TranslateWelfare rights and debt advice
Our Money Smart services are available to all North Ayrshire Council housing tenants and non-council tenants (housing association tenants, those in private lets, or owner occupiers and non-householders) who:
- are engaged with and referred by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, NHS Ayrshire & Arran or North Ayrshire Council services, or third sector agencies such as foodbanks, Citrus or Women’s Aid
- have dependent children or are pregnant
- have a disability
- are carers
- are from a minority ethnic background
We offer services by phone, video call, in person and, in some circumstances, in your own home.
To access Money Smart services, please complete the Money Smart:
Contact form formYou can also use the contact details below.
Money Smart works in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998. We will discuss with you sharing your information with other agencies who we think could assist with your wider needs.
Our team of specialist advisers provide advice and support with welfare rights, including:
- completing benefits checks and identifying entitlements
- help to make a claim for benefits, including Universal Credit, other DWP and Social Security Scotland benefits
- help to dispute benefits decisions and sanctions
- providing appeal representation at tribunals, including upper tribunal
All residents accessing welfare rights advice will also be able to receive debt advice from Money Smart if required.
Council tenants can access money and debt advice, such as:
- advice and support with debts, including rent and council tax arrears
- negotiating affordable repayment plans and help with insolvency options such as bankruptcy
- budgeting advice
- help with Discretionary Housing Payments
- help to access crisis support and other grants
- help with banking
Advice can also be given on housing options, under-occupation charges and digital support.
Universal Credit is replacing six ‘legacy benefits’:
- Housing Benefit
- Income Based Employment Support Allowance
- Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Child Tax Credits
- Working Tax Credits
- Income Support
You can no longer make a new claim to these legacy benefits. You need to claim Universal Credit instead. There are some exceptions to this, so please seek advice if you are unsure.
If your employment is stopping, you should contact Money Smart for advice about when to make your Universal Credit (UC) claim.
If you are currently in receipt of any of these legacy benefits, then the government will be ‘migrating’ your benefits to Universal Credit (from late 2022 to 2026). Money Smart can provide advice and support with this change.
We can also help with delayed payments, incorrect assessment and deductions from payments.
If you disagree with a benefit decision, you must ask for a mandatory reconsideration (on form CMRM1) within one month of the date of the decision. In certain circumstances, late mandatory reconsiderations with be accepted. Money Smart can support you with this and also with Social Security Scotland appeals forms if required.
If the decision is not changed, you can appeal to an independent Social Security Appeal Tribunal within 1 month of the mandatory reconsideration decision. In certain circumstances, late appeals will be accepted. Money Smart can also support you with this.
When you appeal (on form SSCS1) you must enclose a copy of the Mandatory Reconsideration Notice. Some appeals can be submitted online, which means you do not have to send proof of your Mandatory Reconsideration. We can provide appeal representation at your appeal tribunal, providing your case complies with the legislation.
There are different rules for challenging Social Security Scotland Agency decisions. Please contact us for further information and assistance.
Many people have been affected by sanctions to their payment of Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance and Jobseeker’s Allowance. Money Smart can support you with challenging a sanction by asking for a mandatory reconsideration or appealing.
The Scottish Government has been given responsibility for 11 benefits, including Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payments and Carer’s Allowance. Payments are administered by the Scottish Social Security Agency (SSSA) in Dundee and Glasgow. Social Security Scotland – Benefits outlines the available benefits the SSSA are already delivering in Scotland.
If you need advice with any of the benefits being administered by the Scottish Social Security Agency, please contact Money Smart.
Use the Online Benefits Calculator to find out what help and benefit you're entitled to.
Support is also available from the following organisations:
- CHAP: Call 030 0002 0002 or email enquiries@chap.org.uk
- Citizens Advice Scotland: Call 0800 028 1456
- StepChange: Call 0800 138 1111
Advice for Housing Association tenants
- Cunninghame Housing Association: Call 01294 607553 or email FIO@chaltd.org
- Cairn/ANCHO Housing Association: Call 0800 990 3405
- Riverside (Irvine) Housing Association: Call 0345 112 6600
Community banking/credit union services
- 1st Alliance Community Bank: Call 01294 557123 or email info@allianceayrshire.co.uk
Contact
Address: North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, Cunninghame House, Irvine, KA12 8EE