Support coping with rising living costs
Money
If you're struggling with the rising cost of living, Midlothian Council and its trusted partners can help with a range of services that can help you with money advice, benefit entitlements and maximising your income.
In this section you will find:
- Urgent help with money
- Money advice and support
- Benefits
- Support with council tax and rent
- Support for families
- Support for people with a disability
- Support for carers
- Other support
Urgent help with money
Scottish Welfare Fund:
- Crisis Grants - for emergencies when you have no other means, such as:
- food or heating
- damage after a fire or flood at home
- escaping domestic abuse
- caring for a child while waiting for benefit transfers
- a sudden loss of income due to job changes or redundancy
- Community Care Grant - to help you set up a home, or continue to live independently within your community, in situations like:
- leaving care or imprisonment
- homelessness
- escaping domestic abuse
- caring for a child when their health is at risk
Apply online or call 0131 270 5600
If you need urgent help with food, housing or energy please go to our Urgent Help page for more information.
Money Advice and Support
Worrying about Money - Learn what local support is available by completing an online form. Also available online in Polish, Dari and Urdu. Printed copies available in local Libraries.
Money Map - Sources of support to ease cost of living pressures, from benefits and grants to tips about saving money.
Midlothian Financial Inclusion Network - Cost of Living Support Directory for local support.
One Parent Scotland - Advice and support for single parent families.
Money Helper - Advice and support on a range of money issues.
Benefits
Citizens Advice Bureau can make sure you get all the benefits you are entitled to as well as offering advice about bills and grants.
- Citizens Advice - Penicuik
- 01968 675 259
- bureau@penicuikcab.org.uk
- or visit a drop-in clinic around Penicuik
- Citizens Advice – Dalkeith
- 0131 660 1636
- bureau@dalkeithcab.org.uk
- or visit a drop-in clinic around Dalkeith
Our Midlothian Council Welfare Rights Team can provide welfare advice, benefits checks and help in a crisis for:
- social work clients
- people over pension age
- people with cancer or their carers
- people who need help appealing a DWP decision.
Contact the Welfare Rights team on:
- WelfareRights@midlothian.gov.uk
- 0131 270 8922
Social Security Scotland staff can provide advice and support about benefits in a local venue or at home by phone, video or face-to-face. Contact freephone 0800 182 2222.
Support with Council Tax and Rent
Our Revenues Advisors can provide support and guidance about a range of benefits and grants:
- Scottish Welfare Fund
- Discretionary Housing Payment
- Council Tax
- Housing Benefit
- Council Housing Rent
Pop along to an upcoming Revenues Advice Drop-in or contact the Revenues team on:
- 0131 271 3201
- revenues.enquiries@midlothian.gov.uk
Support for families
- Scottish Child Payment
- Child Winter Heating Payment
- Support with childcare costs if you are on Universal Credit or tax credits.
- Tax-Free Childcare scheme.
- Education Maintenance Allowance
- Free school meals and clothing grants
- Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods
- A Good Time to Be 2.
- Child Disability Payment
- Free bus travel for children and young people
Support for people with a disability
- Adult Disability Payment - replaces Personal Independence Payment.
- Child Disability Payment - replaces Disability Living Allowance.
- Free bus travel – disabled concessionary travel
- Free bus travel on Dial-A-Bus Midlothian
Support for carers
Other Support
- Winter Heating Payment
- Funeral Support Payment
- Job Start Payment
- Free or discounted travel if you are over 60
Return to Cost of Living Homepage & Map