The impact of the cost of living crisis has seen a huge rise in the numbers of people looking for advice and help on securing benefits.
West Lothian’s Advice shops saw a 22% increase in last year. The council-run service dealt with 178,000 individual contacts handing out advice and help on securing benefits.
The figures were revealed as Advice Shop staff were joined by councillors to promote the service on the back of the revelation that across the UK £15 billion of benefits goes unclaimed in a year.
