If you need to talk to one of the GAIN advice staff please contact them via this number - 0808 8011011.
This line is open between 9am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
Further updates will be available as soon as possible.
Changes to your GAIN services due to the Coronavirus
Due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus (COVID - 19) the services provided by partners within the GAIN community have been amended.
Important to note that the "Getting Advice" function on the left of your screen will be removed as soon as possible and should not be used as these services are no longer completely available. Details of the library Universal Credit support services are shown below under "Help with your Universal Credit Claim".
None of the Financial Inclusion Partner organisations, such as the Citizen Advice Bureaux (CAB) are carrying out face to face interviews and have transferred their staff onto telephone help lines and will take appointments via the telephone.
This information may change due to the crisis, therefore it is important that you check the webpage regularly:
| Organisation | Telephone Number | Email address |
| Bridgeton CAB | 0141 554 0336 | advice@Bridgetoncab.org.uk |
| Drumchapel CAB | 0141 944 2612 | bureau@drumchapelcab.org.uk |
| Central CAB | 0141 552 5556 | techadvisor@glasgowcentralcab.casonline.org.uk |
| Easterhouse CAB | 0141 771 2328 | adminuser@easterhousecab.casonline.org.uk |
| North West CAB | 0141 948 0204 | |
| Parkhead CAB | 0141 554 0004 | info@parkheadcab.org.uk |
| Pollok CAB | 0141 881 2462 | admin5@gpollokcab.org.uk |
| Clydeside Action on Asbestos | 0141 552 8852 | admin@actionasbestos.org.uk |
| Drumchapel Money Advice | 0141 944 0507 | admin@d-mac.org.uk |
| GEMAP | 0141 773 5850 | info@gemap.co.uk |
| Castlemilk Law Centre | 0141 634 0313 | mail@castlemilklawcentre.co.uk |
| Ethnic Minority Law Centre | 0141 204 2888 | admin@emlc.org.uk |
| Govan Law Centre | 0141 440 2503 | m@govanlc.com |
| Legal Services Agency |
0141 353 3354 or 0800 316 8450 |
mail@lsa.org.uk |
| Money Matters | 0141 445 5221 | advice@moneymattersweb.co.uk |
| Castlemilk CAB | 0141 634 0338 | manager@castlemilkcab.casonline.org.uk |
Help if you have cancer or a long term health condition.
The services available have been changed to cope with the Coronavirus and protect clients as well as staff. These are the services now available:
Improving the Cancer Journey - Macmillan @ Glasgow City Council
Offering holistic support for anyone affected by Cancer, including financial, housing, practical, physical and emotional.
Telephone : 0141-287-7077 - lines currently restricted 10am-3pm subject to change
Email : ICJ@glasgow.gov.uk
Website: www.glasgow.gov.uk/icj
Long Term Conditions - Macmillan @Glasgow City Council
Offering support and advice on Welfare Benefit, Housing and Energy
Telephone: 0141-287-7077 - lines currently restricted 10am-3pm subject to change
Email: LTCandMacmillanService@glasgow.gov.uk
Website: www.glasgow.gov.uk/LTC
Help with your Universal Credit Claim
From Friday 10th April there will no longer be a face to face service to support claims for Universal Credit in any of your local libraries. You can make an appointment to get support to make a telephone claim for Universal Credit by phoning the number below.
You can make an appointment by phoning the number below
08081699901
Changes to DWP procedures due to the Coronavirus
If you’re in work and not claiming benefits
If you cannot work due to coronavirus and are eligible for Statutory Sick Pay you will get it from day one, rather than from the fourth day of your illness. DWP intends to legislate so this measure applies retrospectively from 13 March 2020.
Statutory Sick Pay will be payable if you are staying at home on Government advice, not just if you are infected by coronavirus. This will apply from 13 March 2020.
If you are a gig worker and/or on a zero hours contract, you may be entitled to sick pay. Check your eligibility for Statutory Sick Pay
If you need to provide evidence to your employer that you need to stay at home due to having symptoms of coronavirus an Isolation Note can be obtained from NHS 111 online. If you live with someone that has symptoms, an Isolation Note can be obtained from the NHS website.
If you are not eligible to receive sick pay you can apply for Universal Credit and/or apply for New Style Employment and Support Allowance
You can also apply for these if you are prevented from working because of a risk to public health.
If you’re already claiming benefits
Changes to jobcentre appointments
People receiving benefits do not have to attend jobcentre appointments for three months, starting from Thursday 19 March 2020.
People will continue to receive their benefits as normal, but all requirements to attend the jobcentre in person are suspended.
People can still make applications for benefits online if they are eligible.
Jobcentres remain open, and will continue to support people who are not able to use phones and online, including homeless people.
If you’re already claiming Universal Credit and think you may have been affected by coronavirus, please contact your work coach as soon as possible. You can do this by:
- using your online journal, or
- calling the Universal Credit helpline
Changes to health assessments
In light of the current coronavirus outbreak, the Department for Work and Pensions has taken the precautionary decision to temporarily suspend all face-to-face assessments for health and disability-related benefits. This is aimed at reducing the risk of exposure to coronavirus and safeguarding the health of individuals claiming health and disability benefits, many of whom are likely to be at greater risk due to their pre-existing health conditions.
If you already have an assessment appointment arranged, you do not need to attend. Your assessment provider will contact you to discuss your appointment and explain the next steps to you.
If you have made a claim for Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA), Universal Credit or Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (IIDB) but do not have a date for an assessment appointment, you do not need to do anything. You will be contacted shortly by telephone or letter to let you know what will happen next.
If you are already receiving PIP, ESA, Universal Credit or IIDB you will continue to receive your current payments as normal.
If you have made a new claim or wish to make a new claim, DWP will continue to take claims for all benefits.
Read the current NHS guidelines on coronavirus, including advice on those who should stay at home.
What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit (UC) is a social security benefit that replaced six, what are known as “legacy benefits”, details of these can be found on our Information on Universal Credit pages.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) expects that the vast majority of UC claims will be made on line.
When you are making a claim to UC you will need to provide information about who you are and your current circumstances.
Please Remember - You won’t get your UC payment until you’ve provided DWP with all the right evidence. So it’s important to get all the documents to them as quickly as possible. If you can’t provide the right evidence, you should contact DWP and explain why (telephone 0845 6000723, textphone 0845 6000743).
You have to verify your identity online, to do this you will need, for example your:
- driving licence
- passport
- debit or credit card
If you don't have photo ID you can take other evidence to your interview instead, such as -
- evidence of your address if you have one, for example an electricity or gas bill, council tax bill, bank statement, official letters;
- your birth or marriage certificate
Try and take at least three forms of evidence if you can
You will also need:
- an email address
- your bank, building society or credit union account details (call the Universal Credit helpline if you do not have one, Telephone: 0800 328 5644 or Textphone: 0800 328 1344)
- your National Insurance number (NI) - you can find this on a payslip or letter from Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) - call the helpline on 0300 200 3500 (textphone 0300 200 3519) if you can’t find your NI number
- information about your housing costs, for example how much rent you pay, for example your tenancy agreement
- details of your income, for example payslips
- details of savings and any investments, like shares or a property that you rent out
- details of how much you pay for childcare if you’re applying for help with childcare costs
- any other benefits you’re getting, for example benefit award letters or a bank statement
- child benefit reference numbers for any children you have if you get child benefit - this can be found on letters to you about child benefit, it will start with 'CHB' and is made up of 8 numbers and 2 letters, for example CHB12345678 AB - phone the Child Benefit Office on 0300 200 3100 (textphone 0300 200 3103) if you need help
Remember
- If you're in a couple, the DWP will normally need information and evidence about your partner's circumstances as well as yours