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North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership

Benefits, welfare rights and advice

Money Smart: welfare rights and money advice

Our 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 NAHSCP, NHS A&A or NAC 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

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.

North Ayrshire Council tenants can also 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.

We offer services by phone, video call, in person and, in some circumstances, in your own home.

To access Money Smart services, please get in touch using the contact details at the bottom of this page. Our standard opening hours are Monday to Thursday, 9am to 4.45pm, and Friday, 9am to 4.30pm.

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.

Additional information

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.

Disputing and appealing a benefit decision

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.

Sanctions

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.

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 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.

Money Smart in Partnership

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

We receive referrals from health and social care colleagues, such as GPs, NHS A&A, health visitors, social workers, community link workers, nurses, alcohol and drug workers and the Macmillan Cancer Support team, as well as from other agencies including North Ayrshire Council housing and customer services teams, schools, Citrus, and foodbanks/community larders.

We can also refer you on to other services for wider needs as required.

Money Smart are members of, and Chair, the North Ayrshire Financial Inclusion Partnership.

Additional sources of support

Welfare rights and debt advice (general)

Welfare rights and financial wellbeing (housing association tenants only)

Community banking/credit union services

Contact us

Money Smart - Contact Us form