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You can get help to become Money Smart
A service that helps residents across North Ayrshire to increase their income has been praised for reducing people’s financial stress and easing their money worries.
North Ayrshire’s welfare rights and money advice service, run by North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership, has helped boost residents’ income by more than £20 million in the last year. The Money Smart team helps individuals and families with their finances, by ensuring they are able to access and maximise benefits and offering debt advice.
The free, impartial and confidential service is available to all Council tenants and non-Council tenants (those living in housing association homes or private lets, and owner occupiers) who are:
- Engaged with and refereed by the Health and Social Care Partnership (HSCP), the Council and Third Sector agencies including food banks
- Pregnant or have dependent children
- Living with a disability
- Care for someone, or
- Are from a minority ethnic background.
The team helped to secure more than £20,706,707 million from 6128 referrals in 2025-26, and this money is vital as people continue to navigate their way through the ongoing Cost-of-Living Crisis
Quote: For many people, getting a handle on the social security system and which support they are entitled to can be daunting – and this is where the Money Smart experts come in. The team will talk you through the process, help you with applications and get you on the right road to increasing your household income. I would encourage anyone who feels that they are missing out on social security benefits to pick up the phone, speak to an adviser and take the first step with Money Smart.
Quote from: Councillor Tony Gurney, Leader of North Ayrshire Council
Services include:
- Completing benefits checks and confirming entitlement
- Helping with claims for Universal Credit and other DWP and Social Security Scotland benefits
- Advice and support with debts like rent and Council Tax arrears
- Information on housing services
- Budgeting advice.
Recent feedback to the team from service users has included: “I would like to thank you so much for all my adviser’s help. She was absolutely amazing! I really can't thank her enough. She completely reduced all my financial stresses and worries I had at the time. Going through cancer treatment and being off work was a huge stress, and the financial burden was making my life exceptionally stressful. She was always empathetic and kind. I never felt awkward or embarrassed about my situation due to her compassion. She really is a credit to your team.”
One resident said: “We have been receiving help and advice from Money Smart. Their support has been invaluable through a very stressful time, and we wanted to say a big ‘thank you’.”
Another client commented: “I had a lot of anxiety in relation to my finances and that has been alleviated by your input and support. You have done a ‘sterling job.’ Many thanks for your support. It has had a significant impact.”
And a fourth said: “I found the worker a very helpful and comforting aide at a very low time in my life on losing my wife. She is a credit to her profession.”
Money Smart offers services by phone, video call, in person and - in some circumstances - in your own home. To get in touch, call 01294 310000 (option 1), email moneysmart@north-ayrshire.gov.uk or fill in a referral form online via the Council website.
Opening hours are 9am to 4.45pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 4.30pm on Fridays.
If you don’t fall into any of the categories that make residents eligible for help through Money Smart, there is other support available on welfare rights, housing and debt.
Please phone CHAP - 030 0002 0002 or email enquiries@chap.org.uk; Citizens Advice Scotland: - 0800 028 1456 or StepChange - 0800 138 1111.
Published: 05 October 2026