Scots Urged to Claim Whatever Benefits They’re Entitled To

Citizens Advice Scotland is urging people across the country to make sure they claim whatever state benefits they might be entitled to without delay and without any sense of embarrassment at having to do so.

The charity is running a campaign called ‘For Your Benefit’, which is focussed on making clear to people that state support is there for good reason and can be helpful if you’re struggling to manage your money for any reason.

In support of its project, Citizens Advice Scotland has conducted research that found 77 per cent of Scots agreeing with the idea that people who claim benefits while being employment do in fact work hard but find that their wages don’t stretch far enough.

The research also found that 69 per cent of people agree that there ought to be more help and support given to anyone who hasn’t been able to claim benefits they are entitled to.

Citizens Advice Scotland has said it is keen to challenge perceptions around claiming state benefits and help ‘bust the myth’ that there is something wrong about receiving financial support from government sources.

“The polling suggests that people believe that stagnant wages and the cost of living crisis are a reason for workers claiming support through social security,” the charity says.

In addition to raising the issue of benefits and how to claim them, Citizens Advice Scotland is encouraging people across the country to book themselves in for a “financial health check” by way of a chat with one of its advisers.

“The Scottish Citizens Advice network helps hundreds of thousands of people every year and we see a lot of people avoiding or putting off sorting out their problems because they are ashamed or embarrassed,” commented Derek Mitchell, the charity’s chief executive.

“This polling busts a series of myths around social security, and shows that the vast majority of people believe that our welfare state is there to help workers who need a hand, especially as the cost of living is soaring while wages have remained broadly the same,” he added.

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