Benefits advisors help East Ren residents claim more than £2.4m

And as a further boost to locals the council has committed to continuing resources to help mitigate the impacts of welfare reform in East Renfrewshire. This will include East Renfrewshire’s new money advice and rights team. The team launched its new service today to ensure residents know to contact them if they’re in financial hardship, need advice with benefits, appeals or debt advice.

The team can help locals make sure they are receiving all benefits they are entitled to and that they are able to manage financially. All advice is free, confidential, impartial and independent.

The money advice and rights team can also help residents apply for benefits and challenge benefits decisions. It can also provide advice and assistance to help people resolve their problems with any types of debt and manage their money more generally.

Cllr McAlpine, convener for corporate services said: “Please don’t feel you are alone with your money worries. Our money advice and rights team are experts in their area and will offer free, confidential, impartial and independent welfare rights and debt advice to anyone who gets in touch. In the last year they have helped people claim more than £2m in benefits they did not know they were entitled to. This money is likely to stay in the local economy and is also good news for East Ren businesses.

“Please get in touch if you need support. We can help you resolve your financial problems and also access any money you may be entitled to.”

Residents should get in touch on 0141 577 8420 or call for free on 0800 052 1023 and quote ‘money advice and rights team.’