Depending on your circumstances, you might be eligible for a range of benefits and grants.
You should use a benefit calculator to check what you're entitled to.
If you're on a low income
People who are in work but on a low income might be eligible for certain benefits.
Universal Credit
If you're on a low income, are out of work or unable to work, you might be able to apply for Universal Credit.
The amount you get will depend on how old you are and whether you live alone or with a partner.
Read more about Universal Credit.
Pension Credit
If you're on a low income and are over State Pension age, you might be able to apply for Pension Credit.
Read more about Pension Credit.
If you're disabled
There are some benefits, grants and schemes that might be able to help you if you're disabled.
Child Disability Payment
Child Disability Payment is extra money to help you if your child has a disability or long-term health condition that affects their everyday life. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
The amount you get will depend on your child's condition and its effect on them.
Read more about Child Disability Payment.
Adult Disability Payment
Adult Disability Payment is extra money to help you if you have a disability or long-term health condition that affects your everyday life. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
The amount you get will depend on your condition and its effect on you.
Read more about Adult Disability Payment.
Pension Age Disability Payment
Pension Age Disability Payment is replacing Attendance Allowance in West Dunbartonshire. It'll launch in 2025.
Attendance Allowance helps with extra costs if you have a disability severe enough that you need someone to help look after you. It's paid by the DWP.
The amount you get will depend on your condition and the level of care that you need because of it.
Read more about Attendance Allowance.
Employment Support Allowance
Employment Support Allowance can help if you have a disability or health condition that affects how much you can work. It's paid by the DWP.
You'll get some money whilst your claim is processed and then the amount you are due after will depend on your circumstances.
Read more about Employment Support Allowance.
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit
Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit can help if you became ill or are disabled because of an accident or disease at work. It's paid by the DWP.
The amount you get will depend on your own circumstances.
Read more about Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit.
If you're a carer
There are some benefits, grants and schemes that might be able to help you if you're a carer.
Carer Support Payment
If you care for someone for at least 35 hours a week and they receive certain benefits, then you might be able to apply for Carer Support Payment. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
It's a payment of £81.90 a week.
Read more about Carer Support Payment.
Young Carer Grant
If you're aged between 16 and 18 years old and care for people for around 16 hours a week, then you might be able to apply for the Young Carer Grant. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
It's a payment of £383.75 a year.
Read more about the Young Carer Grant.
Guardian's Allowance
If you're looking after a child whose parents have died then you should be able to apply for Guardian's Allowance. It's paid by the DWP.
It's a payment of £21.70 every 4 weeks.
Read more about Guardian's Allowance.
Help for parents and young people
There are some benefits, grants and schemes that might be able to help you if you are a parent or young person.
Scottish Child Payment
Scottish Child Payment helps towards the costs of supporting your family. You are eligible if you are receiving certain benefits. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
It's a weekly payment of £26.70 that you can get for each child under 16 years old.
Read more about Scottish Child Payment.
Best Start Grant
Best Start Grant is 3 payments towards the costs of being pregnant or looking after a child if you're on certain benefits. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
It's made up of the Pregnancy and Baby Payment, the Early Learning Payment and the School Age Payment.
Read more about Best Start Grant.
Best Start Foods
Best Start Foods can be used to buy food when you're pregnant or looking after a child under 3 and receiving certain benefits. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
It's paid onto a prepaid card that you can use in shops and online.
Read more about Best Start Foods.
Child Disability Payment
Child Disability Payment is extra money to help you if your child has a disability or long-term health condition that affects their everyday life. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
The amount you get will depend on your child's condition and its effect on them.
Read more about Child Disability Payment.
Child Benefit
The School Clothing Grant is a payment of £150. It's paid by West Dunbartonshire Council.
The grant is available if you receive certain qualifying benefits. You won't need to apply if you received the grant previously, unless you have another child starting school.
Read more about the School Clothing Grant.
School Clothing Grant
The School Clothing Grant is a payment of £150. It's paid by West Dunbartonshire Council.
The grant is available if you receive certain qualifying benefits. You won't need to apply if you received the grant previously, unless you have another child starting school.
Read more about the School Clothing Grant.
Education Maintenance Allowance
If you're aged 16 to 19 and want to continue in education, you might be able to a apply for education maintenance allowance (EMA). It's paid by West Dunbartonshire Council.
It's is a payment of £30 every 2 weeks. You might be eligible if your household income is below a certain amount.
Read more about Education Maintenance Allowance.
Young Patient's Family Fund
If you're the parent or carer of an inpatient who is under 18 years old then you might be able to claim for the costs of travel and food. It's paid by NHS Scotland.
You'll have to make a claim within 3 months of them being discharged.
Read more about the Young Patient's Family Fund.
Help after a death
There are some benefits, grants and schemes that might be able to help you if you have recently been bereaved.
Funeral Support Payment
If you're paying for a funeral, you might be able to apply for a Funeral Support Payment if you receive certain benefits. It's paid by Social Security Scotland.
Read more about Funeral Support Payment.
Bereavement Support Payment
If your spouse or civil partner passed away in the last 21 months then you might be able to get a Bereavement Support Payment. It's paid by the DWP.
Read more about Bereavement Support Payment.
Help with housing
There are some benefits, grants and schemes that might be able to help you if you own or rent your home.
Scotland's rent cap
There's a de-facto cap for the rent increase in private residential tenancies of 12%. In most cases your rent will increase by less than this. You should challenge a rent increase with Rent Services Scotland.
Read more about Scotland's rent cap on Shelter Scotland.
Discretionary Housing Payment
If you receive Housing Benefit but it isn't enough to cover your rent, you might be able to apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment. It's paid by West Dunbartonshire Council.
Read more about Discretionary Housing Payment.
Support for Mortgage Interest
If you own your home and are receiving certain benefits, you might be able to apply for a payment to help paying the interest on your mortgage.
It’s paid as a loan, which you’ll need to repay with interest when you sell or transfer ownership of your home.
Read more about Support for Mortgage Interest.
Help with council tax
There are some benefits, discounts and exemptions that might be able to help you with council tax payments.
Council tax exemption
Your home might be exempt from council tax where all the occupants are students, under 18 or severely metnally impaired.
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Read more about council tax exemptions.
Council Tax Reduction
If you're on a low income then you might be able to get Council Tax Reduction. ​
You can claim it if you own or rent your home and regardless of whether you are working, unemployed, retired or a carer.
Read more about Council Tax Reduction.
Single person discount
If you are the only adult living in the home then you should be able to get a 25% discount in the amount of council tax that you pay. Council Tax Reduction.
Read more about the Single Persons Discount.
Care leavers discount
If you are under 26 and have previously been looked after by the local authority then you might be able to get a discount on your council tax.
Read more about the Care Leavers Discount.
Student discount and exemption
If you're a student but live with people who are not students then you should get a discount for your council tax. ​
If you're a student and either live alone or with other students then you are exempt from paying council tax.
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Read more about the student discounts and exemptions.
Disabled person discount
If you or someone at your home is disabled then you might be able to drop the valuation band (e.g. from C to B) if alterations are required at the property due to the disability amongst other eligibility.
Read more about the Disabled Person Band Reduction.