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.
If you need expert advice on the most appropriate support for you, our expert team at Scotland Debt Solutions can provide the information and guidance you need.
Help is available for those struggling financially during the Covid-19 pandemic. If you’re on a low income and have been told to self-isolate by Test and Protect or the Incident Management Team, you may be eligible for a Self Isolation Support Grant of £500 under the Scottish Welfare Fund.
If you’re eligible, you should apply through your local council within 28-days of the start of your self-isolation - if your application is accepted you should receive the grant within three days.
If you rent your home but can’t afford to keep up with the payments, whether as a private sector or local council tenant, you may be able to claim housing benefit. Your individual circumstances will be assessed, and if you’re eligible you could receive help with all or part of your rent from the local council.
If you’re a private tenant this benefit may be called Local Housing Allowance. It can help with your rent costs, and the amount you receive depends on your area and how many rooms you need. Again, you apply through your local authority for this allowance.
You may qualify for a Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) if you rent your home and receive Universal Credit or Housing Benefit. It can be used in instances where you can’t afford to pay your rent or a rent deposit, or you need assistance with removals costs.
You’ll need to apply to your local council for a Discretionary Housing Payment, and you can find out if you’re eligible by going to the local authority’s website. If they grant a payment, the local council also decides on how it’s paid – whether to your bank account, for example, or directly to your landlord.
The HEEPS scheme aims to provide energy-efficient and warmer homes, and reduce ‘fuel poverty.’ Government funding for solid wall insulation, new boilers, draught proofing, and other forms of insulation, could help to improve your home and keep your household warm.
Aimed at private sector tenants or owner-occupiers in Scotland, this government-funded initiative helps to make heating costs more affordable by increasing the energy-efficiency of homes through installation of new boilers, insulation, and renewable heating systems.
You may be eligible for a Winter Fuel Payment of between £100 and £300 if you were born on or before 5th October 1954. If you already receive your State Pension, or claim a state benefit other than Universal Credit, Child Benefit, Housing Benefit, or Council Tax Reduction, you’ll automatically receive a Winter Fuel Payment.
If your child or children receives free school meals, you may be eligible for a COVID Spring Hardship Payment of £100 for each child. The council should make the payment to your bank account automatically if your child already receives free school meals.
This is a weekly payment of £10 for each child in your family under the age of six, and it’s paid on a four-week basis. You can apply for the Scottish Child Payment online, or in certain circumstances, by phone or post.
There are three separate Best Start Grant Payments –
This is a prepaid card intended to provide healthy food for children aged three and under, and you can apply for this online.
Young carers who are 16, 17, or 18 years of age may be eligible for an annual grant of £305.10 if they’ve been caring for up to three people for 16 hours a week on average for the last three months.
If you’re aged between 15 and 25 and have a disability, you may be able to apply to the Transition Fund for up to £750 to help you learn a new skill or start a new activity. This could include taking music or art classes, for example, or driving lessons.
The Scottish Welfare Fund is intended to help people and families on low incomes, and includes:
Scotland Debt Solutions can provide more information on the grants currently available in Scotland, and guide you towards the most appropriate for your needs. Please get in touch with our expert team – we can offer you a free, same-day consultation and work from offices around Scotland.
Our Scottish based team can help advise you on your debt problems.
Our personalised debt report will help you better understand your financial position and see where your money is going.
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We have five offices located across Scotland. Find your nearest one here.
Sequestration is the Scottish version of bankruptcy and may be suitable for you if you do not have the money to pay back your debts
A Trust Deed involves making a monthly contribution to your debts for up to four years. After this time any remaining debt will be wiped out.
A Debt Arrangement Scheme (DAS) lets you pay off your debt through a series of manageable instalments over a reasonable length of time.
Whether you are a sole trader or a limited company director, we can help you work through your current financial problems including money owed to HMRC