Support coping with rising living costs

Money

Worrying about Money? - Midlothian leaflet

Midlothian Council has linked up with Independent Food Aid Network UK to produce a new leaflet with advice for people who are struggling to make ends meet. The Worrying about Money leaflet sets out how and where to get help and advice in Midlothian. It can be viewed online or downloaded now at:

Printed copies will also be available free, in local libraries, from early 2023.

Emergency grants

  • Scottish Welfare Fund
    About the fund, and apply online or call 0131 270 5600
    Crisis Grants - for emergencies when you have no other means.
    Community Care Grant - to provide a safe + secure home when you have no other means.

Apply if you did not get the £400 energy discount automatically 

Most households have been getting a £400 discount on their energy bills automatically. In some cases, you do not get the discount automatically, for example if you:

  • pay for energy through a landlord, housing manager or site owner
  • live in a park home or off the electricity grid

You can now apply for the discount if you did not get it automatically.

Benefits from Social Security Scotland

Find out about the benefits available and how to apply

  • Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment – one off payment of up to £642.35 from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns 6 months, for families who get certain benefits.
  • Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment – one off payment of £267.65 when a child is between 2 and 3 years and 6 months, for families who get certain benefits.
  • Best Start Grant School Age Payment – one off payment of £267.65 when a child would normally start Primary 1, for families who get certain benefits.
  • Best Start Foods – a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns 3, for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food.
  • Carer’s Allowance Supplement – an automatic payment made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.
  • Funeral Support Payment – money towards the costs of a funeral, for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral.
  • Job Start Payment – £267.65 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for 6 months or more, to help with the costs of starting a job.
  • Young Carer Grant – an annual payment of more than £326.65 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people on a disability benefit from the DWP, for an average of 16 hours a week or more.
  • Child Winter Heating Assistance - a £214.10 payment to help families of a child on the highest rate care component of Disability Living Allowance for Children, to heat their homes.
  • Scottish Child Payment - a new benefit to give qualifying parents and carers £25 per week towards the cost of looking after each child or young person under 16. 
  • Child Disability Payment - a payment to help with the cost of caring for a child with a disability or health condition. It replaces Disability Living Allowance for children in Scotland, previously delivered by the DWP.
  • Adult Disability Payment - a payment to help people with long-term illness or a disability that affects their everyday life. It replaces Personal Independence Payment for people in Scotland previously delivered by the DWP.

Help paying for childcare

Advice on benefits, housing, employment

Or come to a cost of living advice drop-in at our Midlothian libraries

Citizens Advice 

Social Security Scotland  

Capital Credit Union  

  • Dalkeith Library: Credit Union - every first and third Tuesday of the month 10am – 1pm

Rent freeze

The Scottish Government has announced a combined rent freeze and moratorium on evictions.

Please contact us - you may be able to get help.

Free bus travel

You could be eligible for free or discounted travel to get around Scotland if you are:

Find out more about national entitlement cards/ bus passes

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

The Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is:

  • for students from low-income families, who are in full-time education after the statutory school leaving age.
  • for students attending full time and part time non-advanced college education
  • a means tested weekly allowance based on school attendance.

£30 per week, paid fortnightly into the student's bank account. Payments are only made when students have 100% weekly attendance.

Free school meals and clothing grants

We provide children from low income families with free school meals and money towards buying school clothes. People over 16 staying on at school and living on their own can also apply.

Funeral costs

  • Funeral Support Payment – money towards the costs of a funeral, for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral.

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