From this week, thousands of families across Scotland will start to get letters telling them they are entitled to new Scottish benefits.
The Scottish Government is writing to an estimated 22,000 households informing them that they may be eligible for Best Start Foods and the Best Start Grant.
Information obtained from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) will allow Social Security Scotland to identify people who are on certain benefits or Tax Credits and have children of the right age.
Social Security Scotland will then contact these families in writing before the end of August inviting them to apply for the additional financial support.
The letters are part of the Scottish Government’s benefit take-up strategy and the wider co-ordinated approach to helping families who are under even more financial pressure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
This important new proactive approach to maximising benefit uptake is a first for social security in Scotland.
Families already receiving qualifying UK benefits and Tax Credits will receive these letters.
Those who currently don’t receive such support, but think that they may be eligible, are encouraged to find out if they are entitled to access Scottish benefits.
To help people understand what financial assistance they could receive, Social Security Scotland is working in partnership with Citizens Advice Scotland.
They have also funded the Money Talk initiative since 2018 to provide families with advice on finances.
And since the start of lockdown, they have launched a further support line with Citizens Advice Scotland for anyone who needs information and advice on things like bills, benefits and more – you can call them on 0800 028 1456 or visit cas.org.uk here.
Social Security Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: “Social security is a human right and an investment in the people of Scotland. Encouraging individuals to claim the financial assistance they are entitled to is a duty of government and a social responsibility. We are committed to making sure that people get all of the money that they are entitled to - to help maximise incomes and tackle poverty.
“The economic impacts of the pandemic are pushing thousands of people further into hardship so it’s important families are informed about the support available to them.
“This unique direct marketing of benefits complements the Scottish Government’s wider efforts to help parents during this challenging time. We must do all that we can to eradicate child poverty and make Scotland the best place in the world to grow up.”
If you think you might be entitled to benefits, 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 are free to use, anonymous, and have replaced the Benefits Adviser service.
Benefits Calculators
Turn2us - for 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 - for 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 - for 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’ll need
You’ll 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
For more information about Universal Credit, visit the gov.uk website here.
