Finances, Benefits & Pensions

Customer Advice Centre – North Lanarkshire Council

Motherwell, Tel: 01698 274220

Office: Dalziel Building, 7 Scott Street, Motherwell, ML1 1SX

Trading Standards’ main aims are to protect customers, support businesses, and encourage a fair-trading environment. Our money advisors can also help people who have financial difficulties. Contact the telephone number above for more information.

Christians Against Poverty

Debt Counselling

Book an appointment on 0800 328 0006

E-mail: nickymclaughlin@capuk.org

Website: http://www.capuk.org

CAP is a national organisation specialising in debt counselling for people in financial difficulty, including those in need of bankruptcy or insolvency. CAP also provides Job Clubs for those seeking employment and Release Groups for people looking to overcome addictions and dependencies.

Department for Work & Pensions

Benefits, Pensions, Child Maintenance

See gov.uk for more information

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is responsible for welfare, pensions, and child maintenance policy. As the UK’s biggest public service department, it administers the State Pension and a range of working age, disability and ill health benefits to over 22 million claimants and customers.

Jobcentre Plus

Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income Support, Incapacity benefit or employment and support allowance, maternity allowance, bereavement social fund, universal credit.

Click for more information – gov.uk

Jobcentre Plus is the Government’s working-age support service in the United Kingdom, its services offered directly by the Department for Work and Pensions. A variety of benefits and services are provided by Jobcentre Plus, including JSA, Income Support, ESA, and Universal Credit.

Law for Life – Public Legal Education

Legal information: http://www.lawforlife.org.uk

Please note: as an organisation based in England & Wales, there will be elements of information which are irrelevant in Scotland.

Law for Life is an education and information charity that aims to increase access to justice by providing everyone with an awareness of their legal rights together with the confidence and skills to assert them. The website includes a very useful guide to appealing PIP decisions.

Money Advice Service – North Lanarkshire Council

Telephone: 01698 274690

Office: Advice Centre, 10 Motherwell Road, Bellshill, ML4 1RE

The Money Advice Service’s trained debt advisers can help you to address and cope with debt, no matter how hopeless things might seem; act as a link between you and the people you owe the money to; and negotiate and arrange payment programmes which are acceptable and beneficial to both parties.

The Pension Service

Department for Work & Pensions

Help making a claim Tel: 0800 731 7898

Website: http://www.gov.uk/browse/working/state-pension

The Pension Service runs the State Pension system, including pension credit, and pays state pensions and pension credit. It is part of the Department for Work and Pensions. If you have any questions about your State Pension the Pension Service should be able to help you.

Scottish Welfare Fund

Enquiries are dealt with by local councils – call 0300 55 0405

Website (Scottish Government): http://www.gov.scot/Topics/People/fairerscotland/scottishwelfarefund

Website (NLC): http://www.northlanarkshire.gov.uk/index.aspx?articleid=26378

The Scottish Welfare Fund provides a safety net for vulnerable people on low incomes through the provision of Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants. The Scottish Welfare Fund is a national scheme, underpinned by law and delivered on behalf of the Scottish Government by all local councils. The Scottish Welfare Fund replaces elements of the Social Fund abolished by the Department for Work and Pensions in 2013.

StepChange

Debt charity

Freephone: 0800 138 1111

Website: http://www.stepchange.org

(Debt Remedy tool is available on the website)

With over 20 years’ experience of providing debt advice, StepChange offer a range of services and solutions to suit every situation. These services include debt management plans, individual voluntary arrangements, debt arrangement schemes, and sequestration.

Welfare Rights – North Lanarkshire Council

Motherwell: 01698 332100

Scott House, 73/77 Merry Street, Motherwell, ML1 1JE

Wishaw: 01698 348200

King’s Building, King Street, Wishaw, ML2 8BS

Due to the demand for advice, information and representation on all aspects of the benefit system, North Lanarkshire Council have a number of welfare rights staff who provide a range of services to North Lanarkshire residents, including general benefits advice, representation for appeals, redundancy advice, help with council tax problems, and help with housing benefit.

If, after browsing, you still believe Marion is the best person to assist with your concern, please do not hesitate to contact her constituency office.

All organisations & individuals in the Support Directory have either requested inclusion or given permission to be included. If you or your organisation would like to be included, please get in touch.