Maximise your income with the money talk team - Catherine Henry

I have worked for the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland for over eight years and there is no doubt in my mind that this past year has been one of the most challenging financial years for people across the board, families in particular. However, there is help available for families during this difficult time that you might not be aware of.

Catherine Henry manages the Money talk Team service at Citizens Advice Scotland

I run the Money Talk Team service, a free, confidential, and personalised service delivered by the Citizens Advice Network in Scotland and funded by the Scottish Government. It is there to help families across Scotland to maximise their income by advising them on how to save cash by reducing bills and ensure they are claiming all of the benefits and grants they’re entitled to.

Since the start of the pandemic in March, the Money Talk Team has supported over 10,000 families and helped bring missing money home for more than 6,400 of them who are better off by over £1,500, on average. The Citizens Advice Network in Scotland is incredibly proud to deliver this vital service for families across the country as we know the pandemic has had a difficult impact on family budgets. Our message to people is that help is there, and families should claim what they are due. That’s what our welfare state is for – everybody pays in and gets the support they need. The service can be accessed through the free helpline on 0800 085 7145 or by web chat at https://moneytalkteam.org.uk

When your call is first picked up by the Money Talk Team, we will try and establish your household’s financial situation. Once we’ve gathered all the relevant information, we’ll then look at how we can maximise your income and scope out other financial support you might be entitled to. Following the enquiry phone call, next steps will look at implementing changes we’ve discussed – this is something Citizens Advice will look at supporting you on along the way.

And it’s not just support with benefits, the Money Talk Team can also guide you through simple steps and changes you can make to be better off now, including using comparison sites to manage utility bills, planning your weekly meals and getting the whole family involved by creating a budget and sticking to it.

Our records show that since launching in November 2018, the Money Talk Team has gone on to support almost 27,000 families and created financial gains of almost £24 million in total. These figures really underline how crucial the Money Talk Team is for families across Scotland who might need advice, support and a reassuring voice at the end of the phone during this difficult time.

More information around the financial support available to families can be found at Parent Club which is an online information resource and support hub, offering tips and information to help support parents and carers, and to help them support their children. To find out more about the Money Talk Team and how they can help you in these tough times, visit www.parentclub.scot/articles/who-are-money-talk-team or call 0800 085 7145 for a free and confidential chat.

Catherine Henry manages the Money talk Team service at Citizens Advice Scotland