Flexible Support Fund

R200

• Can you apply for FSF help while on light touch? Maybe you need a suit shirt and tie or help with travel or training?
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• The Flexible Support Fund will be used on a case-by-case basis to support people to overcome barriers such as travel costs, childcare costs and clothing. This will also be used in some circumstances to provide funding for training and education. Full guidance can be found here Document Title (parliament.uk)

Claimants in the Light Touch regime

Although it is entirely discretional, the following are examples of when FSF might be used for this group:

 provide additional training to allow claimants to apply for promotion or other job opportunities

 pay for certificates to allow claimants to apply for other or additional employment

 provide clothing and/or equipment needed to remain or progress in employment

 provide support for travel costs to attend interviews for better paid employment

 pay additional upfront childcare costs for a new or existing job where it offers claimants more hours of work.

The wording sounds like it’s talking about the one already in work? But what if it’s a couple on light touch then could the one not working apply for FSF?

tomtom256

It would depend on their individual labour market regime and what was required.

sheramber

What  training or travel would require a suit, shirt and tie?

You would need to justify why iit was needed. 

As is said, it will assessed on a case by case basis. 

R200

Yes you have to prove it will really be needed for your getting back into work

sheramber

Did you read the link you provided?

Eligibility Universal Credit claimants are eligible for FSF from and including the first assessment period if they have:  provided ID verification (including the Habitual Residence Test where relevant)  attended their First Commitments Meeting  accepted their Claimant Commitment

R200

You can have the money for a suit for an interview can’t you?

R200

sheramber said:

Did you read the link you provided?

Eligibility Universal Credit claimants are eligible for FSF from and including the first assessment period if they have:  provided ID verification (including the Habitual Residence Test where relevant)  attended their First Commitments Meeting  accepted their Claimant Commitment

Yes you have to do all those things anyway other you get sanctioned 

tomtom256

R200 said:

Yes you have to do all those things anyway other you get sanctioned 

No you don't, if you don't verify your ID, attend your first commitments meeting or accept your commitments, your claim gets closed, not sanctioned.

R200

tomtom256 said:

R200 said:

Yes you have to do all those things anyway other you get sanctioned 

No you don't, if you don't verify your ID, attend your first commitments meeting or accept your commitments, your claim gets closed, not sanctioned.

Ok maybe sanctions maybe closed, my point is you have to do those things anyway. Someone who was late for their meeting doesn’t necessarily get closed or sanctioned it depends on lots of things.

sheramber

R200 said:

You can have the money for a suit for an interview can’t you?

if the deciding officer considers it should be given in a case and there is enough money left in the allocated budget for Fexible Support Payments.

As the payments are discretionary there is no definite yes or no.  

Can be is not the same as must be or will be.

R200

You could just try again next month and every month until you get a job