Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles.
One app.

Start reading

Get all your news in one place.

100’s of premium titles. One news app.

Start reading

Daily Record

Lifestyle

Linda Howard

People on low incomes or certain benefits could be due cost of living cash from local council

Scottish Government Advice Direct Scotland

Almost one in four families across Scotland, England, Wales and Northern Ireland will qualify for financial support from the UK Government's £37 billion support package to help them through the cost of living crisis this winter. However, if you are not eligible for a means-tested benefit, disability, or pensioner payment, you may still be able to access cash support from your local council

The Scottish Government received £79 million from the UK Government's Household Support Fund, which has been distributed across all 32 local authority areas to provide financial help for Scots during the cost of living crisis. The Scottish Welfare Fund comprises Community Care Grants, which help people to live independently, and Crisis Grants, which provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency.

If you are on a low income or certain benefits including Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit and struggling financially due to an unexpected change in your circumstances, you may be eligible for support from your local council.

New figures released by the Scottish Government show that during April to June 2022, local authorities received 21,050 applications for Community Care Grants, making 12,460 awards totalling £8.6 million - an acceptance rate of 54 per cent.

Local authorities also received 72,945 Crisis Grant applications in April to June 2022, making 47,665 awards, worth a total of £5.9 million - an acceptance rate of 64 per cent.

Community Care Grants

You may be able to get a Community Care Grant if:

you're leaving care or imprisonment and need help to start a settled home
you've been homeless, or living an unsettled life, and need help to start a settled home
you need support to stay out of care
you're caring for someone who's been released from prison or a young offender's institution
you're experiencing great pressure and need help to keep a settled home
you're escaping domestic abuse
a child's health is at risk

Your income

To get a Community Care Grant you need to be on a low income, but this does not mean you need to be on benefits.

What counts as a low income

There is no figure that confirms whether you have a low income. As a guide, if you're on one of the benefits below, or your income is about the same as someone who is, it's more likely you can get a Community Care Grant:

Income Support
Pension Credit
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - Income based
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - Income based
Universal Credit

Your savings

If you have savings of over £700, or £1,200 if you get a pension, you may be less likely to get a Community Care Grant - your local council will decide.

Find out more about Community Care Grants online here.

Crisis Grants

A Crisis Grant is a one-off payment that can provide much-needed cash during an emergency, but it cannot be given to support your income long-term. If you need help because you are on a low income, the quickest way to find out what financial support you may be able to claim is to use a benefits calculator.

These are independent, free and confidential and only take a few minutes to complete online - you can find out more about ones from Turn2Us, Advice Direct Scotland, entitledto and Policy in Practice at the end of this article.

If your total household income is £30,000 or less, you may be entitled to extra help, so don't dismiss using one of the benefits calculators because you think your income is above the average.

What is a Crisis Grant?

A Crisis Grant can be given to cover the costs of an emergency

Examples of this could include when:

there is a fire or flood at home
you have lost money
an unexpected crisis happens
you are a victim of domestic abuse and you need help with things like moving away from an abuser
you are a grandparent or other relative who has taken over caring for a child, and you're waiting on a transfer of benefits
you are facing a gap in your normal income because of a redundancy or change at work

Who is eligible for a Crisis Grant?

To get a Crisis Grant you need to be on a low income, however, this does not mean you need to be currently claiming benefits.

What counts as a low income

Similar to the Community Care Grant, the Scottish Government explains that there is "no figure that will be used to judge whether you have a low income".

As a guide, if you're on one of the benefits below, or your income is about the same as someone who is, it's more likely you will be able to get a Crisis Grant:

Income Support
Pension Credit
Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Income Based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
Universal Credit

Households across Scotland could be eligible for financial support from their local council (SHARED CONTENT UNIT)

What financial help is available?

If you do get a Crisis Grant, your local council will look at helping you with your most urgent living costs.

Some things this may include are help with the costs of:

Food
Heating costs

Many local councils have welfare rights advisers who can:

tell you what benefits and other entitlements are available
carry out checks so you don't miss out on any benefits
help you complete forms
give advice and support if your application for a benefit is turned down or you do not get the amount you were expecting

How to apply

You can apply directly to your local council through the Mygov.scot website here.

Online benefits calculators

You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out:

What benefits you could get
How to claim
How your benefits will be affected if you start work

These calculators are free to use, anonymous, and could indicate benefits you're missing out on.

Where to find help

Advice Direct Scotland

This new online tool is the first to fully integrate devolved benefits, including the Scottish Child Payment.

It provides a free and impartial assessment of entitlement to a range of benefits such as Universal Credit, crisis grants and support payments.

Turn2us

Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours

Policy in Practice

Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, how these are calculated and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours

entitledto

Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work

What you will need

You will need accurate information about your:

Savings
Income, including your partner’s
Existing benefits and pensions (including anyone living with you)
Outgoings (such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments)
Council Tax bill

To keep up to date with the latest cost of living news, join our Money Saving Scotland Facebook page here, or subscribe to our newsletter which goes out four times each week - sign up here.