Delivering ‘cash first’ approaches to support individuals most in need

Supporting people to complete benefit check forms

The Community Development team have been working in partnership with Shetland Citizen’s Advice Bureau (CAB) to support individuals to complete Benefit Check forms. 

The Community Learning and Development (CLD) Partnership identified a need to deliver ‘cash first approaches’ to support individuals most in need, recognising that with money in your pocket, people are more able to deal with the other challenges they may face. CAB, had highlighted the ongoing issue of receiving a number of incomplete benefit check forms, often due to low literacy and confidence in completing forms.  For CAB this ultimately means staff time is diverted to going back and forth helping with form completion rather than pursuing claims. Shetland Islands Council's (SIC) Community Development team saw an opportunity to support adults to develop their literacy skills, help relieve some of the pressure on CAB, and help individuals improve their circumstances.

There are two approaches to the Benefit Checks. Adult Learning is delivering weekly drop-in support sessions in the library and Islesburgh, and have incorporated support to complete benefit check forms into this work.   The Team are also introducing benefit checks and cost of living into conversations out in the community to try and break down barriers around speaking about money and how the cost of living is impacting on people’s lives. 

The Team has found that not only are there lots of people picking up on the support, but that through open and honest conversations, people are more willing to seek support, in the knowledge that they are not alone.  Assistance with completing benefit check forms has become a core part of what the Community Development Team do as part of their jobs, providing a friendly face and a listening ear, to help people who may find forms daunting. This has also helped people with mobility issues and access (as checks can be done in people’s homes, or in the community). Evidence suggests that while the dedicated sessions work well striking up conversations in the community about costs of living seems to work really well, particularly when a level of trust has been established. 

One Community Pop-In was attended by a grandmother who had come to ask about a fuel voucher for her grandchild. She had been helping her grandchild out regularly giving money and the use of her car. Through conversation with the Community Worker it was discovered that the grandmother herself could use a benefit check and energy advice for her own home and a CAB referral was made. Through this casual face-to-face meeting this grandparent was able to access help for both her herself and her grandchild, something that would have been unlikely to happen had the lady never come along her local hall for a cup of tea. As a result of this, the family have less worries about energy costs, and may find that they are entitled to further support.

Adult Learning provided support to a single parent to complete a benefit check form. After submitting the form to CAB, the individual is now receiving an additional two benefits and a National Entitlement Card. This has enabled the family to visit relatives, attend activities at a reduced rate and feel less stressed about bills coming in.

Benefit checks link to the Partnership’s ‘Participation’, ‘People’ and ‘Money’ priorities. Public agencies are working with communities to help deliver improved outcomes for people across the isles; the aim is to ensure that the number of disadvantaged people and households in Shetland is considerably reduced; and support is being provided to ensure people can access they support they need to minimise their outgoings. This work also highlights good practice of partnership working between communities, CAB and SIC.