Following the introduction of recent changes to Universal Credit (UC) as well as expected price hikes for energy costs, Falkirk Council has assessed how it intends to tackle poverty across the local area and help those most affected.
It is estimated that the changes to UC will impact nearly 13,000 households at an estimated cost of nearly £9m reduction in income.
This will clearly impact low-income households locally.
A report to this month’s Executive outlined the practical ways in which this is currently being tackled to minimise the effect of poverty locally.
Councillor Cecil Meiklejohn, Leader of Falkirk Council said: “With nearly 7000 children living in poverty in our area, it’s clear we need to target our resources where they are needed most to protect those most at risk.
“Evidence shows poverty is often linked to other inequalities such as poor mental and physical health, attainment, breakdown of relationships and domestic abuse so it is vital we intervene as early as possible with our support.
We recently received additional grant support from Scottish Government of nearly £700k to help with: fuel support; digital inclusion work; additional payments for school clothing and meals and essential support for low-incoming households.
We’re looking at how we provide face to face support via our Advice and Support Hubs looking at how customer needs have changed throughout and after the Pandemic.
We’re doing more to identify households at risk of poverty proactively using our Hub teams to ensure access to benefits, employment opportunities etc as well as other support is prioritised.
Sally Buchanan, Acting Library Services and Fairer Falkirk Manager explained: “COVID-19 has left more families in a difficult position financially and many are at real risk of poverty with the recent changes to Universal Credit and the forthcoming fuel price increases.
“Our work takes onboard these new circumstances making sure the resources and support we have (as well as other agencies) can be best used to minimise the difficulties being faced by thousands of families.
“We are working with services across the Council and partners to make sure staff who are working on the front-line helping families are fully aware of what help is available.”
Falkirk Council provided 756 clients advice with their debts in 2021 and negotiated a total of £5.6m debt.
Our Welfare Benefit support service reached out to just short of 3000 clients and helped them gain nearly £6m due.
In the last three months, compared to the same period in 2020, homeless presentations increased by 5.5% and demand for Housing Advice increased by 13.9%.