1 in 4 Working Scots ‘Struggling for Money’

As many as one in four of all employed people living in Scotland find themselves struggling for money and to cover their monthly outgoings.

That’s according to the charity organisation Citizens Advice Scotland, whose analysis of recent surveys has shed light on the extent to which Scots are finding it tough to cope with the financial pressures they face.

The charity says that the situation is worsening, with one in four Scots now finding it either ‘difficult’ or ‘very difficult’ to get by on their incomes, which represents a 4 per cent increase on the corresponding figure from 2017.

Meanwhile, 38 per cent of Scots described themselves as living ether ‘comfortably’ or ‘very comfortably’ in 2017 but that figure has fallen to 35 per cent as of 2019.

Cuts to social security benefits, stagnant wages and rises in the cost of living are all cited as key factors making it harder for working people to get by.

Citizens Advice Scotland (CAS) has made clear that it wants to see more people who are feeling the pinch financially to reach out for help from relevant experts, including its teams in different parts of the country.

“These figures highlight the strain that people are under in Scotland, and reflect what our advisers see every day,” said CAS chief executive Derek Mitchell.

“Many people who are in work are finding it hard to pay their bills and put food on the table,” he added.

A particular area of focus for CAS is finding ways to help people who are struggling financially to reduce their overheads and potentially boost their incomings.

The charity has been emphasising to many of its clients across Scotland that there are state benefits they can receive even if they’re working and allowances such as council tax reductions available to people on low incomes.

“We urge people who are finding it hard to get by to contact us today to make sure they are not missing out on money,” said Mr Mitchell from CAS.

If you are finding it tough to cope financially then the CAS may well be able to help you but if you’re struggling with problem debts then Scotland Debt Solutions are also available to provide confidential advice and support. You can call us any time to arrange a FREE consultation.