New statistics have revealed how the Citizens Advice network unlocked almost £147 million for people during the coronavirus pandemic.
Despite the huge challenges presented by lockdown restrictions and face-to-face advice restricted for large periods over the last year, Citizens Advice unlocked £146.9 million for people through social security payments, employment entitlements and finding cheaper bills.
In a challenging year for every household, the Citizens Advice network in Scotland helped over 171,000 people after quickly adapting to remote working, with 900 laptops delivered across the country allowing advisers to work remotely from home to ensure customers still got the advice they needed.
The network also took steps to increase access to advice, launching Scotland’s Citizens Advice Helpline weeks after the first lockdown as an emergency response to the pandemic, with Citizen Advice Bureaux from across Scotland coming together to provide the service.
Citizens Advice Scotland also developed and launched www.moneymap.scot, an online resource which allows people to round up their options to save on bills and increase their income.
The Advice for Scotland webpage had more than 5.4 million views during the pandemic.
The network is now focused on helping people through the post-pandemic recovery, as various support schemes such as furlough, the £20 Universal Credit weekly uplift and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme grant (SEISS) come to an end.
Energy price increases are also coming for an estimated 15 million households on October 1.
Commenting on the results, Citizens Advice Scotland Chief Executive, Derek Mitchell, said: “In a year like no other, when we had to stay apart in our homes the Citizens Advice network came together to ensure people got vital help.
“To unlock £147 million for people in the last year is a simply staggering result. This is money going into the pockets of people in communities across the country.”
He added: “It’s important to remember that so much of the work CABs do requires face-to-face advice, whether that is because of the complex nature of the issue, the vulnerability of the client, or the simple reassurance people get from a friendly face.
“With the worst of the pandemic hopefully behind us, we’re focused on the economic fallout and what that will mean for people. Through this uncertainty, the CAB network will be there to help people , as we have for 80 years.”
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