Money advice team helps households in Highlands and Islands achieve £890,000 financial gain
Households in the Highlands and Islands are better off by more than £890,000 after being helped by a free and confidential money advice service during the pandemic.
Since the start of the Covid-19 crisis in March, the Money Talk Team has dealt with 945 households in the Highlands and Islands and helped 518 of those bring missing money home. That adds up to a total financial gain of £890,883 – an average of £1720 per household.
The Money Talk Team is a free, confidential and personalised service delivered by the Citizens Advice network in Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government, offering financial advice and support.
The team advises families on how to save cash by reducing bills and ensuring they are claiming all the benefits and grants they’re entitled to, thereby maximising their income.
The service can be accessed through a free helpline on 0800 085 7145 or by web chat at https://moneytalkteam.org.uk
Across Scotland, 6414 households have been supported by the Money Talk Team since March 23, with a total financial gain of almost £10 million – an average of £1500 per household.
The service was launched in November 2018. Since then it has gone on to support almost 27,000 clients and created financial gains of almost £24 million in total.
Launching a campaign to raise awareness of the Money Talk Team, Scotland's communities secretary Aileen Campbell said: “We know that there are many families across Scotland who are facing and have experienced unexpected financial difficulties as a result of Covid-19.
"The Money Talk Team has already provided so much support to households across the country and we know there are more who can benefit from it to make their money go further.
"Whether it’s finding out about any benefits or grants you might be eligible for or ways in which you might make savings on your household bills, we want families in Scotland to know that they are not in this alone and that the Money Talk Team can help them determine what they are entitled to in these unprecedented times.”
Derek Mitchell, Citizens Advice Scotland's chief executive, said: “The Citizens Advice network in Scotland is proud to deliver this vital service for families across the country.
“We know the pandemic has had a difficult impact on family budgets and our message to people is that help is there, and they should claim what they are due. That’s what our welfare state is for – everybody pays in and gets the support they need.”
More information around the financial support available to families can be found at Parent Club, an online information resource and support hub, offering tips and information to help parents and carers.