Community care grant help

Witter

Hi all, ive just helped my sister with a community care grant form as she lived with her daughter frm previous relationship and boyfriend she was working at the time. Her boyfriend used to hit her and lock her in the house. She wasnt alould out in the end, she lost her job and every thing. She found out she was pregnant and left and moved in with her mum and also stayed at friends houses her house was taken as no rent was being paid and she lost everything but the clothes she had taken with her. Early last year she started renting a private rented but she had nothing so has had to get stuff free. Which over the last year has got sofas, fridge, 2 single beds, cot, wardrobes and a tv, a few cups and plates and knifes and folks and a microwave. Shes been staying here, there and everywhere over the last year and has now moved into the house at the begining of may with her daughters dad they have just started claiming benefits and is reallying trying to make a fresh start but they dont even have a cooker, washer, pans, no carpets at all through out the whole house and her and her partner are sleeping in a single bed and her daughters is in quite a state as she wets the bed and its the one shes been using the last year so its quite bad. She applyed for a cooker with delivery and fitting. Washer delivery and fitting. Double bed and base as the other single could be then passed on to daughter. Carpet for living room. Pans, bedding for both beds and the cot. does anyone know if shes got any chance of getting it and Has anyone else been awarded for these items??

kingfisherblue

I've never applied for a community care grant, so I have no idea whether she will get anything.

It might be worth trying Freecycle, though. In my town there is also a furniture place for people on low incomes - everything is donated, so costs are low. Any electrical goods are checked and given a six month warranty.

For children's stuff, including bedding, try NCT sales.

Your sister could also try local papers, Gumtree, or putting an advert on the advertising board in a local supermarket.

Can her partner not work?

Witter

Thats were she got the things shes got but no ones advertised any of the other items and her partner can work hes looking at the moment he gave his last job up to move up from devon to manchester

kingfisherblue

Could your sister advertise as items wanted?

Try this place for furniture - I don't know what it is like, but it sounds simnilar to the furniture place in my town.

http://www.emmausmossley.org.uk/

There are also Red Cross charity shops selling furniture in Chorlton and Eccles.

Witter

kingfisherblue wrote: »

Could your sister advertise as items wanted?

Try this place for furniture - I don't know what it is like, but it sounds simnilar to the furniture place in my town.

http://www.emmausmossley.org.uk/

There are also Red Cross charity shops selling furniture in Chorlton and Eccles.

She has no internet at home but shes placed ads in supermarkets at the town hall, In shop windows. Shes not been claiming benefits untill recentley. They have just started claiming jsa and are have sent the child taxcredit form off today. They dont have much coming in at all something like £120 per week at the moment and with 2 young children to look after they are really strugling to live and couldnt really spare anything to pay for these things

joejoe12

If she is in recipt of benefits she could get a Budgeting loan. Infomation below





You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan if you or your partner have been claiming or getting payment of one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks:

• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit

and you need help to pay for any of the following:

• furniture or household equipment
• clothing or footwear
• advance rent or removal expenses for a new home
• travelling expenses
• things to help you look for or start work
• improving, maintaining or securing your home
• repaying hire purchase or other debts you took out to pay for any of the above.

Witter

joejoe12 wrote: »

If she is in recipt of benefits she could get a Budgeting loan. Infomation below





You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan if you or your partner have been claiming or getting payment of one of the following benefits for at least 26 weeks:

• Income Support
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
• Pension Credit

and you need help to pay for any of the following:

• furniture or household equipment
• clothing or footwear
• advance rent or removal expenses for a new home
• travelling expenses
• things to help you look for or start work
• improving, maintaining or securing your home
• repaying hire purchase or other debts you took out to pay for any of the above.

Hi she had always worked until she gave it up but has only just started claimin jsa about a week ago, she tryed to apply for a crisis loan and was told no but to try apply for community care grant

concerned43

There is no harm in trying, she might be successful as her child is so young but if they cannot help the social fund usually suggest a crisis loan or budget loan (which they will organise)

Witter

concerned43 wrote: »

There is no harm in trying, she might be successful as her child is so young but if they cannot help the social fund usually suggest a crisis loan or budget loan (which they will organise)

Anything would help them at the moment. She only applyed for the grant as she was told no off the crisis loans and budgeting loan you have to be claiming for at least 26 week. So saw a community care grant as the last option. Ive looked for free stuff for her but none of the other items are avalible at this time. Hopefully they will offer some sort of help. Does anyone know how long they normally take to reply?

suelees1

In my experience she should be awarded a community care grant. One of the conditions is if the claimant has been experiencing exceptional pressure and items awarded would help ease this pressure.

If she's refused I'd definitely ask for a review of the decision. If the Jobcentre again refuses to award a grant she should request the Independent Review Service conduct a review. This link is to the IRS re CCGs

http://www.irs-review.org.uk/faq/ccg.htm

Pinky87

I got a community care grant in november 07 and was awarded £910 i already had a house with my child but didnt have carpets, cooker, washer, single bed, fridge or a sofa i put in for £1000 so was quite lucky to get what i did it only took 2 week and i had the cash.