Financial Support and Inclusion Team

How can the Financial Inclusion Team help?

The Financial Inclusion team can:

  • give general benefit advice
  • give advice when your benefit has been sanctioned
  • help to prepare your benefit appeal and represent you at a tribunal
  • give you redundancy advice
  • provide training
  • give talks and briefings

How you can contact the Financial Inclusion team

You can contact the Financial Inclusion team online.

You can also contact us by calling our Customer Advice and Support Service on 0300 100 1800.

What information we will need to know

So that we can provide you with the best service, it is important that when you contact us for advice, you can give us the following information:

  • the amount of your income and savings
  • which benefits you currently receive
  • your housing costs and council tax payments
  • details of your health problems (if you want advice on disability benefits)

If you are unhappy with a benefit decision

It is important that you contact us straight away If you would like us to help you to challenge a benefit decision as there are time limits.

If the time limit has already passed, we may still be able to help you, as late mandatory reconsiderations and appeals can be requested in certain circumstances.

Find out more about benefit appeals.

Apply for Housing Benefit and Council Tax Reduction Apply for Housing Benefit Watch Universal Credit: online application - instructional video Financial help in the early years

Citizens Advice Bureau

For further general benefits advice contact your Local Citizens Advice Bureau

Get financial support and advice

Address: Galashiels Area Office
Paton Street
Galashiels
TD1 3AS

Telephone: 0300 100 1800

Fax: 01896 662765