Raising awareness of benefits key in coming months

Raising awareness around the financial support available to people this winter is high on the list of priorities for Trust funded organisation Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau in the coming months.

As the team readies themselves for cold winter months approaching, they are preparing for the increase in demand for their services.

Karin Johnstone, Operations Manager at Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau, said: “A large portion of our clients are in arrears, so advisors are dealing with debt, payment plans and grant applications. We also have had a lot of clients that have been supported to understand their bills and make arrangements to repay.

“But in the coming months, we’ll be raising awareness around the Winter Heating Payment and making sure clients eligible are claiming the Warm Home Discount. We are also supplying clients with advice on energy efficiency and electric blankets, draft excluders and, where possible, if the client owns their home, we are making referrals to Home Energy Scotland to allow the clients to claim help with things like insulation.”

The team have been helping people like Steve*, 43, who has a disability and lives in a council property with his three children.

Steve came to Dundee Citizens Advice Bureau looking for advice on saving money on his energy bills.

Immediately, he was given advice around not keeping his electrical items on standby and informed about settings which allow for items to be automatically shut off at certain times of the day to reduce energy consumption. He was also advised about how draught excluders and radiator shields can make the most of the energy he and his family use.

As well as being able to issue food bank vouchers and direct him to the process to get fuel vouchers, the team also encouraged him to explore options with his landlord – the local authority – to ensure his home is up to energy efficient standards.

Read more about the energy support available for people this winter.