Local authority funded money and welfare rights advice services remain a vital element in Scotland’s anti-poverty infrastructure.
The recently published Advice Insights Framework Annual Report found almost quarter of a million individuals have been able to access locally based welfare rights and money advice services and the total financial gains recorded are £435.7 million. This means that every £1 invested delivers financial gains for individuals of £14.
Other key findings included:
- 22% of individuals initially accessed services on a face-to-face basis
- Over 25,000 individuals, who were supported to manage their debts, collectively had debts of £165.5 million
- Around 48% lived in households where the income was £10,000 or less
The report is available at 2024-25 report.
About Advice Insights Framework
The Improvement Service, in partnership with the Scottish Government, leads on the collation and analysis of data for the Advice Insights Framework.
The framework captures key performance indicators for money and welfare rights advice services funded by local authorities on both an in-house and commissioned basis.
It has been developed in close consultation and co-operation with local authorities and other key stakeholders over eleven years and provides a consistent basis for reporting and measuring money and welfare rights advice performance.
With changes to the delivery of money and welfare rights advice services over the years and the uncertainty in relation to the future funding of services in the face of ongoing budget cuts, the need to demonstrate the impact of these services remains key.