A Glasgow man is praising a service helping social housing tenants claim welfare benefits.

Retired painter and decorator Raymond Walker along with thousands of other Wheatley Homes tenants benefitted from the Welfare Benefit Advisor team's help. He is one of the 3,700 social housing tenants who has received help.

Mr Walker said: "When I retired, I didn’t have the first clue how to go about getting the benefits I was entitled to.

"People say it’s easy enough, but I didn’t know where to start and my age group is not always very computer literate.

"I phoned Wheatley Homes Glasgow and spoke to Kirsty, one of the benefit advisors, who has been absolutely fantastic."

“I think the service is going to be called upon more and more because of the last few years we've had with the cost-of-living. It’s a complicated system and you just don't know where to start. But the benefits advisors are really clued up and we were fortunate having Kirsty who really cared and helped us claim what we were entitled to.

The 68-year-old, who lives in Wyndford with his wife Jill, 66, urged other tenants in his situation to seek similar assistance.

The advisors inform tenants about the benefits they can claim and represent them during any related appeals or disputes.

Since April 2023, they have helped Wheatley customers all over Scotland access over £7.3million in unclaimed benefits, with £4.5million going to Wheatley Homes Glasgow customers.

The advisory team, operated by Wheatley Foundation, supported Mr Walker with his housing benefit claim and pension credits.

He added: "If anybody's worried about it, my advice would be to get in contact with them. If I had been trying to do it all myself, I’d probably just have given up.

"They are there to help you and it certainly takes an awful lot of the pressure off."

Aisling Mylrea, director of Wheatley Homes Glasgow, said: "We’re doing all we can to support tenants in Glasgow in these difficult times.

“It is very clear the welfare benefits system can be complex for people to navigate. Tenants may presume they’re already getting all the financial support available, or they’re not entitled to anything. Others may worry their claim will be rejected or they struggle to apply online.

"Welfare benefits are a vital safety net for many people on low-incomes, particularly in this cost-of-living crisis. We are here to help tenants claim all of the benefits they are entitled to. The support and advice we can offer is life changing.

“We would encourage any Wheatley tenant who is struggling to get in touch. We are here to help.”

Wheatley Homes Glasgow tenants who want to book an online or telephone appointment with a welfare benefit advisor should call freephone 0800 479 7979.