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North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership

Benefits, welfare rights and advice

Money Matters

Money Matters provides Welfare Rights assistance/representation to North Ayrshire residents to ensure they receive their legal entitlement to state benefits.

Our service and the advice we offer is free, impartial and confidential.

Our team of specialist welfare rights advisers can:

  • Complete a benefit check for you
  • Confirm the benefits you are entitled to
  • Help you to make a claim for benefits
  • Help you to dispute benefit decisions
  • Help you to dispute benefit sanction
  • Provide appeal representation
  • Provide welfare rights training

Universal Credit

Universal Credit replaces six ‘legacy benefits’:

  • Housing Benefit
  • Income Based Employment Support Allowance
  • Income Based Jobseekers 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 Matters for advice about when to make your Universal Credit (UC) claim.

If you are currently in receipt of any of the legacy benefits then the government will be ‘migrating’ your benefits to Universal Credit (from late 2022 to 2026).

Universal Credit claimants are experiencing significant problems with their claims including delayed payments, incorrect assessments, deductions from payments.

You can contact the Money Matters Advice Line for advice regarding Universal Credit or other benefits.

Disputing and appealing a benefit decision

If you disagree with a benefit decision you must ask for a mandatory reconsideration (on form CMRM1) within 1 month of the date of the decision. In certain circumstances, late mandatory reconsiderations with be accepted.

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.

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.

Contact Money Matters for advice about disputing and appealing a benefit decision.

Sanctions

Many people have been affected by sanctions to their payment of Universal Credit, Employment Support Allowance and Job Seekers Allowance. These decisions can be challenged by asking for a mandatory reconsideration or appealing.

Devolved benefits to Scotland

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 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 Matters.

Money Matters in Partnership

Money Matters team is part of North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership.

We receive referrals from health and social care colleagues, e.g. GPs, health visitors, social workers, community link workers, nurses, alcohol and drug workers as well as from other agencies including North Ayrshire Council, NHS Ayrshire & Arran, The Ayrshire Community Trust, and others.

We work in partnership with a number of organisations, including:

  • MacMillan Cancer Support
  • Community Housing Advocacy Project (CHAP)
  • 1st Alliance Credit Union

Contact

You can access Money Matters services by:

  • Calling or emailing us using the contact information below
  • Asking at your local Health and Social Care Partnership office (home visits may be available if you are unable to visit a local office)
  • Using our Money Matters Contact Us form below