Help with Crisis Loan/Community Care Grant etc

cifpower

I was recently made homeless and claimed JSA as I lost my job as a result. I was awarded JSA (CB) for 6 months. I have now been given a house by the Housing Executive (council housing in GB) but it is 15 miles away. Will the Social Fund be able to help me with the cost of moving everything?

Curry_Queen

You can apply to the Social Fund for a loan to help with the cost of moving which has to be paid back. If approved, they usually deduct it from your benefits over a period of around 6mths. There are no guarantees you will actually get the money though, as it depends on how much they have in the pot and who needs it most etc, but it's definitely worth applying. If you can hang on a couple of weeks for the start of the new financial year you may be more successful

Edit: sorry, should have mentioned you should check first whether you're eligible to apply as you're claiming JSA and I'm not sure if that's a qualifying benefit.

Edit 2: Just checked the DWP site and found some useful information for you here ... it seems you don't need to be on benefits to claim so it may be worth applying

Fran

You should be able to claim a Community Care Grant which does not need paying back, so that's the one to go for. Put down amounts for curtain rails and gas connection (or whatever) and similar basics - you won't necessarily get those kind of things but I would imagine you would get the removal expenses as you were homeless. You will need a couple of quotes.

cifpower

Fran wrote:

You should be able to claim a Community Care Grant which does not need paying back, so that's the one to go for. Put down amounts for curtain rails and gas connection (or whatever) and similar basics - you won't necessarily get those kind of things but I would imagine you would get the removal expenses as you were homeless. You will need a couple of quotes.

I think I may be disallowed for this as I receive JSA(CB) and not JSA (IB)

Fran

Yes it does look like it from their website. Well back to the Crisis Loan then?

chugalug

Sometimes the local authority will help with a loan that has to be paid back (as you're a homeless applicant). This depends on the area you live in but worth checking out. If not available are there any charities that would be able to help ie homeless projects, Salvation Army. Sometimes they help in kind not money but worth asking around.

Savvy_Sue

Other replies are good. Might also be worth looking at Shelter website: I know they can sometimes offer practical help of this kind to families, not sure if they do for single people. Also always worth asking a social landlord if they can either offer help themselves or refer you to those who can help. There should be extra help available to those who have been homeless because it is recognised that you may need extra support to maintain a new tenancy. Hope you get the support you need! All the best.