Citizens' Advice launches financial health check for low income families

Citizens Advice Scotland has launched a financial health check service, and it wants to make sure those in greatest need are able to access it. The project is funded by the Scottish Government is targeted at low income families (but is open to everyone).

The Financial Health Check is delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland and backed by the Scottish Government. It aims to motivate low income families to seek financial advice to maximise their income by ensuring that they are not paying more for essential goods and services than they need to and that they are getting all the benefits, grants and exemptions (council tax, energy) to which they are entitled. It also allows them to access support and impartial advice where they need to e.g. debt advice. 

Examples of support
Full benefits check, Baby Box, Best Start grant, Energy / Phone supplier switch, energy reduction advice, credit unions 

Who is this aimed at? 

Anyone can access the service, however the target groups are: 

• Single parent families 
• Families which include a disabled adult or child 
• Larger families 
• Minority ethnic families 
• Families with a child under one year old 
• Families where the mother is under 25 years of age. 

While these groups will be the focus of targeted activity, any low income household can also access a financial health check.

Our website with more information is now live at www.financialhealth.scot and is also on the Parentclub website at www.parentclub.scot/money. By following @CitAdviceScot you can see regular tweets about the service. 

The service is available in person at the local Citizen’s Advice bureau and on the phone through the helpline on 0800 085 7145.