Crisis support

You can apply for a crisis grant or a community care grant via the Scottish Welfare Fund. The team can be contacted at SWF@northlan.gov.uk or by calling 0300 555 0405. This fund is available throughout the year.

You may be able to get help with the cost of living if you’re getting certain benefits or tax credits.

You do not need to apply. If you’re eligible, you’ll be paid automatically in the same way you usually get your benefit or tax credits. This includes if you’re found to be eligible at a later date.

These payments are not taxable and will not affect the benefits or tax credits you get.

You may be entitled to Cost of Living Payments if you get any of the following benefits or tax credits:

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Income Support
• Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Working Tax Credit

The payments will be made separately from your benefit payments.

For more information

You may be eligible for the Scottish child payment if you live in Scotland are in receipt of an income-based benefit and you or your partner are the main person looking after your child or children.

If eligible, you can claim the Scottish child payment of £25 per week for each child you look after who is under the age of 16.

This is a payment that you must apply for.

You may be entitled to a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 if you’re getting any of any of the following benefits:

• Attendance Allowance
• Constant Attendance Allowance
• Disability Living Allowance for adults
• Disability Living Allowance for children
• Personal Independence Payment
• Adult Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Child Disability Payment (in Scotland)
• Armed Forces Independence Payment
• War Pension Mobility Supplement

If eligible, you should have received the £150 Disability Cost of Living Payment automatically by 4 July 2023, although your payment may come later, for example, if you’re awarded a qualifying benefit at a later date or you change the account your benefit is paid into. You will still be paid the Cost of Living Payment automatically.

If you’re entitled to a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024, you will get an extra £150 or £300 paid with your normal payment from November 2023.

The amount of Winter Fuel Payment (including the Pensioner Cost of Living Payment) you will get for winter 2023 to 2024 depends on when you were born and your circumstances during the qualifying dates.

You can get a Winter Fuel Payment for winter 2023 to 2024 if you were born before 25 September 1957.

This guidance will be updated with the qualifying dates for the payment when they are published.

You will be sent a letter in October or November 2023 telling you how much Winter Fuel Payment you’ll get if you’re eligible.

Visit the Benefits and Money page for information about all benefits.

Alternatively, contact our team at TPTeam@northlan.gov.uk who will help you to ensure you are receiving all the money you are entitled to.