CONCERNS have been raised over the loss of the specialised welfare advice service in the Borders... just months before the controversial Universal Credit roll out arrives in the region.

Scottish Borders Council has pulled the plug on its benefits helpline.

And only a funding package from charity Macmillan has prevented welfare advisors who deal with cancer patients also being axed in March.

The decision to ditch the specialist helpline has been slammed by MSP Christine Grahame.

She told us: "The people who rely on this service are the most vulnerable in our communities and often have nowhere else to go for help.

"I would call on Scottish Borders Council to reconsider this decision."

The onus of dealing with benefits problems will now rest with the local authority's general call handlers.

Dozens of concerned claimants used the specialist service every week.

And that number would have rocketed from next March when Universal Credit replaces income support, housing benefit, child tax credit, jobseeker's allowance, working tax credit and employment and support allowance in the Scottish Borders.

Since the new welfare system was piloted in parts of the country, one in four new universal credit claimants had to wait more than 42 days for a first payment, while nearly half of families said moving on to the benefit had led them to fall behind with rent for the first time.

Around half of new Universal Credit claimants also required a Department of Work and Pension loan to help pay for living expenses such as food and gas bills while waiting on the first payment.

Ms Grahame added: "Under any circumstances this is a false economy but with the UK government rolling out Universal Credit it will be even more so.

"People are going to have no money to pay their rents and other bills, and it is at this time that they will need someone on the end of a phone line to offer independent help and advice.

"These cut backs by the council will end up costing them."

As well as general welfare advice officers, Scottish Borders Council employed specialists to deal with mental health issues and early years claims.

But all calls from concerned claimants will now go to customer services who deal with all local authority issues.

Jenny Smith, chief officer of Borders Voluntary Care, told us: "It appears that all calls to welfare benefits are now being routed through the SBC customer services advisers, who are supposed to deal with 'simple' benefits enquiries – it is incredibly rare that that such enquiries are simple.

"The benefits system is very complex and is subject to change, and some people are always going to need specialist help.

"It is appalling at a time when so much is happening in relation to welfare benefits, resulting in so many people needing advice and support, that this specialist team is being reduced.

"In addition, there appears to have been no public consultation on these changes, or any equality impact assessment to identify the affect the plans will have on local people.”

Scottish Borders Council confirmed the specialist welfare service has now been integrated into its general call handling department, which deals with everything from bin collections and roads to dog fouling reports and council tax queries.

A spokesman told us: "Customer advice and support advisers already handle varied and at times complex advice and support matters on a range issues and will in future provide a wider range of advice and support after appropriate further training.

“Customers will have easier and wider methods of contact with a larger pool of staff able to provide initial advice and support but with quick and easy options to be referred to more specialist staff within the council or other providers when appropriate.

“These options will include referral to an SBC financial inclusion officer who can provide similar advice to that previously available."

Two specialist welfare advisors who operate the Macmillan service at Newtown St Boswells also faced the chop.

But the cancer charity has agreed to fund the service in its entirety from next March.

Macmillan manager Michelle Gallacher explained: "Our service is currently continuing as normal and will continue for the foreseeable future.

"We aware there are wider discussions around how they provide benefits services and we will be working closely with them to ensure people with cancer continue to get the benefits and support they require."