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Get benefits and money advice

Benefits calculator

If you’re looking for help for a benefit check, please use the online calculator below. 

Aberdeen City Council’s benefit calculator is easy to use and calculates, based on the personal information you provide, what benefits you may be entitled to. It is completely anonymous and only you get to see the calculation.

Completing it should take no more than ten minutes and at the end you can download a copy of your calculation or email it to yourself.

Benefit calculator

Please note this calculator is not suitable for those who are 16/17 years old and living with parents, in hospital, residential care, prison, living abroad or full-time education. Please contact us directly for a benefit check.

Benefits and Money Advice

If you live in Aberdeen city, our benefits and money advice team can provide free, impartial and confidential advice. Our money advisers can:

  • Check you are receiving all the benefits you are entitled to.
  • Help complete benefit claim form.
  • Assist you to challenge benefit decision you disagree with.
  • Help you to deal with all types of problems debts.
  • Provide advice on what creditors can/cannot do and speak to creditors on your behalf.

You can receive advice/assistance by completing our online referral form. Once we have received your request one of our advisers will call you.

Contact the Benefits and Money Advice team

Debt/money advice appointment

Before your debt/money advice telephone appointment, there are a few things you can get together to help it run as quickly and smoothly as possible:

  • Details of other people in your household, including any children. 
  • Your employment details.
  • Details about your mortgage, or rental payments, including the up-to-date balance, account number, second charges.
  • A list of all your creditors, including the account numbers and outstanding balances.
  • A list of your household income and regular expenses. 
  • Hire Purchase details – date taken, when the payments end, terms.
  • Details of any current or pending legal action regarding your debts.
  • Details of any additional properties you own.

If you are self-employed: 

  • Details of any business takings and business expenses

After your appointment our adviser will be able to explain which options are available to you. Whatever your situation we will do our best to help you find a solution to manage your debts.

Assistance with health-related benefits forms appointment

Before your assistance with completing a health-related benefit form appointment, there are a few things you could look out to help the adviser.

  • List of all the medications you currently receive.
  • Read through the form and make any notes.
  • Keep a diary of your good days and bad if you have a fluctuating health condition.
  • Look out any medical evidence that could support your claim.
  • A list of all Health Professionals involved in your care.

Challenging a benefit decision appointment

Before you challenging a benefit decision appointment, there are a few things you could look out to help the adviser.

  • Any decision letter from DWP/HMRC/local authority
  • Any supporting evidence 

Universal Credit is a payment to help with your living costs. It’s paid monthly - or you can choose to be paid twice a month.

If you have a query about Universal Credit, you can phone the free government helpline on 0800 328 5644.

Attendance Allowance helps pay for your personal care if you're 65 or older and disabled. You can download the claim form or phone 0800 731 0122.

Carers Allowance is money to help you look after someone who needs to be cared for. You can make a claim online or phone 0800 731 0297.

Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) is money you get if you cannot work because of illness or disability. You can make a claim online or call 0800 055 6688. If you have a query about ESA, call 0800 169 0310.

Income Support can help to cover your costs if you’re on a low income. You can phone 0800 169 0350 to make a claim if you are eligible.

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) can help you with some of the extra costs if you have long term ill-health or a disability. Call 0800 917 2222 to make a claim or call 0800 121 4433 if you have a query.

Best Start Grants are payments available from the Scottish Government to support low income families with children. You can apply online or phone 0800 182 2222.

Child Benefit is money you get if you’re responsible for one or more children under 16 (or under 20 if they stay in education or training). You can make a claim online or phone 0300 200 3100.

Tax Credits have been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. Use the tax credits calculator to estimate how much you could get. You can phone 0345 300 3900 to make a claim if you are eligible.

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who is under 16 and has a disability. You can make a claim online or phone 0800 121 4600.

Pupils are eligible for free school meals if their parents or carers receive certain benefits. Find out more about applying for free school meals.

In some circumstances, we can provide a grant towards the costs of school clothing and footwear if you receive certain benefits. Find out more about applying for a school clothing grant.

An Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) is a payment of £30 per week, paid directly into your bank account if you stay on in school, college or in home education after your official school leaving date. Find out more about applying for an EMA.

You can find out more about the State Pension on the GOV.UK website.

Use the online tool to check your State Pension age. There are three ways to claim your State Pension:

Pension Credit is extra money for pensioners to bring your weekly income up to a minimum amount. To make a claim, call 0800 99 1234.

See the Money Advice Service website for more information about pensions and retirement savings.

Council Tax Reduction is a means-tested reduction available to people who have a low income to help towards the cost of council tax.

Housing Benefit can help you pay your rent if you’re unemployed, on a low income or claiming benefits. It’s being replaced by Universal Credit.

Local Housing Allowance (LHA) is a benefit to help tenants of private landlords pay their rent.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) is a fund to help people struggling to pay rent and meet their housing costs such as rent in advance, rent deposits or housing removal costs.

Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) is an unemployment benefit you can claim while looking for work. You can make a claim online or call 0800 055 6688. If you have a query about JSA, call 0800 169 0310.

Income Support can help to cover your costs if you’re on a low income. You can phone 0800 169 0350 to make a claim if you are eligible.

Tax Credits have been replaced by Universal Credit for most people. Use the tax credits calculator to estimate how much you could get. You can phone 0345 300 3900 to make a claim if you are eligible. 

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