Charity contributions

charitycase

I have been receiving help towards my household expenses from a charity. However, the term of their help is coming to an end in January. I was wondering what my options would be at this point. Can I approach another charity and apply for help? Does it make it more difficult to get help from a second charity now that I have been receiving aid from the first?

Any input would be appreciated!

Savvy_Sue

If you can find another charity where you meet the conditions for help, I'm sure there's nothing to stop you applying.

However, have you had help with working out whether you're claiming all the benefits you're entitled to, and with budgetting etc? ie is there a reason why you can't manage on your income?

charitycase

What kind of help do you mean? I am trying to juggle my expenses on my own, actually.

jackyann

Most charities that offer help with expenses do so with conditions attached.
Most commonly they help you check that you are claiming whatever benefits you, or those you care for, are entitled to.
They also usually look at your expenses and help you to manage them.
So Sue is asking if you have received that help.

It would mostly be expected in the UK that people can manage on their earned income or on the benefits they are entitled to. There are a small number of exceptions, sometimes to do with exceptional expenses, sometimes to do with not being entitled to claim benefits.

The examples I know of regular charitable payments are where someone needs help whilst processing a claim for disabled living or carers allowance; where someone who provided financial support has died suddenly, where sudden illness has caused a lot of expenses, etc. These are normally short term.

I would say that it is exceptional for another charity to offer regular support to someone who has already received some regular help.
I can understand you not wanting to post personal details, but without those it is difficult to offer advice.
I do suggest that you contact your local CAB or similar organisation (through your library or the charity who is currently helping you) to find out what you are entitled to, or who might help you, either with claims or approaches to another charity.

I do hope that you can getb some appropriate help.

charitycase

Sorry for the delay in replying, but thank you for your replies.

I am not entitled to claim any benefits at all.
The only income I have is from a charity related to my profession. They have been kind enough to support me for the last year and a half. However, they make no mention of whether this can end at some time in the future.
My employment prospects have greatly increased in the last three weeks since my right to stay in the UK has been granted, so I hope to be employed before the New Year.

I am not looking for more money from charities, but I'd like to know if charity organisations would refrain from helping a person who is already receiving some help from another organisation.

Savvy_Sue

I am glad to know that your employment prospects have improved, and that you've had continuing support since you first posted.

charitycase wrote: »

I am not looking for more money from charities, but I'd like to know if charity organisations would refrain from helping a person who is already receiving some help from another organisation.

Given how many charities there are in the UK, that's an impossible question to answer. Not many actually give regular financial support in the first place, AFAIK, in my experience it's more common to get a one-off payment to meet a particular need. Different organisations might give support for different particular needs.

martindow

charitycase wrote: »

I am not entitled to claim any benefits at all.

Why is that?

I understand that you are reluctant to give personal details but to get help I think you need to. It might be an idea to post on the Benefits and Tax Credits board with an outline of your situation.

You need to press on with sorting out your situation before January. I hope that it works out for you.