Where to get money and benefits advice

What help you can get, benefits and entitlements, how to contact Advice Works and Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB), help for families, other organisations that can help.

On this page:

What help you can get

We know money worries can have a big effect on people's lives. We also know that it can be difficult to take the first step to sort out your finances.

Anyone in Renfrewshire can contact Advice Works or Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) if you have money worries.

Our Advice Works team and the Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) can help you if you're:

worried or struggling to pay your rent, mortgage, Council Tax or other bills
behind with any repayments
being chased by people you owe money to
having to choose between heating your home or buying food.

You can also talk to them if you:

need help budgeting your money
cannot see a way out of your money worries or debts.

Benefits and entitlements

Advice Works or Renfrewshire CAB can make sure that you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to including:

Universal Credit
Scottish Child Payment or Best Start Grants
Disability benefits
Pension Credit
Tax Credits
Young Carer Grant (for 16, 17 and 18 year olds)
Free School Meals or help to buy school clothing
paying less Council Tax if you qualify.

They will go through your personal circumstances with you and work out if there's anything else you are entitled to claim.

They can also support you if you want to challenge a benefit decision or a Universal Credit sanction.

The Advice Works team offer free, confidential and independent advice on money and debt issues including budgeting, negotiating with creditors, and mortgage and rent arrears - as well as checking you are getting all the benefits you are entitled to.

You can make an online referral to Advice Works for yourself or someone else, such as a family member, friend or a person your organisation is helping.

After you submit the form, Advice Works will contact you within 3 working days. If they can't reach you after two attempts, they will leave contact details for you to call back at a time that suits you.

You can also contact them on 0300 300 1238 or at adviceworks@renfrewshire.gov.uk.

The Advice Works team are available:

Mondays to Thursdays from 8.45am to 4.45pm (closed from midday to 1pm)
Fridays from 8.45am to 3.55pm (closed from midday to 1pm).

Drop-in sessions during May and June 2025

You can meet the Advice Works team in libraries and community centres throughout May and early June for free, confidential advice on money, debt, and benefits.

Advice Works can provide advice on support such as Housing Benefit, Universal Credit, Pension Credit, and Council Tax Reduction.

They will also provide one-to-one support for anyone looking for help managing debt or improving your financial situation.

These drop-in sessions are open to everyone and will help you to get all the support you're entitled to.

No appointment is needed, just drop by during these times:

2 May 2025, 10am-3pm, Johnstone Town Hall (next to Johnstone Library)
7 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Bishopton Library
8 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Tannahill Centre (next to Ferguslie Park Library)
9 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Glenburn Library
14 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Lochwinnoch Library
16 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Cargill Hall (next to Bridge of Weir Library)
21 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Erskine Library
23 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Foxbar Library
28 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Linwood Library
30 May 2025, 10am-12pm, Renfrew Library
4 June 2025, 10am-12pm, Ralston Community Centre (next to Ralston Library)
6 June 2025, 10am-3pm, Paisley Central Library

If you can't come to an event, you can still contact Advice Works on 0300 300 1238 to ask for a benefit check or support with any money or debt issues.

How to contact Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)

Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau are a local, independent charity that provides free, impartial and confidential advice and information on problems with debt, money, housing, work, immigration, family and personal issues, welfare and benefits.

You can phone Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau on 0141 889 2121 or make an appointment on their website.

To contact Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau:

Appointments normally last around an hour and can be done by video or over the phone. The service is free and completely confidential.

Help for parents, carers and families

Help for families of primary, nursery and preschool children

If you're a parent or carer with children in primary school, nursery or younger, you can get free, confidential and impartial advice for families from our Advice Works team.

They generally give advice over the phone, so you have more flexibility over when and where you discuss your money issues, and get advice and support without having to travel anywhere. They can also offer appointments online if you're prefer.

You can contact Advice Works:

Help for families of secondary and Additional Support Needs (ASN) school children

If you're a parent or carer with a child at secondary school or an Additional Support Needs (ASN) school, you can make an appointment with Renfrewshire Citizens Advice Bureau for help with:

budgeting
benefits
debt
housing
employment
any other money worries.

If there are not appointments available on a day that suits you, you can book an appointment at any secondary or ASN school. It does not have to be the school your child goes to.

Pupils aged 16 or older can also ask for advice for themselves or their family.

The advice is free, impartial, and confidential. You'll meet with a Citizens Advice Bureau advisor in a private room for your appointment.

To make an appointment, you can:

Other organisations that can help

These organisations and services can also help with money issues:

Money Helper website
Renfrewshire Foodbank
Universal Credit
Social Security Scotland
TV Licensing for payment plans and concessions.

If these issues are affecting your mental health, find out where you can get help and support.

Renfrewshire Council