Perth & Kinross Council welfare scheme

Perth & Kinross Council residents can get crisis grants from welfare for paying their bills as well as a number of other assistances programmes. The council will provide families on a low income, or those in crisis, with many services as part of the welfare scheme. Staff provide information and linkage to the government benefit schemes, help with applications to housing or rent assistance, direct Perth & Kinross residents to free food banks and more. Over 5,000 people get help from the welfare scheme each year, based on funding being available from the council.

When it comes to financial help, the Crisis Grants are the main form of help. This are offered across Scotland as well as Perth & Kinross. The council will help residents with form filling applications for a crisis grant. But the council also gives advice on other benefits.

Crisis grants from Perth & Kinross welfare

This is for families or individuals on a low income. It can be from a job or maybe the applicant is on benefits which also means they have a low income. In other words, anyone on Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), Pension Credit, Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) can get crisis grants.

When qualified, there will be vouchers or pre-paid cards passed out. This will allow the welfare recipient the ability to pay their utility bills, including heating or light. There is also free food or groceries passed out in Perth & Kinross as part of welfare. Perth & Kinross crisis grants can also help pay for housing (rental deposits), white goods, furniture, and other bills that the council approved.

Benefits advice and checks from welfare

The crisis grants from the local welfare scheme in Perth & Kinross are only for emergencies and short term needs. It will not help residents pay bills over the long term. This is why the council will also give the applicant information on central government benefit schemes, both in Scotland and across the UK.

The aim here is to use Crisis Grants to help in the emergency, such as by paying for groceries, transportation, or heating costs. Then, while that grant takes care of the short term bill, the government benefits take care of long term bills.

Some of what Perth & Kinross residents may receive include Local Housing Allowance, which will pay some of the tenants rent as well as utility bills. There are also schemes such as DLA (Disability Living Allowance), pension credits for older people, free school lunches and many more. These benefits help everyone from the poor to refugees to older people, the jobless and others. There are even local council disability schemes to pay the bills.

Welfare schemes in Perth & Kinross also give advice on money. That can be paying down debt or basic money advice on saving, investing or budgeting. Many services are partnered with the Perth & Kinross credit union too. These are skills that anyone from the Perth & Kinross district would benefit from. The aim here is to help educate clients on saving and living within means, as that leads to financial stability.

Applying for welfare crisis grants or getting advice in Perth & Kinross

The council has set up a customer support team. They are available 5 days per week (business days and not holidays). Whether it is rent, free vouchers, or other aid, there is support. Information and details are available from the Welfare Rights Team, which is at Pullar House, 35 Kinnoull Street, Perth, PH1 5GD. The telephone number is 01738 476900 (Option 1).