Care and support

The Social Fund

If you need one-off help to pay for essential items you may be able to get help from the social fund which is administered by job centre plus.

Community care grants

Community care grants are payments for people getting income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance or pension credit. You can claim for things like furniture, clothing or bedding. Families with disabled children have some priority. Community care grants can also cover travelling expenses if you are visiting your child in hospital and accommodation charges if you have to stay overnight.

Claim a community care grant by phoning 0845 8500 032.

Surestart maternity grant

This is a one off payment of £500 to help with expenses arising from the birth of a child.

You can apply if you are getting one of the following:

• income support
• income-based jobseeker’s allowance
• income-related employment and support allowance
• pension credit
• working tax credit including disability or severe disability element
• child tax credit at a rate greater than family element* (£547.50 per year or £1095. if you have a child under one) and
  
• you are expecting a baby or have had a baby in the last 3 months or are adopting a child under 12 months old and
• you have taken advice on maternal health or the health and welfare needs of the new baby.

If your claim for a maternity grant is refused while you are waiting for a decision on a claim for a qualifying benefit, you should re-claim a maternity grant within three months of being awarded the qualifying benefit.

Claim a maternity grant by phoning 0845 8500 032.

Further information select the link entitled claiming money from the social fund on the right hand side of the page.