Just weeks after welfare reforms began an increase in the number of people needing help is putting pressure on advice workers.
Glasgow Advice Information Network held a meeting to co- ordinate a response to the growing crisis, with staff saying some people are waiting longer for crisis payments.
They said people were now waiting an extra day for decisions from the Scottish Welfare Fund and meanwhile have no access to cash for food.
The meeting took place in the city for groups to share experiences and plan how they will cope with the growing demand.
Staff from Glasgow Central Citizens Advice Bureau, local law centres and money advice centres met to update each other on the impact on clients and services.
Yesterday, the Evening Times reported how people in Glasgow had received almost £8million in crisis grants and loans in one year, the highest of any city in the UK, outside London.
Labour MSP, Jackie Baillie was concerned the fund would run out as more people sought to access it. Concerns have been mounting over the impact of welfare reforms, including cuts to housing benefits and tougher rules for disability benefits.
The 'bedroom tax', a reduction in housing benefit for under occupying a rented social sector home, is also reducing the amount some families have for food.
Front line advice agencies said they are already seeing the impact of the changeover from the Social Fund to the Scottish Welfare Fund, as the most immediate impacts of welfare reform are now leaving some people destitute.
The Scottish Welfare Fund was created when Westminster handed over responsibility to the Scottish Government and crisis loans were replaced with grants.
Evening Times
