With winter on the way and energy bills going up, Renfrewshire residents are being urged to book a free money advice appointment during Talk Money Week, which runs from Monday 2 to Friday 6 November.

Appointments are available with Advice Works and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau, who offer free, expert advice on money, bills, benefits, debt and financial support. Advisers can check whether you're getting all the benefits you're entitled to, and many people are missing out on help they could be claiming.

How to book

You can book an appointment online through Renfrewshire Council's website, or by phone:

  • Advice Works: 0300 300 1238
  • Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau: 0141 889 2121

If Talk Money Week doesn't suit, appointments are available in other weeks too.

What help could you get?

Advisers can talk you through a wide range of support, including:

  • Low incomes: Universal Credit for working-age people and families, whether in work, out of work or unable to work.
  • Older people: Pension Credit for people over State Pension age on a low income.
  • Families: Best Start Grant and Best Start Foods, Child Benefit, the Scottish Child Payment, free school meals, school meals holiday payments and school clothing grants.
  • Unpaid carers: the Young Carer Grant for 16 to 19-year-olds, the Carer Support Payment, and the Carer Additional Person Payment for those caring for more than one person.
  • Disability and long-term health conditions: Child Disability Payment, Adult Disability Payment and Pension Age Disability Payment.
  • Young people: the Job Start Payment for 16 to 24-year-olds and care leavers starting a new job.
  • Energy bills: the Warm Home Discount, which some households get automatically and others need to apply for through their energy supplier.
  • Debt: help if you're struggling with rent, mortgage payments, Council Tax, credit cards, loans or energy debt, or worried about falling behind.

If money is tight this winter, a single appointment could make a real difference, so it's well worth picking up the phone.

Photo: High Street, Paisley, by Richard Sutcliffe, CC BY-SA 2.0.