Extra Help with Essential Costs If You're on a Low Income
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Grants and Loans
Information and support Grants and loans f you have Parkinson’s, you Disabled facilities grants might be worried about how If you have a disability and have to make big changes I to your home to help with your needs, for example you'll manage financially. If you by adding an extension, hoist, stair lift or downstairs can’t work, or if you need help bathroom and shower unit, you might qualify for with your day-to-day needs, this a grant from your local council. can lead to extra costs. But there If a grant is available, your council may arrange for is some financial support available, an occupational therapist to assess what adaptations you need. so it’s important to find out what help you’re entitled to. Disabled facilities grants are usually means-tested, so how much you get depends on your income and savings. To find out more about what’s available This information explains what in your area, check with your council or visit www. grants and loans may be available gov.uk/disabled-facilities-grants to you to cover one-off costs or Access to Work help you if you're in financial need. The Department for Work and Pensions can pay part of the costs to help people access their workplace. What you get may be a single payment or a series of regular payments to meet ongoing costs. To qualify you must: y be over 16 years old y have a job based in England, Wales or Northern Ireland, and The information in this publication is correct as of April 2019, but is subject to change. -
Devolved Social Security Powers: Progress and Plans
SPICe Briefing Pàipear-ullachaidh SPICe Devolved social security powers: progress and plans Camilla Kidner This briefing provides an update on the devolution of certain aspects of social security, primarily following the Scotland Act 2016. By 2024 Social Security Scotland is expected to be delivering a range of social security provision including carer's and disability benefits. A separate briefing will provide further detail on individual benefits. This paper focuses on the timeline, delivery agencies and funding. 10 May 2019 SB 19-27 Devolved social security powers: progress and plans, SB 19-27 Contents Executive Summary _____________________________________________________3 Introduction ____________________________________________________________4 Social security timeline: 'safe and secure transfer' ____________________________6 Devolved social security: 2013 to 2019 ______________________________________7 Devolved social security: 2020 to 2024 ______________________________________7 Legislative process from devolution to delivery _______________________________8 Organisational structure of devolved social security ____________________________9 Social security programme_____________________________________________10 Funding devolved social security _________________________________________12 Baseline _____________________________________________________________12 Ongoing funding for disability and carer benefits and winter payments_____________12 Ongoing funding for other benefits_________________________________________13 Setting the -
Form SF500 Budgeting Loans from the Social Fund
Notes sheet Budgeting Loans from the Social Fund Please read these notes carefully. They explain the We cannot help with any other types of items or services. circumstances when a loan can be paid. Different circumstances Budgeting Loans have to be paid back but they are interest free. apply to payments of Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans. You can have one of three rates of Budgeting Loan. The amount depends on whether you If you think you may be eligible for either of these types of are single, a couple without children or qualifying young persons or a one or two parent payments, read the section on the other side of this page. family with children or qualifying young persons. You will need to fill in the right application form for the type of The amount of Budgeting Loan you can have also depends on whether you have any other payment you need. These are: budgeting loans from the Social Fund. The amount of any Budgeting Loan we may pay ● form SF300 for a Community Care Grant together with the amount you still owe the Social Fund cannot be more than £1,500. ● form SF500 for a Budgeting Loan ● form SF401 for a Crisis Loan Savings ● form SF100 (Sure Start) for a Sure Start Maternity Grant ● If you and your partner are aged under 60, savings of more than £1,000 may affect the ● form SF200 for a Funeral Payment amount of money you can get. You must fill in a separate form for each one. ● If you or your partner are aged 60 or over, savings of more than £2,000 may affect the amount of money you can get. -
Social Fund Guide
Social Fund Guide This guide contains the Secretary of State's directions and guidance. It is intended for use mainly by Decision Makers and independent Social Fund Inspectors. Amendment 1 of 2012 - April 2012 Amendment 2 of 2012 – May 2012 Amendment 3 of 2012 – October 2012 Contents Part 1 – Introduction Part 2 – Community Care Grants Part 3 – Crisis Loans Part 3A – Crisis Loans pre-April 2011 Part 4 – Budgeting Loans Part 5 – The Budget Part 6 – Reviews Part 7 – Reviews by the Social Fund Inspector Part 8 – The Directions Part 8A – Transitional and revoked Directions Part 9 – Table of current year’s amendments Amendment 3 of 2012 2 Part 1 - Introduction Description of the Social Fund 1. The Social Fund (SF) is a scheme to help people with needs which are difficult to meet from regular income. It is made up of two distinct parts: • a regulated scheme which provides entitlement to maternity, funeral, cold weather and winter fuel payments for people who satisfy certain qualifying conditions • a discretionary scheme under which people may be eligible in certain circumstances for a: o Community Care Grant (CCG) - to meet, or help to meet, a need for community care o Budgeting Loan (BL) - to meet, or help to meet, an intermittent expense o Crisis Loan (CL) - to meet, or help to meet, an immediate short term need 2. This guide deals with discretionary payments only. Discretionary Scheme – appropriate officers 3. SF decisions on CCGs, BLs and CLs are discretionary. Decisions on such payments are made by officials who, acting under the authority of the Secretary of State, exercise functions of the Secretary of State in relation to discretionary social fund payments. -
Information Guide 12: DWP Social Fund 1.8.2019 1
WELFARE RIGHTS SERVICE DWP Social Fund Information Guide 12: For Residents and Advisers st www.wolverhampton.gov.uk 1 August 2019 Introduction When people are living on a low income or benefits, budgeting for large or unexpected items of expenditure can prove difficult. The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) provides a number of different types of interest free loans and grants which are designed to help at times of specific need. This Information Guide explains what help is available. DWP Social Fund: ▪ Budgeting Loans ▪ Sure Start Maternity Grants ▪ Funeral Expenses Payments ▪ Short-term Advance Payments Universal Credit: ▪ Advance Payments ▪ Budgeting Loans It also provides information on Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments, the Family Fund (a charity that can provide financial assistance to families with a disabled child or young person) and the Local Welfare Assistance scheme which can provide ‘crisis loans’ and ‘local welfare assistance loans’ to people living in Wolverhampton. Information Guide 12: DWP Social Fund 1.8.2019 1 To qualify for a Budgeting Loan the claimant DWP Social Fund (and/or their partner) must have been receiving a ‘qualifying benefit’ (see page 3) for The Social Fund provides a range of interest at least six months (gaps of 28 days are free loans, grants and lump sum payments ignored) prior to the date of claim. which can be applied for by some benefit claimants. Under the Social Fund a person Any eligible Budgeting Loan amount will be can make an application for: reduced by the amount of savings the claimant (and/or their partner) has above £1,000 (£2,000 if the claimant or their partner is aged A. -
Unfair and Underfunded
Unfair and underfunded CAB evidence on what’s wrong with the Social Fund This report was written by Alan Barton, National Association of Citizens Advice Bureaux October 2002 Contents 1. Summary and recommendations 1 2. Introduction 5 The need for change 5 What is the Social Fund for? 6 What does the Social Fund provide? 7 3. General problems with the Social Fund 9 Grants or loans? 9 Inadequate advice from social security staff 10 Is the budget adequate to meet need? 12 Is the Social Fund efficient and effective 14 Eligibility – the people who miss out 14 Alternative help- The Association of Charity Officers 17 4. Specific problems with the Social Fund 20 Community Care Grants 20 Budgeting Loans 23 Crisis Loans 27 Funeral Payments 33 5. Conclusion 39 Appendix: CABx that submitted evidence between January 1999 and July 2002 40 Unfair and underfunded Summary and recommendations 1. Summary and recommendations 1.1 The Social Fund exists to enable people on very low incomes to meet needs that they cannot afford from their normal benefit income. These needs include such things as the cost of clothes and other equipment for a new baby, beds and cookers for people setting up home after homelessness or mental illness, or the costs of replacing essential items destroyed in a fire. In this Evidence Report we draw attention to the manifest failings of the Social Fund to meet the needs of people on low incomes. These failings have left some of the poorest and most vulnerable people in society socially excluded and deprived of the necessities for a decent standard of life. -
Money in Your Pocket Creating an Age Friendly Wales How to Claim the Right Benefits in Later Life
More money in your pocket Creating an age friendly Wales How to claim the right benefits in later life Money matters We are Age Cymru. Age Cymru is the national charity for older people in Wales. We campaign, we research and we fundraise to make sure we build a better life for all older people. We ensure older people’s voices are heard, we challenge and change attitudes and we fight discrimination wherever we find it. We provide a range of national and local services and programmes directly to older people in the community and we ensure the highest standards so you can be assured of consistency and quality wherever you see the Age Cymru name and logo. Our family includes local Age Cymru partners and national partners, Age NI, Age Scotland and Age UK. Age Cymru Mariners House Trident Court East Moors Road Cardiff CF24 5TD 029 2043 1555 www.agecymru.org.uk Registered Charity 1128436 Date of publication: April 2021 2 More money in your pocket Contents What this guide is about 4 What you can claim Benefits at a glance 7 Your pension State Pension: you’ve earned it – make sure you get it 9 Pension Credit: tops up your weekly income 12 Your home Help with Council Tax 15 Help with housing costs 18 Help with heating costs: a warmer home for winter 20 Your wellbeing Help with urgent or one-off expenses 22 Help with health costs 24 Attendance Allowance (AA): money for your care needs 26 Making an application for AA 28 Common care needs to include 30 What if my application for AA is turned down? 31 Carer’s Allowance: extra cash to help with caring 32 Working-age benefits 33 Myth-busting 36 Useful organisations 38 This information leaflet has been prepared by Age Cymru and Age UK and contains general advice only, which we hope will be of use to you. -
Benefit Changes Timeline
Important benefit changes and news – timeline ‘Welfare Reforms’ Below is an overview of the main benefit changes and news from 2011 onwards, which is when the present Welfare Reforms began, mainly introduced by the 2010 and 2015 governments. Click here to go to 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021 and beyond. You can find more details on benefit changes and welfare reform on our website page: www.newcastle.gov.uk/welfarereform, where you can also read and sign up for our Benefit Bulletin. You can find out about how we are responding to these changes in the report ‘Newcastle’s response to the Government’s welfare reforms’ which was presented to reports to cabinet. The information here is as accurate as possible at the time of writing, May 2021. Produced by the Newcastle City Council Active Inclusion Service Email: [email protected] 1 Date Change Notes and sources 2011 January 2011 Health in Pregnancy Grant – abolished Budget 2010 Is a one off payment of £190. It is paid to most women who are at least Coalition Govt: 25 weeks pregnant and meet other criteria. It is abolished from January http://programmeforgovernment.hmg.gov.uk/j 2011. However women who reach the 25th week of pregnancy before 1 obs-and-welfare/index.html Jan 2011 will still be able to get it. BBC https://researchbriefings.files.parliament.uk/d ocuments/RP10-66/RP10-66.pdf page 1 January 2011 Support for mortgage interest Budget 2010 , Spending Review 2010 and Temporary reduced waiting time to 13 weeks extended till January Autumn Statement 2011 2013. -
Local Welfare Provision
Local government report by the Comptroller and Auditor General Local government Local welfare provision JANUARY 2016 Our vision is to help the nation spend wisely. Our unique end-to-end view of public sector service delivery allows us to provide commentary, advice and insight to local authorities to help achieve the best use of resources and improve public services. The Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG), Sir Amyas Morse KCB, is an Officer of the House of Commons, independent of government and leads the NAO, which employs some 810 people. The Local Government and Accountability Act 2014 provides for the C&AG to conduct examinations into the economy, efficiency and effectiveness with which local authorities have used their resources in discharging their functions. The C&AG may publish the results of such an examination in such manner as he considers appropriate. Local government Local welfare provision Report by the Comptroller and Auditor General This report has been prepared and published under Section 7Z(A) of the National Audit Act 1983 as introduced by the Local Audit and Accountability Act 2014 Sir Amyas Morse KCB Comptroller and Auditor General National Audit Office 8 January 2016 This report examines how English councils have implemented local welfare provision since April 2013 and the challenges councils face sustaining provision. It provides advice to councils on issues to consider when deciding what support they provide to meet local welfare needs. © National Audit Office 2016 The material featured in this document is subject to National Audit Office (NAO) copyright. The material may be copied or reproduced for non-commercial purposes only, namely reproduction for research, private study or for limited internal circulation within an organisation for the purpose of review. -
Local Welfare Assistance Schemes and the Social Fund
Local welfare assistance schemes and the Social Fund If you're on a low income and have to meet the cost of unplanned expenses, you may be eligible for a payment from the Social Fund or help from your local council. This factsheet explains what you may be eligible for, how payments are made and how to complain if you feel you've been turned down unfairly. Last reviewed: July 2016 Next review date: May 2017 Independent Age provides advice to help people claim benefits, access social care and stay independent at home. Our local volunteers provide friendship visits and calls for lonely older people. To find out how Independent Age can help you, call us FREE on 0800 319 6789 or visit independentage.org 1 Local welfare assistance schemes and the Social Fund -July 2016 Contents 1. What help might I be eligible for? ............. 3 2. Getting help from your local council .......... 4 3. Short-term benefit advances .................... 7 4. Budgeting Loans and Budgeting Advances . 9 5. Help towards the cost of a funeral .......... 12 6. Cold Weather Payments ........................ 16 7. Winter Fuel Payment ............................ 17 8. If you’ve been refused help ................... 18 The information in this factsheet applies to England only. If you’re in Wales, contact Age Cymru (0800 022 3444, agecymru.org.uk) for information and advice. In Scotland, contact Age Scotland (0800 470 8090, agescotland.org.uk). In Northern Ireland, contact Age NI (0808 808 7575, ageni.org). 2 Local welfare assistance schemes and the Social Fund -July 2016 1. What help might I be eligible for? If you’re living on a low income, it can be hard to budget for emergency or unexpected costs such as a broken down washing machine, home repairs or a funeral. -
DWP Response 1. the Information You Requested Is a Subset of The
DWP Response 1. The information you requested is a subset of the figures presented in the published Annual Social Fund Report, for Great Britain. The 2017- 18 Scotland figures requested are provided below in the same format and titles as can be found in the Annual Social Fund Report - Annex 1, 2a and 2b. 2. The Regulated Social Fund includes Sure Start Maternity Grant (SSMG), Cold Weather Payment (CWP), and Funeral Expense Payment (FEP). The Discretionary Social Fund includes Budgeting Loan (BL), and Crisis Loan (CL). 3. The number of applications received, the initial decisions, awards, awards as a percentage of initial decisions, initial refusals, gross expenditure, recoveries, net expenditure and the average award for Scotland only in 2017-18, can be found in Annex 1. Annex 1: Scotland Social Fund Summary Statistics 2017-18 Discretionary Social Regulated Social Fund Fund SSMG CWP FEP BL CL Applications received (000) 8 n/a 5 158 n/a Initial decisions (000) 8 n/a 5 158 n/a Awards (000) 4 818 3 125 n/a Awards as % of initial 55 n/a 67 79 n/a decisions Initial refusals (000) 4 n/a 2 27 n/a Gross expenditure £m 2 20.5 5 49.9 n/a Recoveries £m n/a n/a 0.004 55.6 6.9 Net expenditure £m 2 20.5 5 -5.7 -6.9 Average award £ 508 25 1,372 397 n/a Cold Weather Payment figures are estimates taken from Departmental records. SSMG, FEP, BL and CL data sourced from the DWP Policy, Budget and Management Information System. -
Social Fund Annual Report 2014-2015
Annual Report on the Social Fund 2014/2015 Laid before the Northern Ireland Assembly in accordance with section 146(5) and (6) of the Social Security Administration (Northern Ireland) Act 1992 17 December 2015 © Crown copyright 2015 This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: [email protected]. Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned. This publication is available at www.osfcni.org.uk Any enquiries regarding this publication should be sent to Department for Social Development, Social Security Policy and Legislation Division, Level 1, James House, 2-4 Cromac Avenue, Gasworks Business Park, Ormeau Road, Belfast, BT7 2JA ISBN 9780337100437 ID P002761152 12/15 Printed on paper containing 75% recycled fibre content minimum Printed in the UK by the Williams Lea Group on behalf of the Controller of Her Majesty’s Stationery Office CONTENTS Paragraph Preface by the Minister for Department of Social Development Section 1 Introduction Introduction 1.1 Source of data for this report 1.3 Section 2 The Regulated Social Fund Sure Start Maternity Grants 2.1 Funeral Payments 2.4 Cold Weather Payments 2.8 Winter Fuel Payments 2.12 Section 3 The Discretionary Social Fund Crisis Loans 3.1 Community