New guide Worrying About Money highlights help available

19th November 2020

A new useful guide has been produced to provide people across the Highlands with information and advice on the financial and other support that is available to them.

The Highland Council, along with NHS Highland Public Health, Independent Food Aid Network and the Trussell Trust, have brought a wide range of relevant financial advice and support with contact details together in a user-friendly format aimed at people who are struggling to make ends meet.

The Worrying About Money? guide covers information for people waiting for claims to be assessed as well as those already receiving benefits. Topics including advice on what to do if anyone finds themselves having a sudden loss of income or if their statutory sick pay does not cover their living expenses. There is also information on how to apply to the Scottish Welfare Fund, maximising income and benefit advice, debt advice and how to challenge a decision.

Councillor Alasdair Christie, Depute Leader of The Highland Council and Chair of the Recovery Board said: "This is a great piece of joint work and supplements all the other work that has been going on to make sure people are aware of all the support that is available to them and who to contact to get it.

"Now more than even people can find it bewildering or overwhelming to know who to turn to for help and what assistance is available. The guide is concise and clearly laid out with all the details and information on support available across the Highlands in the one place.

Councillor Alister Mackinnon, Chair of the Council's Corporate Resources committee is also impressed with the handy guide. He said: "I would like to praise everyone involved for their hard work to ensure that any individuals or families needing support to cope during this Covid pandemic has it. It's a great example of partners coming together in a very practical way. Ultimately the goal is to make sure everyone gets what they are entitled to in order to pay bills, heat homes and have a better quality of life and help is sought as soon as possible if people find themselves in need."

The Worrying About Money Guide is available on the Highland Council website here -

https://www.highland.gov.uk/directory_record/102970/benefit_advice or some notes.

Download the leaflet HERE

The Council will be working with all partners to make sure the guide is widely accessible and is also contacting community councils and the third sector to help spread the word.