community care grant

Francesca-G

hi i was just wondering if anyone knows if i would be entitled to a ccg.

i live with my partner and 2 daughters (4 and 9months)

we are moving house next month as youngest daughter has DBA (bone marrow failure) theres not much room for her to share room with us no more and cant share with her sister as even less room we only have 2 bed now and are getting 3 bed. with her condition she takes ill during night alot and screams, stops breathing, vomits e.t.c and would be distressful for her sister.
we need help with first months rent and a washer, fridge cooker etc.
we would apply for a budgeting loan but that would leave us even more skint than we are. she is only entitled to lowest dla and this still does not help either with costs of her traveling between 2 hospitals 10miles apart and parking, food e.t.c as is in hospital more than at home so a bit money in the bank saved would really help towards this and mean that we dont have to spend every last penny on her and can still have some for her sister.

any help would be great thanks

Aarons_mummy

You could apply it the worst they can say is no.

You can apply for a Community Care Grant if you are either:

• already getting Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, or payment on account of one of these benefits
• likely to start getting one of these benefits within the next six weeks because you're moving out of care

and any one of the following applies:

• you're moving out of residential or institutional care to live independently
• you're moving to a new home which will be more suitable for you following an unsettled period in your life and are being resettled by an organisation like a local council or voluntary organisation
• you need help to stay in your home and not go into residential care or hospital
• you need help because you and your family face exceptional pressure, such as family breakdown or because one of you has a long-term illness
• you look after someone who is ill or disabled, or has been released from custody on temporary licence
• you need help with expenses such as visiting someone who is ill, or to attend a relative's funeral

I don't see that you mentioned any of the benefits required to be granted one though. I'm sure I read somewhere that you can't get it to pay rent either but directgov doesn't mention this so not sure at all.

As I say you could apply if you meet the conditions above, the worst they can say is no. As it's the end of the tax year almost I think it'll be harder to get one though but that might just be in my head!

Francesca-G

• you need help because you and your family face exceptional pressure, such as family breakdown or because one of you has a long-term illness
• you look after someone who is ill or disabled, or has been released from custody on temporary licence
• you need help with expenses such as visiting someone who is ill

thats us as our daughter in hospital atleast 2 weeks out of every month and we dont get any help with travel, food, parking e.t.c
she has diamond blackfan anemia and will have it all her life and cant live without her blood every month.
we are getting jsa together.
we need to move house as our neighbour has been very milisious and caused nothing but bother for us and the children saying she crys all the time complaning to landlord e.t.c and making up rumors that my partner is an abuser! but everything in the house is my landlords, curtains, washer, cooker, fridge, e.t.c

allen35

Based on your circumstances you may be entitled toa CCG, think about what need and good idea to check prices from argos catalogue.

They wouldn't help with luxuries such as a TV and payments are discretionary.

With regards to a deposit for rent you may get help through a crisis loan but this will have to be paid back.

If you don't have experience with filling these forms it's good to get assistance from a CAB or welfare rights organisation.

Good luck in your new home.

Francesca-G

thanks for replys
someone sent me a message on here before about something called the family fund i dont know if that is a better way anybody no anything about these?

i no it may seem like we are just looking for money wherever we can but we arent it really is that we are strugeling and if i hadnt of handed my notice in to landlord the way my neighbour was going she would of had me kicked out so really need to move and cant cope with no washer fridge etc

allen35

Here is the link, no reason why you don't apply and fully understand the position you find yourselves in.

http://www.familyfund.org.uk/

Francesca-G

will have a look now thankyou

Aarons_mummy

As you have the reasons and the benefits to qualify i don't see why you shouldn't. They're pretty quick to come back i believe so send one away anyway

sunnyone

The family fund help the families of seriously ill/disabled children and your child just gets the lowest rate but there is nothing stopping you from applying.

How does your daughter's care needs differ from those of a normal child her age?

Do you feel that the DLA award is the correct award for the amount of help that she needs?

GlasweJen

The family fund may help with things for your daughter, they wont pay your rental deposit for you as this is your responsibility to keep a roof over her head.

If her medication needs to be kept in a fridge then a community care grant should be applied for, family fund wont give money or vouchers for anything that can come from another source (such as CCG, occupational therapy department or social worker department).

If your daughters condition means she gets through more clothing than a child without the condition or she needs her bedding changed more often then they may fund a washing machine, if she doesn't then they wont as they only fund appliances that will benefit the disabled child.

Don't get me wrong, family fund are very generous but given the circumstances they wont be much help to your original query. Once you're settled they may be able to fund things like a holiday for your family, specialist toys/therapy items not available through the channels mentioned above and other bits that you spend money on that a non-disabled child wouldn't need (like extra clothes, special mattresses and the like).

Francesca-G

her needs differ as with her condition she is blood transfusion dependant and has to have blood every 3-4 weeks as if she doesnt the oxygen doesnt get to her brain and other organs and the start shutting down. she will need physio soon as she is 9months and very behind in her progress/weight. she is on a number of different medication and specialised milks to manage her condition and help with weight. she goes through alot more clothes as most of them get stained either with blood/medecation e.t.c she has a very low immune system so spends a lot of time in hospital with infections that alot of babys wouldnt be as bad from in past couple months shese has a r.s.v bronchiolitus and rotavirus gastorentoritus. soon she will need treatment for iron overload wich may mean i.v drip or machine 12 hours a night. she also has a portacath in her chest for i.v. fluid/canular access. i am appealing against decision that she recive lowest care as personally i dont think this is the life of a normal 9month old child