IFAN is the organisation behind the ‘Worrying About Money?’ leaflets
These leaflets are designed to be straightforward signposting tools for people facing financial difficulties, as well as frontline support workers .
To support the use of the local ‘Worrying About Money?’ leaflets IFAN delivers online Money Counts training sessions.
The next ones are listed below.
Free school meals are to be extended to children in P6 and P7 from February. The qualifying benefit will be the Scottish Child Payment .
https://www.gov.scot/publications/equality-impact-assessment-free-school-meals/
Young people born between 1st October 2008 and 28th February 2009 can now apply for EMA from January 2025 if they are remaining in non-compulsory education. This payment is made directly to the young person but eligibility is also dependant on household income.
Any households who have had a change in circumstances since August may now also wish to check if their young person now qualifies for the £30 per week payment as new applications can also be taken during the academic year.
For more details on EMA criteria and how to apply: Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) | Fife Council Adults in the household should be encouraged to also visit Increase your income | Cost of Living Support and use The Fife Benefit Checker to ensure all income is fully maximised.
The Scottish Government has revealed that the CTR scheme has supported low-income households nationally with £4.1 billion since its introduction in 2013.
Fife residents can find out if they qualify and apply via the Fife Benefit Checker. Increase your income | Cost of Living Support
Tax scheme hits £4 billion milestone - gov.scot
The Trussel Trust has undertaken some research and today ( 10th January) released the results which show that people in Scotland are more concerned about Poverty than any other part of the UK.Scots are more concerned about poverty than people elsewhere in UK | Trussell
Happy New Year and please get back to me if you want details about any of this information. Thanks to Audrey Whyte from CARF in preparing this week's update.
Contact: Sheena Watson
Email: sheena.watson@fife.gov.uk
