A debt centre manager for Christians Against Poverty (CAP) in the west of the capital has explained the harrowing scenarios that many households are facing in Edinburgh.
Melanie Kilburn, 57, has said that her debt advice service that is based out of Trinity Church in Wester Hailes is inundated with clients as the cost of living crisis worsens in Scotland.
She says that there is now a three-month waiting list for those seeking advice and that mothers are waking up in the middle of the night due to “panic attacks” connected with their debts.
Melanie adds that a number of elderly people in the West of Edinburgh are falling through the cracks due to digital illiteracy and are not being helped by central authorities with clearing debt.
READ MORE: Worried Edinburgh schools open canteens to help feed pupils due to cost of living crisis
Alongside this, she says that single mums are often coming and expressing their concern about deciding between eating and heating.
On the problems that her clients at CAP are facing, she said: “There is a lot of shame for people that find themselves in debt and this is similar to those that use food banks - everyone has pride.
“But what I try to hammer home with my clients is that they should feel comfortable coming to us as we use a holistic approach that allows them to keep their dignity whilst accessing help.
“We live in this wonderful country that has traditionally had a social security system that people could rely on to an extent which is amazing.
“But now what I would say is there is no security in the social sector. At the moment those relying on benefits cannot afford to live off the amount they are given.
“And a number of those using our debt management services now are in work but are having their income topped up by benefits - in my opinion people are always better off in work but this shows that some people are not being paid enough by their employers to survive.
“I was heartbroken to hear from one of my clients who messaged me to say that she did not know what to do with her financial position.
“She is a single mum on benefits that is studying for a degree to better her situation and was worried about whether to heat her home or if she had to skip meals to feed her daughter.
“She continued to say that even if a genie came out and got rid of her debt today, she would still not have enough money to survive.
“I had tears in my eyes as all I could tell her is that it will get warmer over summer but what happens when energy goes up again in October?
“People do not want to watch the news at the moment. They are already at breaking point and all the news is saying is that food, energy and fuel is all going up with little help arriving.
“I had a mother message me on another occasion saying she is being awoken in the night by panic attacks as she has crippling anxiety over her financial situation.
“Being in debt and struggling is so difficult for these families as it often leads to mental ill health - whether that is anxiety or depression. All of my clients suffer from mental ill health.
“It becomes a cyclical trap. The worse their financial situation, the worse their mental health becomes and this often leads to time off work, an inability to get a pay rise or to strategise a way out of their financial situation.”
Melanie says that there is no typical user for their services at CAP and that "it could be anyone".
Many of those relying on CAP debt management are households on benefits but she says that clients can be found in some of the most affluent areas in the capital.
She says that people can find themselves in debt for a number of reasons, whether it be losing a job, becoming ill physically or mentally and even through relationship breakdowns.
Melanie adds that “heating and eating” are major concerns for her clients but that she has also seen a real issue with elderly users of CAP who struggle with navigating the new digital age.
Many users have told CAP that they often do not know where to turn or are “fearful” of using the internet.
On this issue, Melanie continued: “Since the cost of living crisis worsened we have definitely seen a major increase in the need for our services.
“My heart aches for those on our waiting lists that can now be as long as three months. I sit and worry about how long they will have to wait before they can be helped.
“I have noticed recently, which is a big gripe of mine, is people, especially the elderly paying too much in council tax.
“I had one older woman who had five years of bills piled up from Edinburgh City Council.
“She should have only been required to pay the water element of the tax but was unable to navigate the online forms and links to apply for the reduced cost.
“This meant she accrued debt for five years before coming to us.
“I spoke with the council and all they could do was backdate three months which was confusing as the woman was not owe them the money over the five years.
“This is a lot more common than people think. I feel it is completely unjust.
“I do hope that people will come to us if they need support. We try to take as holistic an approach as possible, often accompanying our clients to court or visiting their home if they feel nervous about coming to us with all their paperwork.
“There is a real concern it will get worse as prices continue to soar and what I want to hammer home is that you should not wait if you have debt fears.
“Just contact us as it is always better to tackle the problem as early as possible.”
It is understood that the current Scottish Government regulations only allow the council to backdate payments by three months, but that the local authority aims to consider debts sympathetically and would be keen to better understand the case better.
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The Scottish Government sympathises with anybody struggling to pay council tax and those having difficulty should contact their local councils immediately.
“The means-tested Council Tax Reduction Scheme can reduce liability to zero, depending on need and circumstances. The Scheme is set out in law which defines how long an application can be backdated for - six months for those of working age and three for those of pensionable age.
“Each local authority is responsible for the administration of council tax, including how they implement the law on billing and collection.”
People can call into CAP's Edinburgh debt centres to book an appointment by dialling: people can book in by calling our free phone number on 0800 328 0006.
