Money and Grants

Your benefit entitlements will vary according to your circumstances. Some benefits are automatic (such as Child Benefit) but most are means tested (which means you have to fulfil certain criteria).

You can get information and support in making benefit applications from a variety of agencies including the National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247 and your local branch of Citizens Advice Bureaux.
For further information on benefits you can visit the Department for Work and Pensions website at www.dfwp.gov.uk.

You may be able to apply for some of the following benefits:

Income Support
Children's Tax Credit
Child Benefit
Jobseekers Allowance
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Benefit
Crisis Loan
Community Care Grants
Budgeting Loans
Income Support

If you're working less than 16 hours a week and you have a low wage or you're not in paid work at all, you may be entitled to income support.
You must not have savings of more than £8000.

If you're a single parent you'll also get additional payments (called allowances and premiums) to help you.

Extra premiums are also available if you have a disability or you're a pensioner.

You may be asked to provide the details of your children's father to the Child Support Agency. You're entitled to refuse to give this information if you have experienced domestic violence without your benefits being affected.
You can contact your local social security office for an application form.


Children's Tax Credit
If you have at least one child you are looking after and you're working at least 16 hours a week you may be eligible for Children's Tax Credit which will be paid directly into your bank account. You can contact the inland revenue on 0845 300 3900 for further information.
Child Benefit
Your child has to be under 19 and still in full time education.

Jobseekers Allowance (JSA)
To qualify you need to be capable of working, available for work and actively seeking work.
If you've been paid or have been treated as having paid National Insurance (NI) contributions, you may be able to get contribution-based JSA.
If you're on a low income you may get income-based JSA even if you haven't paid NI contributions. Income-based JSA is based on how much the law says you need to live on.
You cannot usually get JSA if you're aged under 18 or if you're studying full-time.
You can't usually get income-based JSA if you have savings over £8000 and savings over £3000 usually affect how much income-based JSA you get.
Contact your local social security office, Jobcentre of Jobcentre Plus for further details.

Housing Benefit
As long as you have less than £16000 in savings, you can apply for housing benefit to help pay your rent. Savings of over £3000 will usually affect how much Housing Benefit you get.
If you're working but receiving low income, you may still be eligible for part of your rent. If you're a full time student you can't usually get Housing Benefit. Contact your local social security office for a claim form.


Dual Housing Benefit
It's sometimes possible to claim (dual) housing benefit on two separate properties for a limited time. This may be an option if you're already claiming housing benefit on a property which you then have to flee due to domestic violence.
If you're intending to return to the properly but are temporarily staying in temporary accommodation (for example you may be staying in a refuge until you can secure an injunction to get your violent partner to leave and/or stay away the property) you may be entitled to claim housing benefit for your permanent and temporary accommodation for 4 weeks.
If you're deciding what to do and considering your options, this could be extended to 12 months.
You can seek further advice on this from specialist organisations such as Women's Aid.


Council Tax Benefit
You can apply for help with payment towards your Council Tax if you're on a low income. If you've moved home, tell your council straight away.
Savings over £16000 usually mean you won't be able to get Council Tax Benefit. Savings over £3000 affect how much you can get.
Contact your local social security office for an application form.


Crisis Loan
This can be paid to buy any necessary items abandoned or unavailable because of violence or fear of further violence.
It can also be paid for day-to-day living expenses while waiting for income support to be paid. It has to be repaid. It'll be deducted at a weekly rate from any future payment of benefit.
Contact your local social security office for an application form or download a copy from the Department of Work and Pensions website at www.dwp.gov.uk/lifeevent/benefits/crisis_loans.asp



Community Care Grants
This is paid to replace lost or unavailable items after fleeing your previous home and to buy items to set up a new home. The payments are discretionary. To qualify you must be receiving income support and be:
Setting up home after leaving 'institutional' care (e.g. women's refuges, homeless hostel), or
Need help to prevent entry into 'institutional' care, or
Be a family under exceptional pressure.
Savings over £500 will usually affect how much your get. This does not have to be repaid.


Budgeting Loans
This is paid for:
Rent in advance to a private landlord or housing association,
Removal expenses to move to a new home,
Buying clothing or footwear
Buying furniture or household equipment.
It cannot be paid for deposits, meals or service charges. This does have to be repaid. Contact your local social security office for a claim form.








Grants from charities

The application forms for these trust funds, usually need to be supported by a letter from, or administered by, an objective third party "responsible person" such as a teacher, social worker, probation officer, hostel or prison staff member, worker for a registered charity, Citizens Advice Bureau adviser, etc., i.e. someone whose judgment and word they can trust, as they are often the target of the unscrupulous who only want to rip them off for as much as they can get.


Maggie Pound,Grants Manager,
Fenton Trust and various others –
Family Welfare Association,
501-505 Kingsland Road,
Dalston,
London E8 4AU
Tel: 0207 254 6251 Monday and Wednesday ONLY between 10am -12noon and 2pm - 4pm;
Fax: 020 7249 5443;
mailto:enquiry@fwa.org.uk;
web site:http://www.fwa.org.uk
Grant size is in the region of £500 on average, but depending on the circumstances, can be a lot more, (i.e. several £K).
These are one of the very best trusts to get funds from, mainly (but not only) for any education or training needed, as they administer a lot of (40 or so) small trust funds from which they draw small sums to make up what you need.


FWA's priority (but not only) areas for funding are currently:
Mental Health: Support to improve the quality of life and reduce isolation for families or individuals (over the age of 18) with mental health problems. Please note supporting evidence of the mental health problem will be required from a suitable medical professional.
Domestic violence: Support for those leaving a violent relationship to help rebuild their lives.
Refugees and Asylum Seekers: Support available to promote the stability of families and integration into life in the UK.
Older People: Support to promote independence, improve the quality of life and reduce isolation for those aged 60 and over.
Young People (aged 19 to 25): Support for vulnerable young people to help to establish a stable and independent life.
Lone Parents:
Support to assist lone parents in need with the cost of children's school uniforms and school trips. (Please note that grants are also available, to a maximum of £200),
Support for lone parents with the additional cost of their own education, such as books, equipment, travel and childcare - All applications for this purpose should be made via the Educational Grants Advisory Service.
Please note that the information requested must be provided on the form; appended documentation will not be accepted. Applications for welfare grants must be made by a responsible person.



Administrator,
VRF (Vicars Relief Fund),
St. Martins-in-the-Fields,
6, St. Martins Place,
London, WC2N-2JJ
Tel: 0207 766 1100
Fax: 0207 839 5163
mailto:craig.norman@smitf.org
Web site: http://www2.stmartin-in-the-fields.org/page/care/fund.html
Many people who are subsisting on benefits have no savings or no one to help them when something goes wrong, such as their washing machine breaking down or spending time in hospital with a sick child. Likewise, when things go right and people have been able to turn their lives around, like getting a flat after being homeless or breaking an addiction, few have the resources to buy a bed, a cooker or some clothes.
The Vicar's Relief Fund helps to meet needs like these by making small grants. The Fund helps those in the greatest of need, regardless of who they are, where they live in the UK, their origins, legal status or belief.
The VRF makes grants to 'those who are in need or suffering hardship'. Hardship for one person or family may not be the same for another, so they attempt to be flexible in their approach. Although it is impossible to define a 'typical' grant, their aim is to help provide the recipient with ordinary necessities many people take for granted.
They respond to requests for items such as beds and bedding, clothing, domestic appliances, furniture, equipment for babies and toddlers, and arrears on rent, council tax or utility bills.
They don't usually make grants to individuals applying on their own behalf. As a small charity with limited resources, they rely on professionals like the ones listed below to assess their client's needs and, where appropriate, make an application on behalf of their client.

Social workers
Support workers in housing associations, hostels, refuges, Sure Starts and family centers
Key workers in rehabilitation centers
CAB advisors
Probation officers
CPNs, health visitors and other health professionals
Clergy, prison and hospital chaplains
And staff in other voluntary organizations and caring agencies.

They don't normally make more than one grant per person or family in any twelve-month period. Although the VRF is a small charity, it has a national reach, so they don't want to concentrate limited resources in one area of the country or a single organisation. Please do not send in more than one request at a time: it is best to make an application to the VRF when there is a pressing need rather than for routine applications. To request app forms, contact the VRF Administrator.





R.L. Glasspool Charitable Trust,
Mrs. F Moore, Administrator,
2nd Floor, Saxon House,
182 Hoe Street,
Waltham stow,
London E17 4QH
Tel: 020 8520 4354
Aims: The relief of the poor, sick and necessitous regardless of background, at the complete discretion of the Trustees
£300-500 on average, but can occasionally is a lot more, depending on needs.
For people on a low income, to buy household goods, clothing, items to make life easier in the home, etc. this charity has a special deal with Comet and other warehouses, so they won't send a cheque, but will instead have the "white goods" sent directly to the home of the recipient, i.e. cooker, fridge/freezer, washing machine, sofa, beds, etc. Applications should include the individuals:
full name, age and address of members of the household;
a breakdown of household income and expenditure, including any disability benefits and any debts (you can use this Income/Expenditure calculator / financial statement - however, I would advise you to download and first watch the video tutorial of filling in a financial statement which are on the downloads page )
information on family circumstances;
detail of the need being requested, for example, cooker, washing machine, fridge/freezer, etc.;
requests for holiday grants should provide an outline of the proposed holiday, including date, type, location, duration and a breakdown of costs;
details of other funding sources approached and other requests.


The Secretary,
SVP (The St Vincent de Paul Society)
5th Floor,
291-299, Borough High Street,
London, SE1 1JG
Tel: 020 7407 4644
Fax: 020 7407 4634
Email: terryk@svp.org.uk or info@svp.org.uk
web site: http://svp.org.uk/content/who.php
Anyone in need in England and Wales. Grants are only offered following a visit from a member of the society. Small one-off grants towards food, clothing, fuel bills or small holiday grants, dependent on local assessment and availability of funds. This can be used for food, clothing, essential items, etc., but not for education. Prison visits take place in some areas.Mrs M.E. Yeats,






Mrs R. Fellows, Secretary,
Gane Trust,
6, Sabrina Way,
Stoke Bishop,
Bristol, BS9-1ST
Tel: 0117-968-4266 £500
For crafts, social welfare, and architecture / design courses, or activities. A letter to above, along with a CV, details of the course or activity you want them to fund, and the financial reasons for the application.


Mrs E. Heinink, Trustee,
Tim Rice Trust,
31, The Terrace,
Barnes,
London, SW13-0NR
Tel: 0208-878-7950 £1K
Tony Baylies, Secretary,
William Johnston Trust Fund, .
Rathbones,
Port of Liverpool Building,
Liverpool, L3 1NW
Tel: 0151 236 6666
This is for anyone in any kind of "need", but not for educational purposes. Preference is given to the elderly. Application by hand written letter only. Recurrent grants of £650 - £4,000. One-off grants for such things as TV licences and birthdays can also be given
.

Elizabeth Finn Trust,
D.G.A.A., 1 Derry St.,
London, W8-5HY
Tel: 0207 396 6700
Fax 0207 396 6739
Also on Free Tel: 0800 413 220.
Web site: http://www.elizabethfinncare.org.uk/ £1.2K
Elizabeth Finn Care helps people in need whose former careers have been interrupted or ended through physical or mental problems, loss of work and family breakdown or those struggling on low income in retirement. They can help the person who applies to them, their partner or their children.
They can give grants to those whose former jobs required training that equates to NVQ Level 4 and above. For those people who were working before these qualifications existed there is a wide range of occupations they have identified which qualify for their support. They help ANYONE who is professional or similar by birth, marriage or way of life and either British and Irish nationality, any age, anywhere, any religious denomination,
The grant can be used for household items to make life easier in the home, etc. This one is good for furniture and household items on release. It can't be used for any type of medical or educational expenses.