There are a variety of welfare benefits available to
help people on low incomes to meet their housing costs. The type
and amount of help will depend on individual circumstances and on
whether you decide to rent or buy.
How can I get advice on these
benefits? If you would like advice about help with housing
costs or with any other welfare benefits or tax credits issues
credits then there are a number of advice services across Scotland,
as follows:
Citizens Advice Bureaus have many
local offices. Details can be found on their website:
www.cas.org.uk/bureaux For online self-help advice from advice from
Citizens Advice go to: www.adviceguide.org.uk/scotland.htm
Law centres - you can find your
nearest law centre by contacting the Scottish Association of
Law
Centres online at: scotlawcentres.blogspot.com
Or contact: SALC Secretary, Renfrewshire Law Centre,
65-71 George Street, Paisley PA1 2JY. Tel: 0141 561 7266 / Fax:
0141 561 7164
Other independent advice centres -
your local authority may have details of these, or they can be
found in local or national telephone directories
Local authority welfare rights
services - ask at your local council office, or go to your
local authority's website
Housing associations providing welfare
rights - many housing associations in Scotland provide
welfare rights or other money related advice services. These
services may be restricted to tenants of the association, or in
some cases may extend to people who pay the association for other
services such as factoring. You can contact your local housing
association or go to www.welfarerightsforum.org/directory
Local organisations for particular
groups of claimants may offer help. For instance, there are
unemployed centres, pensioners' groups and centres for people with
disabilities
Advice UK has a list of sources of
information and advice about benefits at
www.adviceuk.org.uk/benefits-advice
You can get advice on all benefits and tax credits
though the government services and information website www.gov.uk
(click on Benefits). Details of how to claim online (where
possible) can also be found via this website.
Advice from the DWP - The phone book
should list contact details for your local DWP office, and if you
are disabled, you can obtain free telephone advice from the DWP on
benefits.
Tel: 0800 882 200
Minicom: 0800 243 355
This is for general advice and not specific queries on
individual claims.
Video transcript: