Benefits Advice
Help from the Social Fund
Crisis Loans
Crisis loans are administered by the Department for Works and Pensions (DWP) they are interest free loans which can help people with their short term needs in an emergency.
You do not need to be in receipt of any State Benefits to apply for a Crisis Loan.
If you are homeless and have found new accommodation to rent from a private Landlord and need rent in advance, you can apply for a crisis loan for an amount of up to 4 weeks Rent.
It will be helpful to take a letter from the Landlord to the Jobcentre Plus stating that you will need the amount of rent in advance to be able to take up the Tenancy. You will also need to state how being homeless is a risk to your physical or Mental health and safety.
Crisis Loan applications can be made by phone but you will need to provide evidence of your identity at a later stage. Telephone 0800 0328349
>> Application forms can be filled in online at www.direct.gov.uk or printed out and posted.
Budgeting Loans
These are interest free loans which are intended to help with occasional lump sum expenses that are difficult to budget for, after a period of time being in receipt of state benefits.
To be eligible for a Budgeting Loan you must have been in receipt of Income Support or Income based Job Seekers allowance for the last 26 weeks or in receipt of Pension Credit or Employment and Support allowance for the last 26 weeks.
A Budgeting loan can be awarded for rent in advance or removal expenses to secure fresh accommodation. It can also be used for furniture and household equipment.
>> To apply use Form SF500, this can be filled in online at www.direct.gov.uk or printed out and posted.
You can also apply by telephone 0845 6088616
Community Care Grants
These are non re-payable grants to help people live independently in the community.
To be eligible for a community care grant you must satisfy all the following conditions:
You must be in receipt of Income Support, Income-based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit when your application is made.
The only exception to this rule is if you are due to leave institutional or residential care, eg hospital, care homes, foster care, hostels, prisons and youth centres within 6 weeks of the date of the application and you are likely to receive one of the above benefits when you leave.
You must need a Community Care Grant for one or more of the following purposes:
- To help you set up a home in the Community following a period of time in institutional or residential care.
- To help you to remain in the community rather than enter institutional or residential care.
- To help you set up home in the community as part of a planned resettlement programme following a period during which you have been without a settled way of life.
- To ease exceptional pressures on you or your family.
>> Application forms can be obtained from Jobcentre Plus offices or downloaded from www.direct.gov.uk
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Housing/Benefit Advice Tel: 01392 430228
