Coronavirus - Benefits and money advice

• If your income has reduced you should:
  • Click here and then click on the ‘Council tax’ reduction box and enter your details into the Online Calculator to find out if you qualify for Council Tax Reduction.
• If you currently receive a council tax reduction you should:
  • Get in touch with us as soon as possible if there are any changes to your circumstances. Click here and then click on the 'Report a change' button and fill in the form. We will then be able to make sure you’re given the correct discount.
• If you’re unable to keep up your Council Tax payments:
  • Click here and scroll to the bottom of the screen to the ‘Council Tax General Enquiries’ blue box. Please complete the form outlining your current difficulty and any payment proposals.

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Update 05/08/20: Council Tax collection

Now that things are slowly starting to resemble some sort of normal again, we’ll be restarting recovery procedures from next month (September) against households who are not paying their Council Tax. However, there’s no getting away from the fact that Covid-19 has changed all our lives and have left many struggling to cope financially. If you find yourself in this situation, the best thing to do is get in touch with us. Help is available.

If you’re unable to meet the payments due to a drop in your income, please claim for a Council Tax Reduction. You can do this here: https://www.fife.gov.uk/kb/docs/articles/housing/council-tax/council-tax-reduction

For more information about the help that’s available visit www.fife.gov.uk.moneyadvice

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For support with rent click here

For the latest information on claiming benefits please click here

Reminder for anyone who receives Universal Credit and rents their home

It’s likely that your rent will have gone up from 1 April. To make sure you’re getting the money you’re entitled to it’s important for you to let the Department for Work and Pensions - DWP know about this increase. You can do this by logging into your Universal Credit account online at www.universal-credit.service.gov.uk/sign-in Alternatively, if you can’t access your account online, please call your local job centre on:

Cupar 01334 413702
Cowdenbeath 01383 315433
Dunfermline 01383 813814
Glenrothes 01592 664879
Kirkcaldy 01592 253236
Leven 01333 593521
St Andrews 01334 413702

If you’re a Fife council tenant and unable to meet your rent payments use this form to find out if you're entitled to any other support. Alternatively phone 03451 55 00 44 and you will be redirected to a Housing Management Officer.

The Scottish Welfare Fund provides a safety net for vulnerable people on low incomes by providing Community Care Grants and Crisis Grants.

Scottish Welfare Fund awards are not loans, so you don't need to pay it back.

The grants are designed to help people who are on a low income, so you can apply even if you don’t claim benefits.

Job clubs

Face to face job clubs are currently suspended until further notice

DWP notice:

Weekly and fortnightly job search reviews have been suspended for 3 months and Payments will be unaffected. Please let your DWP Coach know if you will have difficulty updating your online journal if you can update your journal use the statement below:

“I have problems accessing the internet because of services closing down or limiting what they offer. I will try my best to keep doing my job search and the agreed activities but may have to adapt what I do according to the measures taken to address the Covid-19 situation. I will try to update my journal as often as possible.”

Job matching service

A Job matching service - Covid-19 jobs support - for the Edinburgh and South East Scotland City Region has been launched in response to the COVID-19 outbreak.

Welfare support

If you want to talk to someone about Welfare Support, you can contact us on 07432 609475 or on the mobile numbers below. We can call you back if you would prefer.

Cowdenbeath

• Linzi on 07535 650273
• Eddie on 07751 795372

Dunfermline

• Lauren on 07730 751895
• Angela on 07901 044432

Glenrothes

• Iris on 07702 339259
• Linda on 07702 339258
• Fiona on 07544 656654

Kirkcaldy

• Lee on 07702 338679
• Jane on 07432 677387
• Biff on 07702 338677
• Carol-Ann on 07889 647665

Levenmouth

• Karen on 07730 751896
• Kirstie on 07507 668242

North East Fife

• Laiza on 07889 647664
• Katrina on 07515 291113
• Lucy on 07928 128307

South and West Fife

• Sarah on 07985 739452
• Angela on 07901 044432

To be eligible for these you must be receiving a qualifying benefit.  Find out if you are eligible and apply online.

If you are a council tax payer and not currently receiving Council Tax Reduction, then you should make a joint application for free meals and Council Tax Reduction.

Anyone having difficulty accessing or filling in this form, should contact the Benefits & Council Team online or 03451 55 11 55.

During School terms 

Hot and cold food will be served in all our schools during term time and pupils will be able to choose something to eat as normal. Please be aware that some schools may change their lunch routine or timings slightly.

Parents and carers who receive benefits, whose children are entitled to Free School Meals (FSM) will also receive a payment of £2.30 per day (£11.50 per week)  if their child is asked to self-isolate.

During Summer Holidays

Parents and carers of children who receive Free School Meals based on benefit entitlement will get a payment of £11.50 per week (£2.30 per day), per child during the Summer holidays.  The first weekly payment will be paid into your bank account on Wednesday 30^th June and will cover 6 days from 25^th June to 2^nd July.

This is being paid as normal. To find out if you qualify, and to apply, visit our free school meals and school clothing grant page.

The Family Pandemic Payment is a payment of £100 per child from the Scottish Government to give additional help to families of school children entitled to free school meals (excluding P1-3 pupils entitled to the universal provision).

Although all P1-3 pupils receive a free school meal when attending schools, the payments will only be made if you receive free school meals based on any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Job Seekers Allowance (Income Based)
• Employment and Support Allowance (Income Related)
• Child Tax Credit only with annual income below £16,105
• Child Tax Credit & Working Tax Credit with annual income below £7,330
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration & Asylum Act 1999
• Universal Credit - including those with a take home pay of up to £610 per month

You do not have to apply. If you are eligible the payment will be paid into your bank account on 23^rd June.

The Low-income Pandemic payment is a one-off payment of £130 from the Scottish Government to help with increased costs and lost income due to coronavirus.

Who can get it?

You could get the payment if you receive Council Tax Reduction (CTR) in April 2021 or if you do not pay council tax for one of the following reasons:

• you are in temporary accommodation, including a refuge
• your home is unoccupied because you are being cared for or are caring for someone else
• all members of the household are care leavers, are under 18 or are severely mentally impaired
• You may also get the payment if you make a backdated claim which covers any day in April 2021.

How to get the payment

You do NOT have to apply for this payment. We will contact you to advise when and how the payment will be made if you get Council Tax Reduction or do not pay for any of the above reasons. We aim to make payments before 31 October.

If you think you should be entitled to this payment but have never applied for a Council Tax Reduction, you can apply for CTR if you meet the eligibility criteria.

Social Security Scotland has a number of benefits, funds and grants that can support you in times of need. Below are a few of the payments that could help you during this time.

Scottish Child Payment

Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family. It's a weekly payment of £10 that you can get for every child you look after who's under 6 years of age. You'll get the payment every 4 weeks if your application is successful.

Find out how it works and if you’re eligible.

Funeral Support Payment

If you have recently suffered a bereavement, you may be able to get support towards the costs of the funeral.

Funeral Support Payment helps pay for funeral costs if you live in Scotland. You can use the payment towards funeral costs for a baby, child or adult. This includes babies who were stillborn.

Find out the latest news from Social Security Scotland.

If you’re experiencing difficulties paying other council bills please email the most appropriate team from the list below with your name, address, account number, outline your current difficulty and any payment proposals.

Income Recovery/Debtors Invoices Income.Recovery@fife.gov.uk

Housing Benefit Overpayments HBOP.enquiries@fife.gov.uk

Former Tenant Arrears fta.enquiries@fife.gov.uk

As well as using Paypoint or making payments at the Post Office you can also pay your bills:

• Online at www.fife.gov.uk/payments and selecting ‘pay it online’.
• By calling our automated telephone payment line on 03451 550055.
• Via online banking using the following details:

Sort code 83-22-37

• Council Tax – bank account number 00197596
• Income Recovery – Bank Account Number – 00637537
• Housing Benefit Over-payment – bank Account Number – 10939973
• Former Tenants Arrears – bank Account Number – 00197723

You will require a debit or credit card and your account number.

Click here for information about alternative ways to paying for items with cash for other bills.

Citizens Advice & Rights Fife (CARF) can help you with free, confidential advice and information on a range of problems, including benefits, debt and money advice.