a dedicated webpage that breaks down what support is available and how people are able to apply for it. The sections are broken down into seven components which are: Help if you are worried about money; Help with housing and homelessness; Support with Bills and energy; Scottish welfare fund; Council tax reduction; Free school meals and clothing grants and Support for food.
Help if you are worried about money
The first element, Help if you are worried about money, covers scenarios where households may find they have suffered from a sudden loss of income. Families can find themselves in this position if they experience a lost job/reduced hours, an unexpected expense arises, a disaster occurs such as a floor or fire and even a relationship breakdown.
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The council states that there are a number of options available for anyone who may find themselves in this position:
- The Scottish Welfare Fund allows people on low incomes to get a crisis grant from the Council. This is a payment to help you cope during an emergency or disaster, or due to unexpected expenses - crisis grants do not have to be paid back and information on them can be accessed here.
- Many people are not claiming all the benefits they are entitled to and those needing support are encouraged to check their eligibility here.
- Those that have been sanctioned at the Jobcentre may be able to access a hardship payment. The rules surrounding this and how to apply can be accessed here.
- You can also challenge a benefit decision if your benefit has been stopped/ sanctioned/ reduced/ refused or you have been overpaid but this must be done within a month - for more information click here.
For additional support advice on any of the subjects above, please click on the link here.
Help with housing and homelessness
This section of the page assists those looking to apply for a council house, declare themselves homeless or how to access support if you are a current council house tenant.
Information on this can be found here.
Support with Bills and energy
This area of the site looks to support the elderly, very young and those living with a chronic health condition to access support for their bills and energy. It states that some energy companies can make special arrangements if households are struggling.
The page also provides information on how to apply to become a priority tenant, how to be economical with gas and electricity as well as how to improve insulation and tackle draughts.
All of the above help can be accessed here.
Scottish welfare fund
This section states that anyone over the age of 16 and is on a low income or receiving benefits (Universal Credit, Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, or Pension Credit) can apply to the fund. You must also apply to the council where you live or where you intend to live if you are leaving hospital, prison or residential care.
This fund awards the community care grant and crisis grant. Neither grant has to be paid back and each case is considered on its own merit. However priority is given to people who: have an immediate need; are vulnerable due to old age, ill health or another reason; face significant adverse consequences if the grant is not given.
More information can be sought here.
Council tax reduction
This part of the site explains how someone can claim a Council Tax reduction. Those eligible for a reduction are found to: have savings of less than £16,000; are responsible for paying the Council Tax bill or have a low income from benefits or work, including self employment.
You may still get a Council Tax reduction if your savings are more than £16,000 and you or your partner get the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit. You can also apply for a reduction at the same time as you claim for Housing Benefit.
There is further help on the page here.
Free school meals and clothing grants
Capital families that have kids in school and are struggling to make ends meet can access a variety of services from free school meals, to payment for lunches during school holidays, to free milk, to a school clothing grant, to help buying school clothes and even a Scottish child bridging payment.
A number of families will find that they automatically qualify for these grants but those who do not are able to check their eligibility. Each award is viable for the school year that your child will be in.
More information on this can be found here.
Support for food
Those looking for support to feed themselves or their family are able to find information on local foodbanks and support on this page. As well as foodbanks, pantries have also began to spring up across Edinburgh.
The Edinburgh Food Project and their seven foodbanks is mentioned alongside Edinburgh North East Foodbank and those run by the Salvation army across the capital. Pantries are also said to be located at Broomhouse, Pilton, Muirhouse, Drylaw, Salvesen, Telford, Niddrie and Pennywell.
Cyrenians also have seven pantries located in different communities in Edinburgh as does the Hays community and Greenhouse.
On how to contact and access these services please click here.
The overall site for additional support can be found here and has an extensive library of information on how to explore various support mechanisms.
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