Community Care Grants Lump sum payments from the Social Fund

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1 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 1 Community Care Grants Lump sum payments from the Social Fund

2 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 2 What are Community Care Grants? Community Care Grants are lump-sum payments from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). They can help pay for one-off expenses you cannot afford out of your benefit or Pension Credit. They are part of the Social Fund and are paid by Jobcentre Plus. Rita has been in hospital for 3 months after breaking her hip in a fall at home. She can t go back to her old house and will be moving into a new warden-supported flat when she leaves hospital. She gets a Community Care Grant for removal costs and for new curtains and carpets. You do not have to pay back Community Care Grants. Joe has been living in supported lodgings for the last 2 years. His social worker has helped him to find a flat but he has no furniture. Joe gets a Community Care Grant to buy furniture and a cooker. 2

3 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 3 Who can claim? You can claim a Community Care Grant if you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker s Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit and you need help because you or someone in your family: has an illness, disability or family problems is moving out of hospital, a care home or something similar is at risk of having to go into residential care if they can t buy the thing(s) they need is being helped to settle into a new home by an organisation such as a local authority after leading an unsettled way of life needs help with travelling costs to visit someone who is ill, or to attend a funeral. Mrs Jones husband is in a care home and she visits him every day. She can t use public transport and has to get a taxi because the home is 7 miles away. She gets a grant for her taxi fares. There are other situations when you may still get help. Get advice if you are not sure. 3

4 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 4 What can you get? You can get a grant for things like furniture, removal expenses, travel costs, clothing, fuel connection charges, minor home repairs, bedding and redecoration. Eileen has not used her gas cooker for the last few months because it is old and dangerous. She can t afford to buy a new one so she makes do with sandwiches most days. She gets a Community Care Grant to buy a new cooker and have it installed. But you can t get Community Care Grants for some things, like rent or mortgage arrears, Council Tax or water rates, expenses to do with work, training or school, or medical expenses. Get advice if you are not sure whether you can get a grant for the things you need. You can get grants for funeral expenses or if you are expecting or have just had a baby but the rules are different from Community Care Grants. If you want to know more about these grants get advice. 4

5 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 5 How much can you get? You should claim the cost of the item(s) you need. You can t get a grant for less than 30 unless it is for travel costs. Any savings you have over 1,000 (if you are 60 or over) or 500 (if you are under 60) will be knocked off your grant. Sajidah has been treated for depression since her husband died last year. She gets a grant to redecorate her flat as the Social Fund Officer agrees that this will help to improve things for her at home. How do you claim? Claim on form SF300 which you can get from your local Jobcentre Plus office (even if you are getting Pension Credit) or by ringing or download it from Or we can send you a form and a FREEPOST envelope if you fill in the coupon at the back of this leaflet and send it back to us or ring us on When you fill in the form make sure you explain everything that may help your claim. For example, if you are claiming because a member of your family is ill, explain why and give details of any treatment they may be having. 5

6 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 6 Unhappy with a decision? If your claim is turned down, or if you do not get as much as you asked for, you can write and ask for another Social Fund Officer to look at the decision again. You have 28 days from the date of the decision to do this. If you do not write in time the decision can still be looked at again but only if you have a good reason for being late (for example, you were too ill to write in any earlier). Mrs Taylor asked for a Community Care Grant to buy some new bedding for her 8 year old son. Her claim was turned down so she writes in and asks for the decision to be changed. She explains that she has to replace her bedding a lot because her son wets the bed and the decision is changed. She gets a grant to buy 2 sets of new bedding. If you are still unhappy with the decision you can appeal direct to a Social Fund Inspector. The address will be on the decision letter. More than half of the people who appeal get a higher award. 6

7 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 7 Mrs Brown lives alone and has osteoporosis and severe arthritis. She broke her wrist in a fall last year when she tripped over the carpet which is worn and dangerous. She gets a grant to replace her carpet as the Social Fund Officer agrees that this will help her to stay in her home more safely. Further Information Please send me the following leaflets or forms SF 300 Community Care Grant claim form Benefit Advice & Information in Lancashire Name:... Address:... Post code:... 7

8 CommCareGrantsSingle:A5 Single pages 25/9/09 15:27 Page 8 Help and Advice You might need help and advice about benefits. You might disagree with the benefit decision and want an explanation or want to appeal against the decision. You can get advice and help from a Welfare Rights Office, an Advice Centre or Citizens Advice Bureau. For details of your local Welfare Rights team you can ring us on or visit our website at Or use the coupon in this leaflet to ask for our factsheet Benefit Advice and Information in Lancashire. The information in this leaflet is also available in other languages and formats. Lancashire County Council Welfare Rights Service (October 2009). Cut out this coupon and post it in an envelope to: Lancashire Welfare Rights Service, FREEPOST, Preston PR1 8BR (No stamp needed)