Cost of living help from local councils for people on a low income
People working full-time may also be able to pause Council Tax payments to ease financial pressure.
Families and individuals on a low income or income-related benefits may be able to get help from their local council. Councils across Scotland have funding to help people in financial need during the ongoing cost of living crisis and all you need to do is call and explain your situation.
If you are on a benefit such as Universal Credit, Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) or Pension Credit, your council may be able to offer advice or check if you are missing out on any additional unclaimed benefits, discounts or redactions.
Even if you don't claim any benefits, they may be able to help you. Something as simple as asking for your next Council Tax payment to be put on hold could provide immediate relief from money worries - just phone your local council and ask for help.
Local authorities were able to support around 94,000 households on a low income with £89.3 million in Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) in 2024/25, thanks to Scottish Government funding.
The Scottish Government funds councils to use the payments to help people affected by the Bedroom Tax, the Benefit Cap, and other housing-related UK Government welfare reform policies.
New figures published for April 2024 - March 2025 show that councils spent 99 per cent of the £74.8m budget for the Bedroom Tax, suggesting they were able to almost completely protect people from its effects. Local authorities spent £5 million mitigating the Benefit Cap, an increase of over 40 per cent on the previous year.
Social Justice Secretary Shirley-Anne Somerville said: 'Over the last 15 years, the Scottish Government has spent around £1.4 billion mitigating the impacts of UK Government policies such as the Bedroom Tax and Benefit Cap.
'This money could have been spent on services like health, education and transport, or on further ambitious anti-poverty measures, and would pay for around 3,000 teachers or 3,700 band 5 nurses each year.
'Under our Programme for Government we will spend £97 million this year to enable councils to use Discretionary Housing Payments to protect more than 94,000 households in Scotland against the worst impacts of harmful UK Government policies.'
Ms Somerville warned: 'The UK Government's welfare cuts will force more families and children into poverty, according to its own figures. It is time for them to think again and abandon these harmful changes.'
Every local council in Scotland has their own service with different rules and may be able to offer help with loans or grants, food vouchers, fuel vouchers and recycled clothes or household items - find your local council here.
The Scottish Welfare Fund is also a good source of financial help which provides Community Care Grants, to help people live independently, and Crisis Grants, which provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency.
Community Care Grants
You may be able to get a Community Care Grant if:
you're leaving care or imprisonment and need help to start a settled home
you've been homeless, or living an unsettled life, and need help to start a settled home
you need support to stay out of care
you're caring for someone who's been released from prison or a young offender's institution
you're experiencing great pressure and need help to keep a settled home
you're escaping domestic abuse
a child's health is at risk
Your income
To get a Community Care Grant you need to be on a low income, but this does not mean you need to be on benefits.
What counts as a low income
There is no figure that confirms whether you have a low income. As a guide, if you're on one of the benefits below, or your income is about the same as someone who is, it's more likely you can get a Community Care Grant:
Income Support
Pension Credit
Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) - Income based
Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) - Income based
Universal Credit
Your savings
If you have savings of over £700, or £1,200 if you get a pension, you may be less likely to get a Community Care Grant - your local council will decide.
Crisis Grants
A Crisis Grant is a one-off payment that can provide much-needed cash during an emergency, but it cannot be given to support your income long-term. If you need help because you are on a low income, the quickest way to find out what financial support you may be able to claim is to use a benefits calculator.
These are independent, free and confidential and only take a few minutes to complete online - you can find out more about ones from Turn2Us, Advice Direct Scotland and entitledto at the end of this article.
If your total household income is £30,000 or less, you may be entitled to extra help, so don't dismiss using one of the benefits calculators because you think your income is above the threshold.
What is a Crisis Grant?
A Crisis Grant can be given to cover the costs of an emergency
Examples of this could include when:
there is a fire or flood at home
you have lost money
an unexpected crisis happens
you are a victim of domestic abuse and you need help with things like moving away from an abuser
you are a grandparent or other relative who has taken over caring for a child, and you're waiting on a transfer of benefits
you are facing a gap in your normal income because of a redundancy or change at work
Who is eligible for a Crisis Grant?
To get a Crisis Grant you need to be on a low income, however, this does not mean you need to be currently claiming benefits.
What counts as a low income
Similar to the Community Care Grant, the Scottish Government explains there is "no figure that will be used to judge whether you have a low income".
As a guide, if you're on one of the benefits below, or your income is about the same as someone who is, it's more likely you will be able to get a Crisis Grant:
Income Support
Pension Credit
Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
Universal Credit
What financial help is available?
If you do get a Crisis Grant, your local council will look at helping you with your most urgent living costs.
Some things this may include are help with the costs of:
Food
Heating costs
Many local councils have welfare rights advisers who can:
tell you what benefits and other entitlements are available
carry out checks so you don't miss out on any benefits
help you complete forms
give advice and support if your application for a benefit is turned down or you do not get the amount you were expecting
How to apply
You can apply directly to your local council through the MyGov.Scot website here. Most councils will tell you the outcome of your application within two working days, however, this may take longer due to application caseload.
Online benefits calculators
You can use an independent benefits calculator to find out:
What benefits you could get
How to claim
How your benefits will be affected if you start work
These calculators are free to use, anonymous, and could indicate benefits you're missing out on.
Where to find help
Advice Direct Scotland
This new online tool is the first to fully integrate devolved benefits, including Adult or Child Disability Payment, Pension Age Disability Payment, Carer Support payment or Scottish Child Payment.
It provides a free and impartial assessment of entitlement to a range of benefits such as Universal Credit, crisis grants and support payments.
Turn2us
Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours
entitledto
Information on income-related benefits, Tax Credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer's Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work
What you will need
You will need accurate information about your:
Savings
Income, including your partner's
Existing benefits and pensions (including anyone living with you)
Outgoings (such as rent, mortgage, childcare payments)
Council Tax bill
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