Benefits Advice and Welfare Rights Service

Osprey Housing provide a free and confidential Welfare Rights service for all of our tenants. Some of the services we offer include:

  • Challenging benefit decisions & providing appeal representation
  • Providing benefit checks / Income maximisation checks
  • Completing benefit forms
  • Assisting tenants to make benefit claims
  • Referral to food and clothing banks for those in need

You can contact us on 01224 548000 and ask to speak to a Tenancy Support Officer, or complete the following form: Tenancy Support Form

Alternatively you could contact Citizen’s Advice: https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/scotland/benefits/

For further Information on Scotland’s Social Security benefits: https://www.socialsecurity.gov.scot/benefits

Some tenants may qualify for assistance to help pay rent. Advice on this can be sought from the Tenancy Support Officers. Alternatively, tenants can contact their Local Housing Benefit Office directly. Tenants in receipt of Housing Benefit must notify the Housing Benefit Office of any changes in circumstances, e.g. your employment status, admitted to hospital. Tenants in receipt of Universal Credit must notify DWP of any changes in circumstances that may affect your entitlements.

Housing Benefit Contact:

  • Aberdeen City: 03000 200 292
  • Aberdeenshire: 0345 6081200
  • Moray: 01343 563456

Housing Element of Universal Credit:

DWP: https://www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit

Benefits Calculators

Use an independent benefits calculator to find out:

  • What benefits you could get
  • How to claim
  • How your benefits will be affected if you start work

These are free to use.

Calculators

Use one of the following:

  • entitledto - for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work
  • Turn2us - for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours
  • Policy in Practice - for information on income-related benefits, tax credits, contribution-based benefits, Council Tax Reduction, Carer’s Allowance, Universal Credit, how these are calculated and how your benefits will be affected if you start work or change your working hours

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs including rent.  It’s paid monthly - or twice a month for some people in Scotland.

You may be able to get it if you’re on a low income, out of work or you cannot work.

Apply for Universal Credit Online

Apply now

Alternatively you can contact Citizen’s Advice Scotland for help to claim Universal Credit here: https://www.cas.org.uk/helptoclaim

 

Listed below are the benefits that are currently delivered by Social Security Scotland and how to find out more about eligibility.

To find out more about these benefits or to apply for them, please visit mygov.scot/benefits

If you would like to find out more or apply for one of these benefits over the phone, you can do this by calling 0800 182 2222.

Or on webchat between 8am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.

Heating and housing

Housing benefit or Universal Credit housing element - You could get Housing Benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit if you need help to pay your rent. These can pay for all or part of your rent. How much you can get depends on your income and circumstances.

Discretionary Housing Payment – You may be eligible if you get housing benefit or housing element and cannot afford your rent.

Winter heating payment - You will get Winter Heating Payment automatically if you get one of the benefits that make you eligible.

Pension Age Winter heating payment - Helps people of State Pension age pay their heating bills. It's paid once a year and you could get a payment of between £101.70 and £305.10.

Child Winter Heating Payment - A payment to help disabled children and young people and their families with increased heating costs over winter. It’s paid once a year. Payment for winter 2025-2026 is £255.80.

Emergency and crisis payments

Cost of Living, Scottish Welfare Fund, Grants - Made up of two different grants to support people in crisis and to help people live independently within the community. One of these is a Crisis Grant. It can help to cover heating or food costs in a disaster or emergency. You can only apply through your local council.

Children and family

Best start grant pregnancy and baby payment – one off payment of up to £767.50 for a first child and £383.75 for any child that comes after from 24 weeks in pregnancy up until a baby turns 6 months for families who get certain benefits.

Best start grant early learning payment– one off payment of £319.80 when a child is between two and three years and six months for families who get certain benefits.

Best start grant school age payment – one off payment of £319.80 when a child would normally start primary one for families who get certain benefits.

Best Start Foods – a pre-paid card from pregnancy up to when a child turns three for families on certain benefits to help buy healthy food.

Scottish Child Payment - a new, unique to Scotland, benefit that will give qualifying parents and carers £27.15 every week to help towards the costs of looking after each child under 16.

Disability and illness

Adult Disability Payment - Adult Disability Payment is extra money to help you if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life.

Child Disability Payment - helps towards the extra costs of bringing up a disabled child or young person in Scotland.

Pension Age Disability Payment - You can apply for Pension Age Disability Payment if you have both: reached State Pension age and had care needs during the day or night for 6 months or more because of a disability or health condition

Carers

Carers Allowance Supplement - an automatic payment made twice a year to people who get Carer’s Allowance through the DWP on certain dates each year.

Young Carer Grant – an annual payment of more than £390.25 for people 16, 17 or 18 who care for people who get a disability benefit from the DWP for an average of 16 hours a week or more.

Carer Support Payment - Carer Support Payment is money to help you if you’re a carer. You can get paid £83.30 a week if you’re eligible. Carer Support Payment replaces Carer’s Allowance in Scotland.

Bereavement

Funeral Support Payment - money towards the costs of a funeral at a difficult time like this for people on certain benefits who are responsible for paying for a funeral.

Bereavement Support Payment - if you're under State Pension age and have a husband, wife or civil partner who has died in the last 21 months.

Jobs and work

Job Start Payment - £319.80 for 16 to 24 year olds who have been on certain benefits for six months or more to help with the costs of starting a job. £511.65 if you are the main carer for any children.