Help with the cost of living - don't miss out

This article is more than 2 years old

Help with...the cost of living

The rise in the cost of living is really biting but you’re not alone in this, there’s more help out there than you think.

Trying to find out what you’re entitled to, what support is on offer and where to get it can be really confusing but we’re here to help.

We’ve worked with other organisations to create a new website with useful information and contact details all in one place, https://our.fife.scot/gethelp. You’ll find lots of advice and links to other organisations who can help, as well as an online checker - to make sure you are getting what you’re entitled to.

We know that not everyone can access the internet, or maybe you just need more immediate help, so we’re also offering one-to-one support, either face to face or over the phone. Our new Community Support Line 0800 952 0330 will be open from 9am until 5pm, Monday to Friday, and our advisors are ready to help.

Council Leader David Ross said: “We are trying to make sure every Fifer has​ ​easy access to coordinated, practical information and support ​​that helps reduce the impact of rising costs​​ when it is needed the most.

“We’re working more closely than ever with our community partners; NHS Fife, Fife Health and Social Care, Citizens Advice and Rights Fife, Fife Voluntary Action and a range of community organisations to try to make sure that wherever folk turn for support or advice, they’ll get the help they need. We’re pooling our resources locally to make best use of the people, services and support we all provide.

“As a council we were part of an incredible community response during the pandemic. We want to keep that momentum going and continue to work with our community groups and organisations to deliver more targeted local support. To help with this, we’ve invested even more money in the Community Recovery Fund which will be split across all seven area committees.”

To help you find out what support is on your doorstep you can visit the local support pages, and search what’s available in your local area.

The main OurFife cost of living site will point you in the direction of:

On the OurFife site you’ll also find the EntitledTo benefit calculator. It’s an easy way to see online, what you might be entitled to. Even if you’ve checked before it is worth doing it again because there have been a few recent changes. More people now qualify for things like Council Tax reductions or Tax Free Childcare than before.

If you are under 18, not a UK national or have trouble using the EntitledTo online calculator, please get in touch on the Community Support Line 0800 952 0330.

There’s a lot of help out there, for those in work or out of work, for those who have some resources and those who have none, for those who’ve had help before and those who haven’t. Don’t suffer alone, we can help.