Cost of Living and Financial Wellbeing

Who We Are

NHS Tayside Directorate of Public Health (Financial inclusion and Health Inequalities Team) in partnership with advice and energy support services across Tayside.

Who to Refer

Residents of Dundee, Angus and Perth who have money worries or at risk of experiencing food or fuel insecurity. Referrals can only be accepted for patients who have given consent for their details to be shared with advice services.

Who Not to Refer

For residents/patients out-with Dundee, Angus and Perthshire area, please refer to Citizens Advice Scotland: www.cas.org.uk , telephone 0800 028 1456

For families who are unable to purchase first stage infant formula please follow Tayside Infant Food Insecurity Pathway.

How to Refer

Patients can self refer, or be referred directly by a healthcare professional. A professional led referral is preferable as it can help patients overcome the first step of contacting an advice service.

Contact details of local advice services are provided below. Please use telephone numbers provided if matter is urgent.

If using e-mail to refer, please include patient’s name, address including postcode, contact number and/or e-mail address of patient and a very brief summary of help required i.e. benefit entitlement check or debt help and confirmation that patient has consented to a referral. Please also mention if patient requires assistance for communication. Once a referral is made, let the patient know that the service referred to will contact the patient directly. This can take a few days.

Angus locality - welfarerights@angus.gov.uk
or 03452 777 778 or by using the online referral form

Dundee locality - welfare.rights@dundeecity.gov.uk
or 01382 431188

Perth & Kinross locality - welfarerights@pkc.gov.uk
or 01738 476900 or by using the online referral form

Citizens Advice Bureauonline referral form

Home Energy Scotland (for help reducing energy bills or assistance with fuel debt) – e-mail nhstaysidereferral@scarf.org.uk

Each local authority has a website hosting Cost-of-Living information that will include where to find warm spaces, community food provision, free period products and more:

Angus
Dundee
P&K

Useful Resources

For staff:
Independent Food Aid Network (IFAN) Worried about money leaflets (versions include, Dundee, Angus and P&K). The leaflets can be ordered for free from IFAN or they have an online tool that makes it easy to direct the patient to the right support depending on the issue.

NHS Tayside: Fuel Poverty & Cold Homes e-learning

NHS Tayside’s Cost of Living Support Directory

For more information on money maximisation training, poverty sensitive practice training or patient resources, please contact NHS Tayside’s Advice Centre - tay.advicecentre@nhs.scot