Tenant Guide to Maximising Income

This welfare guide has been put together with the aim of highlighting the range of financial support and guidance which is available to ACHA tenants.

ACHA Welfare Rights Officers provide free, impartial and confidential support to tenants claiming all benefits and entitlements across the whole of Argyll & Bute. The team can be contacted by emailing welfarerights@acha.co.uk or by calling the Customer Service Centre on 0800 028 2755.

Universal Credit

How Universal Credit works

You’ll usually get one monthly payment to cover your living costs. In Scotland you can ask to have the payment split into fortnightly payments. You can also request that your housing payment is paid direct to ACHA.

If you claim Universal Credit as a couple, you and your partner will get one payment between the 2 of you. The payment is made up of a basic ‘standard allowance’ and extra payments that might apply to you depending on your circumstances.

You might be able to get extra payments if you:

look after one or more children

work and pay for childcare
need help with housing costs
are disabled or have a health condition
are a carer for a disabled person or you have a disabled child

If you’re working

You can work and still get Universal Credit - your Universal Credit will reduce gradually as you earn more. Your Universal Credit will go up if your job ends or you earn less.

If you’re self-employed, your payment might also be affected by how much the DWP expect you to earn each month - this expected amount is called your ‘minimum income floor’.

To find out more about applying for Universal Credit please log on to the following video on YouTube https://youtu.be/E7GUu7Xa7Nw

To apply log on to Apply for Universal Credit - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

It can be daunting applying for a new benefit, our Welfare Rights Officers are here to help take you through the process if you need support. You can also contact Citizen’s Advice “help to claim UC” on 0800 0232581.

New Style Jobseeker’s Allowance / New Style Employment Support Allowance

You can claim these benefits if you have enough national insurance contributions.

For example:

if you’re unemployed, check if you can claim New style Job Seekers Allowance also called ‘new style’ JSA.

if you can’t work because of illness or disability, you may be entitled to New style Employment and Support Allowance also called ‘new style’ ESA.

If you get either of these benefits, your Universal Credit will be reduced, but it might still be worth claiming.

Housing Benefit (HB) / Council Tax Reduction Scheme (CTR)

If you are on a low income and have savings of under £16,000.00, you may be entitled to a reduction in your Housing Costs and Council Tax. Please note that any new claims for Housing Benefit applicants need to be of pension age otherwise a claim for Universal Credit should be made.

If you think you may be eligible and have not already applied, please contact our Welfare Rights Team for more information.

Council Tax Reduction

Second Adult – This is available to people who live with another adult (not a partner).

The percentage of Council Tax rebate which may be available to you under this scheme is based on the financial circumstances – whether in work or not – of the adult who lives with you:

You may be entitled to a 25% rebate on your Council Tax bill. If the second adult in your household is getting Universal Credit (UC), although this is a benefit, you won’t automatically get a 25% rebate. The rebate is dependant on their income as some people work when in receipt of UC .

The ‘in work’ income thresholds apply when working and affect the level of benefit awarded.

More information can be found on the Argyll & Bute Council Website - www.argyll-bute.gov.uk/council-tax-and-benefits/council-tax/council-tax-reduction-scheme-0

Scottish Welfare Fund

The Scottish Welfare Fund This is intended to offer grants for two purposes Crisis Grants and Community Care Grants:

Crisis Grants provide a safety net in an emergency or when there is an immediate threat to health and safety.

Community Care Grants enable independent living or support when families are facing exceptional pressure.

Getting in touch with the Welfare Rights Team is the first step to maximising your potential income and managing your money well. The Welfare Rights Team provide free, impartial and confidential support to claim all benefits and entitlements.

More information can be found on www.mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund

Scottish Government Child Payment

Scottish Child Payment is a new payment for families on tax credits or certain benefits to help towards the costs of looking after a child. It is a payment of £112.80 paid every four weeks for each child under sixteen. It’s completely up to you what you choose to spend the money on.

You could use the payment for things like travel costs, nappies and other essentials, childcare or family days out. The qualifying benefits are:

Pension Credit
Universal Credit.

Social Security Scotland will ask for evidence that the person applying is responsible for a child under sixteen, usually through the child being named on a benefit claim form. If more than one person applies for the same child, there’s a process for deciding who gets the payment - prioritising the person who the child lives with most of the time.

Scottish Child Payment will not be taken into account for UK benefit and tax credit assessments and there is no cap on the number of children this payment can support. Find out more information and apply at: www.mygov.scot/scottish-child-payment or call Social Security Scotland on 0800 182 2222.

Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods

The Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods are schemes which are administered by Social Security Scotland. You can get these: if your child is the right age for a payment, whether you’re in work or not, as long as you’re on certain payments or benefits, as long as you’re the parent of a child, or the main person looking after the child. You only need to fill in the Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods form once to apply for all the payments you can get now. Best Start Grant is made up of 3 cash payments. Each payment can only be paid once per child.

Pregnancy and Baby Payment You can apply for the Pregnancy and Baby Payment from 24 weeks pregnant up to the day your baby is 6 months old. However you have up until the baby reaches one year old if you’ve taken over looking after a child, for example if you’ve adopted. If it’s your first child, the Pregnancy and Baby Payment is £796.65. For second or subsequent children, the payment is £398.35.

Early Learning Payment - You can apply when your child is aged between 2 years old and 3 years and a half years old. If are entitled to the Early Learning Payment, you’ll get £331.95 for each eligible child. You can spend this money on any of the things you need for your child at this age. This includes toys to help them learn or trips to new places.
School Age Payment - Regardless of when they start school, the window to apply for a School Age Payment starts in the year they turn 4 - so it’s the period between 1 June 2026 and 28 February 2027. If are entitled to the School Age Payment, you’ll get £331.95 for each eligible child. You can spend this money on any of the things you need for your child at this age. This includes toys to help them learn or trips to new places.

Best Start Foods

The Best Start Foods is a prepaid card that you can use to buy healthy foods for children under 3. You can use the card in shops and online. You can apply for Best Start Foods when you’re pregnant, or any time up to your child turning 3 years old. Claimants application processed and an example given below when claimant can expect payment. Best Start Foods is paid at different rates depending on whether you or your partner is pregnant or how old your child is.

If you or your partner is pregnant, you’ll get £22.40 every four weeks until the child is born.

Once the child is born, you’ll get £44.80 every 4 weeks until they reach the age of 1. After this you’ll get £22.40 every 4 weeks until they reach the age of 3.

If you have more than 1 child, you’ll get payments for each child. There is no limit on the number of children that you can get Best Start payments for.

Who can claim Best Start?

If you’re under 18, you do not need to be in receipt of any benefits to apply for Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods. If you’re over 18, you can apply whether you’re in work or not, as long as you’re getting one of these: • Universal Credit • Housing Benefit • Pension Credit

You must be getting one of the benefits or payments from the list above to be able to get Best Start Grant or Best Start Foods. For Best Start Grant, Social Security Scotland do not need to know about your income. For Best Start Foods, some of the benefits have an income limit. For more information on best start grant www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods

When Can You Apply? A Summary

When you can apply	You may be able to get
Apply as soon as you know you’re pregnant, or up until your child turns 3 years old.	Best Start Foods
Apply after 24 weeks of pregnancy to help prepare for your baby’s arrival, or after your baby is born.	Best Start Grant – Pregnancy and Baby Payment
Apply when your child is aged between 2 and 3 years 6 months old.	Best Start Grant – Early Learning Payment
Apply when your child is first old enough to start primary school. When you should apply depends on when your child was born. You need to apply in the year that your child is first old enough to start school.	Best Start Grant – School Age Payment

Carers Support Payment

Social Security Scotland has three payments for unpaid carers.

Carer Support Payment, a weekly payment of £86.45, has replaced Carer’s Allowance in Scotland. The payment is available to people providing care for 35 hours or more a week to someone who receives disability benefits. They need to earn less than £204 per week after tax, national insurance and expenses.

Scottish Carer Supplement will replace Carer’s Allowance Supplement, which will be an extra payment awarded automatically to carers in receipt of Carer Support Payment.

Scottish Carer Supplement provides an extra £11.70 per week and will be paid alongside Carer Support Payment – this ensures it is disregarded as income or capital.

Please click on the link for more information https://www.mygov.scot/carer-support-payment

Carers Additional Person Payment (CAPP)

The first payment of its type made to carers with multiple caring roles in Scotland.

The payment will be paid for each additional person cared for and there is no limit on the number of awards carers can receive. Carers Additional Person cannot be paid where another carer is already receiving CAPP for the same additional cared for person.

Carers can receive CAPP for an additional cared for person where another carer is receiving Carer Support Payment, Carer’s Allowance, Young Carer Grant or the Carer Element of Universal Credit for the same additional cared for person.

Carer Additional Person Payment is a £10.40, paid alongside Carer Support Payment– this ensures it is disregarded as income or capital.

Young Carers Grant

This grant is available for carers aged 16, 17, 18 or 19 years who provide support for an average of 16 hours a week to someone receiving disability benefits. It is a yearly payment of £405.10 and the money can be spent on whatever the young person wants.

Please click on the link below for further information.

https://www.mygov.scot/young-carer-grant

Disability Benefits

Depending on your age and circumstances the following disability benefits can be applied for:

Child Disability Payment (Social Security Scotland)
Adult Disability Payment (Social Security Scotland)
Pension Age Disability Payment (Social Security Scotland)

Pension Credits

Pension Credit is an income-related benefit designed to provide extra money for pensioners to bring their weekly income up to a minimum amount. In addition, no tax is payable on awards of Pension Credit and receipt of this benefit can open up eligibility to other entitlements, such as a free TV Licence if you are over the age of 75, along with Council Tax Reduction and housing costs.

Pension Credit is made up of two elements: Guarantee Credit and Savings Credit Guarantee Credit For single pensioners with a weekly income of less than £238.00, Guarantee Credit could provide a top up to your income. Similarly, couples can also receive a top up if their weekly income is less than £363.25. It is important to note that you may still be eligible even if you have savings, a pension or your own home.

This takes into account: State Pension, other pensions, most social security benefits, for example Carer’s Allowance, savings, investments over £10,000 and earnings.

You can start your application for Pension Credit up to 4 months before you reach State Pension age.

Additional entitlements available

In addition to the top-ups available through this benefit, receipt of Pension Credit also acts as a “gateway” to other benefits which could boost your income.

These include:

Free TV Licence if you are over the age of 75
Council Tax Reduction / Housing Costs
Some health costs (such as hospital travel or glasses)
Warm Home Discount
Winter Heating Payment is to help people on low income benefits who might have extra heating needs. Social Security Scotland pays this to people living in Scotland. Winter Heating Payment does not depend on how cold the temperature gets. Winter Heating Payment is a yearly payment of £62 that’s paid automatically.

ACHA’s Welfare Rights Team can assist with the Pension Credit application process, along with free, impartial and confidential support to claim all benefits and entitlements: Phone: 0800 028 2755. If you wish to apply directly, please call: The Pension Service on 0800 99 1234 or apply online at www.gov.uk/pension-credit/how-to-claim. You can claim at any time after you reach State Pension age and your claim can be backdated by a period of up to 3 months. This means you could get up to 3 months’ of Pension Credit in your first payment if you were eligible during that time.

Savings Credits

The second element is Savings Credit which is an extra payment for people who saved some money towards their retirement, for example a pension. Savings Credit is only available for people who reached state retirement age before April 2016. However, if you’re in a couple and your partner reached state pension age before 6th April 2016, you could still qualify.

If you’re a carer, severely disabled, responsible for a child or young person, or have certain housing costs, you may qualify for more.

Flexible Food and Fuel Fund

The Flexible Food and Fuel Fund is a grant provided by the local authority, Argyll & Bute Council. The eligibility criteria is that the household must be on a low income and have no access to savings. All applications received from 1/4/2026, will be restricted to £100 per household irrespective of size. If engagement is confirmed with Bute Advice Centre, a second payment of £100.00 will be paid.

Applications can be made directly on the Council website. It is essential that a full months bank statement for every bank account held is provided, this will evidence the benefits you receive and show that there are no savings held.

If you need support to make a claim ACHA Welfare Rights Officers can assist you, provided you have access to your bank statements.

ACHA Welfare Right Team

We have a dedicated team that are on hand to answer any questions you may have around benefits:

Bute and Cowel
Bute Advice Centre
01700 502784
info@buteadvice.org.uk

Helensburgh and Lomond
Adrienne McCormack
01546 605906
adrienne.mccormack@acha.co.uk

Oban, Lorn and Isles
Corrina McLean
01546 605924
corrina.mclean@acha.co.uk

Mid Argyll and Kintyre
Fiona Evamy
01546 605878
fiona.evamy@acha.co.uk

If you need any help or assistance, you can also contact us on 0800 028 2755 or e-mail to Welfarerights@acha.co.uk