Elected Member Briefing - Welfare Rights Team support information

About this briefing note

Report by: Nicola Sutherland, Welfare Rights & Welfare Fund

Date: 26 August 2022

Subject: Welfare Rights Team help for residents

Responsible Officer: Nicola Sutherland

Publication

This Briefing Note has been published on the Council's website following circulation to Councillors. Its contents may be disclosed or shared outwith the Council. 

Details

Purpose

Following up from the Cost of Living briefing session for Councillors held on 25 August 2022, this briefing note provides information to elected members on what the Welfare Rights Team can offer to residents who may be struggling financially. 

Briefing information

Contact the Welfare Rights Team: advice and assistance

The easiest way to access assistance is to refer any of our residents to our online form this captures just enough information for us to make contact with our resident and provide free, impartial and confidential benefits advice and assistance tailored to their circumstances. Alternatively, they can call us on 01738 476900 (Option 1). 

What may also be of interest is our Macmillan Cancer Support funded enhanced welfare rights service which is dedicated to people affected by cancer, their carers and their household. Our Macmillan workers can access Macmillan Grants for people with cancer diagnoses which can help towards the cost of fuel, energy, travel etc. 

We also have a wealth of online benefits information (that is maintained and updated regularly) which you can access from our main webpage You'll see that we have pages dedicated to certain circumstances and the benefits that people may be entitled to in those circumstances e.g. families, people who are sick or disabled, terminal illness, older people, bereavement etc. In normal circumstances (non-pandemic and non-cost of living crisis) people tend to approach us when they experience a life event e.g. having a baby, starting a job, diagnosis of a health condition, a job ending, caring responsibilities, relationship breakdown etc, however as discussed yesterday, this trend is changing to people who are generally struggling to make ends meet. 

Immediate Financial Assistance

Crisis Grants

If a household is in immediate need and have no money for food or fuel then they should be advised to apply for a Crisis Grant or phone 01738 476900 (Option 2. If they qualify they may be paid an amount to tide them over until their next payment of income. These grants do not need to be paid back. These grants cannot be accessed by people with No Recourse to Public Funds. 

Financial Insecurity Fund

We also administer the Financial Insecurity Fund. We've designed the scheme so that it mirrors the Scottish Welfare Fund for people with No Recourse to Public Funds (essentially so that they are no worse off in times of crisis than anyone else and have somewhere to turn). In addition, ANY resident of PKC can apply and we can help with the following: 

• priority debts including fuel debt, (as well as potential, one-off, help towards the cost of buying oil), Council Tax debt, rent arrears etc, 
• broadband debt that prevents you from getting online or you require a data package, 
• difficulty meeting the essential costs of children under 2-years or a child of any age with a disability e.g. nappies, milk, wipes etc, 
• additional costs of living rurally, 
• school dinner, music tuition and/or kids club debt. 

Assistance is only provided once a comprehensive benefit check has been undertaken so there are two unique parts to the Fund: helps with debts and the benefit check. We wanted to ensure it wasn't simply a sticking plaster for households but a way in which people can also access advice with a view to longer-term sustainable solutions, ensuring that all statutory and other entitlements are also in place. 

Welfare Trust

We also administer the Welfare Trust which is a charitable fund for the residents of PKC. It is a very small pot of money but it is extremely useful for the wee added extras that some households can't afford like school trips, toys (we paid a few for trampolines etc during lockdown to help families with young kids to keep them entertained), we've paid for driving lessons and tests for care leavers and some equipment for people with disabilities that isn't available via statutory means. The feedback from clients re the Fund is often a heart-breaking read at the difference these small things have made.