Help with Debt, Housing and Benefits

Help with Debt, Housing and Benefits

Edinburgh Council’s Benefits & Debt Advice Shop

If you have Benefits and Debt worries or problems, the City of Edinburgh Council provides:

  • help with welfare rights including income maximisation through welfare benefits, tax credits and grants

  • debt advice to resolve personal debt including credit cards, bank loans, rent arrears, personal loans, store cards, catalogues and mortgage arrears

  • help for people affected by cancer through information, advice and advocacy to access entitlements arising as a result of a cancer diagnosis and the extra costs of cancer.

Click to visit the website: https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/benefits-grants/advice-shop

Or fill in this form to get debt or welfare benefits advice.

Advice Line opening times:

  • Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 8.30am to 4.30pm

  • Tuesday 10am to 4.30pm

  • Friday 8.30am to 3.40pm

If you need urgent advice about benefits or debt, please call 0131 200 2360.

Citizen's Advice Edinburgh

Citizen's Advice can offer you free advice about:

  • Your Money - Debt, Employment, Benefits, Pensions and Tax

  • Your Family - Family, Health, Housing, Education

  • Your Daily Life - Phone, Broadband and Energy Costs, Consumer Affairs, Travel

  • Your Rights - Human Rights, Immigration, Legal Rights and Responsibilities

They can:

  • speak to you by phone to find out what the problem or problems are

  • help you negotiate with companies or service providers such as creditors or to appeal against decisions

  • help you write letters and/or phone companies and service providers on your behalf

  • help you prioritise your problems, for example, to sort out which debts are most important and should be paid first

  • help you with form filling, for example, to claim for welfare benefits

  • refer you to CAE specialist caseworkers for complex problems or to other agencies when appropriate.

Visit the Citizens Advice Edinburgh Website to access their regularly updated information systems for up to the minute information:

https://www.citizensadviceedinburgh.org.uk/

If you don’t live in Edinburgh contact Citizens Advice Scotland (cas.org.uk) for details of your nearest service:

https://www.cas.org.uk/

Support for Housing and Homelessness worries

Shelter Scotland

Shelter Scotland does not provide houses but does provide answers. From homelessness to homeowner, Shelter has housing advice for everyone.

Visit Shelter Scotland for more information and access to support.

https://scotland.shelter.org.uk/