How welfare teams helped 3000 Falkirk people get benefit support

Falkirk Council has a team of experts who can offer support, whether you need advice on dealing with debt, to find out more about welfare benefit or help applying for Universal Credit.

And they know that they have never been needed as much as now, as unemployment is already soaring in the district.

As part of the national Challenge Poverty week, the council wants more people to know that their services are free and confidential and that they have a great track record of getting results.

The welfare and debt teams can make - and have made - a real difference to people's lives.

In the last financial year, they helped more than 3000 clients to gain £7.5 million of benefits.

In that same time, more than £5 million of debt conciliation was negotiated for nearly 750 clients.

You don't even have to speak to anyone to get information that could really help.

On the council website, is an entitlement calculator to help you estimate what benefits you could get.

There's also a local support services map highlighting where to get food and period products, among other services.

Since lockdown, a network of community food groups have sprung up, including several food pantries.

These have a different approach to food banks.

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People pay a small contribution - if they can afford it - and then choose food to suit their family's needs.

Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, leader of Falkirk Council said: “Covid-19 has left many families and individuals in real difficulties.

"We want to reassure them that there is help and support out there and is easily accessible.

“We can give free and confidential advice from trained advisors that can make a real difference to the circumstances of many people.

“Advisors have helped with millions of pounds of unclaimed benefit and debt consolidation as well as we have seen thousands access our online tools to signpost them and better inform what practical help is available.

“We work with a number of partners locally to ensure those who need the help most get access to services that matter most in difficult times.”

There is no doubt that the Coronavirus crisis is having a deep and lasting impact on the economy locally - and that's not expected to get better any time soon.

Kenny Bowie, of Falkirk Council's debt advice team, said: "We are just seeing the tip of the iceberg at the moment - I don't think we've really seen the full impact of it."

As the UK government's furlough scheme begins to wind down, Kenny and the team are expecting what some are calling "a tsunami" of people losing their jobs and income.

The council's pledge, he says, is to make sure that the team keeps its expertise up-to-date and is as accessible to as many people as possible.

But he urges anyone who has got debt just now to address it now, while extra help is available nationally.

"If you've got debt, don't wait - come and see us!" he said.

> Kirsty Paterson is the Local Democracy Reporter for Falkirk

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