A new welfare rights advice service for people over 60 backed by £700,000 from the Scottish Government, could help up to 22,000 people.

The Older People’s Advice Service (OPAS) will target over 60s in the most deprived parts of Clackmannanshire, West Lothian and North Lanarkshire.

The project aims to address poverty and financial exclusion by improving take-up of older people’s benefits with particular emphasis on clients who have health problems, are housebound, or who live in remote areas.

Advice is delivered face-to-face in the person’s own home, engaging with those people that do not access the internet or want to discuss these issues on the telephone.

Linkwide will deliver the service.