Cost of Living

With Christmas for many curtailed last year due to the Covid-19 pandemic, we all have high hopes for a bigger and better festive season this year.

Universal Credit (UC), Housing Benefit, and the Council Tax Reduction Scheme are just three types of benefits in Scotland but what happens if you're in debt?

What emergency help is available for people in Scotland while Universal Credit is stopped due to an investigation or dispute? Read more about debt solutions:

If you’ve lost your job, state benefits and tax credits can provide vital financial support to see you through this tough time and help you avoid taking on too much debt while you look for more work.

Universal Credit is replacing a number of state benefits including Working Tax Credits. It incorporates a childcare element for people in work, regardless of the number of hours they’re working.

We all want to save on our household bills and have more money in our pocket for the fun things in life. While bills are an unavoidable fact of life, here are some ways you can help to reduce them:

An Attachment of Earnings, or Earnings Arrestment as it is known in Scotland, is part of the ‘diligence’ process available to creditors who have been unable to collect their monies despite obtaining a court order.

The Scottish system of paying for water rates means that you receive notice of the amounts due within your council tax bill, if you don’t have a water meter fitted.

Scotland offers a wide range of grants to support people in financial difficulty. The grants offer valuable help to a variety of groups, including parents and families, those on low incomes, and people with disabilities.

Long after the presents have been unwrapped, the Christmas decorations have been packed away, and the last of the turkey has been eaten, the after-effects of overspending at Christmas can last well into the new year.

One of the most common worries of people in debt is whether they could have their home taken away from them or their possessions sold in order to pay back the money they owe. Unfortunately this is a possibility; however, it is often the final step after a long process of debt recovery by the creditor. If you are currently struggling with debt it is advisable to take action now to prevent this type of more serious action from happening further down the line.

The latest figures on the use of food banks in Scotland show a disproportionately high need by Scottish residents in terms of population numbers, when compared with any other area of the UK.