PKC Welfare Rights Team

Good afternoon Perth and Kinross,

One of our Welfare Rights Officers, Bernie, will be at Goodlyburn Primary School this afternoon if any parents/carers would like to drop in for benefits advice or information on what entitlements may be available to you.

There's no need to make an appointment, you're more than welcome to rock up at the school and ask to speak with Bernie.

She'll be available from 2-4pm this afternoon🥰

Good morning Perth and Kinross! 🥰

Help is available for those struggling with the cost of alternative fuel (oil and LPG).

The Scottish Emergency Heating Oil Scheme.

The scheme aims to support households facing increased costs of oil or LPG for heating.

More information is available on the website homeheatingadvice.scot, which will go live on Tuesday, 31 March.

Applications will open online on Wednesday, 1 April, or households can call 0800 048 7413 for assistance.

Payment will be made directly to the supplier wherever possible.
Eligibility

To qualify for a payment, you must meet the following criteria:

• You are the bill payer in a home for which the primary heating fuel is oil or liquid petroleum gas (LPG).
• The home is your only or main residence.
• You have purchased fuel after 1 April 2026 or are planning to make an order shortly.
• No award has been made to the same household at the same address in the last three calendar months.

Automatic Qualification

You will qualify automatically if you receive any of the following means-tested low-income social security benefits:
• Universal Credit (including Scottish Child Payment)
• Housing Benefit
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-based Employment Support Allowance (ESA)
• Pension Credit

Discretionary Qualification
You may also qualify through a discretionary decision if you:

• Are in financial hardship, but not currently receiving a low-income benefit, and
• Are at risk of self-rationing, plus meet one or more of the following conditions:
o Priority need for heat or higher energy consumption due to impaired health, age (under 5 or over 75), disability, chronic or serious illness, long-term condition, mental health issue, recent hospital discharge, or end-of-life care.
o Priority need for heat due to geography or rurality.
o Other vulnerability, such as debt, waiting for a benefits decision or appeal, major life event, or recent bereavement.

Please share🥰

Good afternoon Perth and Kinross! This message is long-winded but we're hoping it's worth it 😍

Did you know that your Council Tax liability may reduce if someone in your household (that isn't your partner/spouse) is aged 18 or over and is in receipt of:

👉 the higher rate of Pension Age Disability Payment (PADP), or
👉the enhanced rate of the Daily Living component of Adult Disability Payment (ADP), or
👉the highest rate of the care component of Scottish Adult Disability Living Allowance?

AND you care for them for at least 35 hours per week.

Example:

Kate and Jimmy live with their adult daughter Maria who is 20 and her siblings James and Keith (twin boys aged 10).

Kate and Jimmy are both working.

Maria is in receipt of the enhanced daily living component of ADP.

Both Kate and Jimmy qualify for a "Carer's Disregard" due to the amount of care Maria needs and because she's in receipt of the correct level of benefit.

This means that their Council Tax liability reduces by 25% so instead of paying around £2,000 in Council Tax, their liability reduces to around £1,500.

This reduction in liability is non-means-tested so it doesn't matter how much the couple earn or how much capital they have.

Not only that but because Maria has been in receipt of this level of benefit since her 18th birthday, the couple are eligible for a reduction in their liability from that date...wee refund in the post😁

If this household scenario resembles yours, or that of someone you know, then please get in touch with us via online referral @ www.pkc.gov.uk/wrt or give us a call next week on 01738 476900 (option 1).

Contact the Welfare Rights Team - Perth & Kinross Council Most people claim benefits at some point in their lives depending on their circumstances. The welfare benefits system can be complicated and it is not always clear what benefits, if any, someone may be entitled to.

Removal of 2-Child Limit from Universal Credit.

From April the DWP is removing the 2-Child Limit from Universal Credit and this is good news, however, once this happens some families will continue to have their income reduced as the Benefit Cap will then apply.

This is most likely to impact households with 3 children or more.

We would urge any household with 3 children or more to get in touch to find out if they are missing out on any entitlements.

The Benefit Cap can be prevented if other benefits such as Carers Support Payment or disability benefits are in payment.

If you think you may be impacted then please get in touch via our online form .pkc.gov.uk/wrt or via phone on 01738 476900 (option 1).

Council Tax Reduction (CTR)

You can apply for up to 100% reduction in your Council Tax (excluding water/wastewater charges) if you are on a low income and have capital below a certain level (usually £16,000).

Visit www.pkc.gov.uk/ctrhbapply to apply online or for more information.

For information on further support available, visit www.pkc.gov.uk/costofliving

Or call the Welfare Rights Team on 01738 476900 (option 1)