AS/MS Y Dirprwy Weinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government

Eich cyf/Your ref Ein cyf/Our ref WQ 81383 / 81385

Dawn Bowden MS Member of the for and Rhymney Senedd Cymru Cardiff Bay Cardiff CF99 1SN

[email protected]

12 November 2020

Dear Dawn,

Thank you for your written questions tabled on 26 October regarding the Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) detailed below. I confirmed in my response on 5 November that I would write to you directly.

Written questions: WQ81383 - What is the total amount awarded through the Discretionary Assistance Fund from April to August 2020, and how much of this has been awarded through a) Individual Assistance Payments; and b) Emergency Assistance Payments?

WQ81385 - What proportion of refused applications to the Discretionary Assistance Fund made during this financial year so far (April 2020 to August 2020) were subsequently overturned at appeal and what are the most common reasons for successful appeals?

In response to your questions above, I can confirm that between April 2020 and August 2020 the DAF awarded a total value of £7,245,437 of support. This consisted of £2,470,238 awarded as Individual Assistance Payments and £4,775,199 awarded as Emergency Assistance cash Payments.

During the same period a total of 53,077 applications to the DAF were refused, with 384 of these requesting an appeal. 242 of those were subsequently overturned at the appeal stage. The most common reason for a successful appeal is that further information, not disclosed in the original application, is provided at the appeal stage, for example, clarification of current circumstances where this is not clear in the application, including benefit status, and correction of personal data. Canolfan Cyswllt Cyntaf / First Point of Contact Centre: 0300 0604400 Bae Caerdydd • Cardiff Bay [email protected] Caerdydd • Cardiff [email protected] CF99 1SN Rydym yn croesawu derbyn gohebiaeth yn Gymraeg. Byddwn yn ateb gohebiaeth a dderbynnir yn Gymraeg yn Gymraeg ac ni fydd gohebu yn Gymraeg yn arwain at oedi.

We welcome receiving correspondence in Welsh. Any correspondence received in Welsh will be answered in Welsh and corresponding in Welsh will not lead to a delay in responding.

Another common reason for successful appeals includes the applicant seeking support from an accredited partner given that applications for Individual Assistance Payments should be supported by a DAF accredited partner.

I hope this information is helpful.

Yours sincerely,

Hannah Blythyn AS/MS Y Dirprwy Weinidog Tai a Llywodraeth Leol Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government