Benefits and welfare advice

Your local Welfare Rights team can give advice and help make sure your income is fully maximised.

Visit their website for more information and to access a free online benefits calculator and a budgeting tool

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Who Cares? Scotland Helpline

The Who Cares? Scotland Helpline is open to all Care Experienced people across Scotland, of any age – whether currently in care or having left care.

 The line (0330 107 7540) is open Monday to Friday from 12-4pm, and they can also be contacted by email on help@whocaresscotland.org.

 They can provide a range of support to care experienced people, including:

• Support and signposting around finances, benefits, housing, health, employment, education, and rights

• Lifelong advocacy

• A listening ear

• Referral route into local advocacy if the caller is a young person

Benefits advice, online calculator and Welfare Rights advice during COVID-19

Please visit the Welfare Rights service new webpage for all the latest benefit changes which have been introduced in response to the coronavirus situation.

The page also has a link to the online Benefits Calculator (above) which is free to use, available 24/7 and no personal information is stored.  You can find out about new entitlements or check if your current entitlements are correct.  The calculator can also let you know how benefit entitlements change if your income and savings change.

If you need to contact our Welfare Rights team for benefit or debt related advice then please use our website.

 

 

Support and financial advice during the Coronavirus Pandemic

Anyone who is experiencing financial difficulties, concerns or questions about their circumstances should seek out the right information and support as soon as they can.

We realise that some people who pay Council Tax and Rent may have their incomes affected as a result of the measures taken in response to COVID-19. That could result in them having difficulty in paying their Council Tax or Rent.

If you think you may have difficulty paying your Council Tax or Rent then please contact the Council as soon as possible on 03452 777 778 and we will discuss it with you.

We know that our phone lines will continue to be extremely busy so, if it is an option, please use our online services, including our Contact the Council webpage, which provides information on ways to get in touch and to access council services.

We also recognise that some people in Angus may now require to Access Welfare Entitlements, where they might not have needed to previously. You will find helpful information about Benefits and Money Advice on our website.

For more details on financial advice and assistance see the Angus Council News website.

See the Angus Council News general website for daily updates.

ACCESSLine hours will change from Monday

From Monday 3 February, ACCESSLine hours will change.

The new opening hours will be:

• from 8.45 am to 5.00 pm on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday
• from 10.00 am to 5.00 pm on a Wednesday.

For more details see Angus Council Facebook

Rent Increase Letters Now Out!

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If you are an Angus Council tenant, including garages and garage sites, you should have received your annual rent increase letter by now. All rent increases were agreed at Communities Committee in February 2019.

If you haven’t received your rent notification, please let us know by emailing HousingQPP@angus.gov.uk or call us on ACCESSLine 03452 777 778.

Understanding Universal Credit – New Website for Private Landlords

 

To help private landlords get a better understanding of Universal Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions has developed a landlord communication campaign, Understanding Universal Credit, with top tips for private landlords and details of how to apply for a managed payment.

 One important piece of information which landlords can find on the website is how to apply for a direct payment of housing costs which could protect tenancies of tenants who aren’t managing their rental payments.

Universal Credit support sessions in December

After the initial Universal Credit support sessions in November, more sessions are taking place in this month. If you or someone you know is affected by Universal Credit, please come along to one of the sessions below.

 

 

Talk Money Week 2018

 

Talk Money Week is the annual event to celebrate the work of thousands of organisations that improve money management across the UK.

The theme for 2018 is financial wellbeing, with a focus on what organisations can do to get more people accessing free debt advice, saving regularly, more young people receiving a meaningful financial education and fewer people using credit for everyday spending.

This year Talk Money Week will take place between 12 and 18 November.

Did you know that you can get free and impartial money advice?

       See the Money Advice Service pages

1. 1. • Advice and guides to help improve your finances
      • Tools and calculators to help track and plan ahead.
      • Support over the phone and online
      • Making the most of your Universal Credit payment

Assistance is available about financial advice in Angus

     Angus Citizens Advice Bureau – Arbroath

1. • • 11 Millgate, Arbroath, DD11 1NN
     • 01241 870661
     • For online advice visit Citizens Advice Guide

     Angus Citizens Advice Bureau – Montrose

1. • • 32 Castle Street, Montrose, DD10 8AG
     • 01674 673263
     • For online advice visit Citizens Advice Guide 

     Angus Council – Welfare Rights Service

1. • • Ravenswood, New Road, Forfar, Forfar, DD8 2WE
     • 03452 777 778
     • Contact advisors on ACCESSLine on 03452 777 778. Home visits can be organised if requested.

Problems with rent arrears

Contact the council on 03452 777 778

We want to help you to resolve arrange and can arrange:

• • • Visit to your home
    • A phone call  at a set time that would suit you
    • A reasonable arrangement for repayment with you.
    • Help with applications for housing benefit
    • Referrals for welfare rights advice.

View our Benefit and Money Advice page:

1. 1. • Apply for housing benefit
      • Information on Universal Credit
      • Crisis grants and community care grants
      • Help with benefits or debts
      • Free school meals

Changes to Council phone numbers

We are introducing changes to our contact phone numbers. More services will be moving to ACCESSLine this year as we establish the One Contact Centre, .

This the first phase of the One Contact Centre programme and more services will be moving to ACCESSLine throughout 2018.

The ACCESSLine telephone number is: 03452 777 778.

Residents are asked to no longer use the Revenues and Benefits telephone numbers: 01241 438400, 01241 438401, 01241 438402, 01241 438403, 01241 435064, but to call ACCESSLine instead.

Our display number will also be changing from 16 May. Our new number is 01307 491900 if we call you.

For more information see Angus Council news.