Coronavirus - Benefits and money advice

• If you’re 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.

As part of a number of measures to provide support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the basic element of Working Tax Credit has been increased by £1,045 to £3,040 from 6 April 2020 until 5 April 2021.

The amount a claimant or household will benefit from will depend on their circumstances, including their level of household income, however the increase could mean up to an extra £20 each week.  For more information, please visit -www.gov.uk/government/news/increase-to-working-tax-credits-what-this-means.

Council Tax Reduction regulations have been amended from 6^th April. Therefore, in line with these changes to increase earnings disregards (this is a certain amount of earned income that is not taken into consideration when determining eligibility for benefits), customers receiving the additional Working Tax Credits will not see a reduction because of this.

If this affects you, you will receive a new Council Tax bill shortly.  If your Working Tax Credit has not yet been increased as a result of these changes, your entitlement will be revised at that time and a further bill issued.

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Update 26/03/20: Latest position on collecting council tax:

With immediate effect, we will not be taking any recovery action against households who fail to pay their Council Tax because of sudden financial hardship in relation to the current Covid-19 crisis. No reminder letters will be issued if you’re unable to pay your bill next month (April 2020) and all recovery methods will remain suspended meantime.

It’s important however, for those who do find themselves in a position to pay their Council Tax, to keep doing so. We need this money to provide vital services - all normal methods of payment will stay in place at present and Direct Debits will be taken as normal.

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

We have also instructed our debt collection partners to suspend all new recovery action against households with existing Council Tax arrears.

We’ll be reviewing the situation regularly.

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For more help with benefits and money advice during this situation visit www.fife.gov.uk/coronavirus-moneyadvice

Due to COVID -19, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) has increased the Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates from 1 April 2020  to help tenants meet their current contractual rent obligations.

As it may take tenants some time to recover from these unprecedented times, these rates will continue until 31 March 2021, when they will be reviewed.

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As part of a number of measures to provide support during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the basic element of Working Tax Credit has been increased by £1,045 to £3,040 from 6 April 2020 until 5 April 2021.

The amount a claimant or household will benefit from will depend on their circumstances, including their level of household income, however the increase could mean up to an extra £20 each week.  For more information, please visit -www.gov.uk/government/news/increase-to-working-tax-credits-what-this-means.

The Housing Benefit regulations have been amended from 6^th April, therefore In line with these changes to increase earnings disregards (this is a certain amount of earned income that is not taken into consideration when determining eligibility for benefits), customers receiving the additional Working Tax Credits will not see a reduction because of this.

If this affects you, you will receive a new Housing Benefit notification and/or Council Tax bill shortly.  If your Working Tax Credit has not yet been increased as a result of these changes, your entitlement will be revised at that time and a further notification issued.

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For more 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 as the result of the Covid-19 crisis 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 01592 583659 or on the mobile numbers below. We can call you back if you would prefer.

Cowdenbeath

• Linzi Forbes
  Linzi.forbes@fife.gov.uk
  07535 650273
• Edward King
  edward.king@fife.gov.uk
  07751 795372

Dunfermline

• Lauren Cruikshank
  lauren.cruickshank@fife.gov.uk
  07730 751895
• General enquiries
  01592 583659

Glenrothes

• Iris Sauer-Derricutt
  iris.sauer-derricutt@fife.gov.uk
  07702 339259
• Linda Thomson
  linda.thomson@fife.gov.uk
  07702 339258
• Fiona Allan
  Fiona.allan-cn@fife.gov.uk
  07544 656654

Kirkcaldy

• Lee Robertson
  lee.robertson@fife.gov.uk
  07702 338679
• Jane Hoggins
  jane.hoggins@fife.gov.uk
  07432 677387
• Biff McMahon
  biff.mcmahon@fife.gov.uk
  07702 338677
• Carol-Ann Jennings
  carolanne.jennings@fife.gov.uk
  07889 647665

Levenmouth

• 01592 583659

North East Fife

• Laiza Lorimer
  laiza.lorimer@fife.gov.uk
  07889 647664
• Katrina Breslin
  Katrina.breslin-cl@fife.gov.uk
  07515 291113

South West Fife

• Sarah Smith
  Sarahanne.smith@fife.gov.uk
  07985 739452
• General enquiries
  01592 583659

From 23 March no meals will be prepared in schools (other than for those attending Children’s Activity Centres). Instead, a payment of £11.50 per week, per child will be made to parents/guardians.  A payment will only be made for Primary 1 – 3 pupils if they receive free school milk.

For children already registered for free school meals as of 23 March, the first payment will be received on 25 March.

To be eligible for this payment you must be receiving a qualifying benefit.  To check if you are eligible, further information and the online application are available at www.fife.gov.uk/schoolbenefits.

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 online at www.fife.gov.uk/counciltaxhelp.

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

The school clothing grant will continue to be paid.

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

Any customers who are self-isolating and who would normally make payments using Paypoint or Post Office can use other ways to pay including:

• 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.

Support available from CARF