Social Fund
Last updated December 2003
This benefit is dealt with by Jobcentre Plus. The Social Fund provides lump sum payments, grants and loans. Loans and Community Care Grants from the Social Fund are discretionary and not for a standard amount. Savings of £500 or more (£1,000 for those aged 60 or over) may affect how much you get. You may be able to get help from the Social Fund for important costs that are hard to pay for out of your regular income.

If you are leaving residential or institutional accommodation, need help to stay in your own home, have had an unsettled way of life, or are facing exceptional pressure, you may be able to get a Community Care Grant.

(Residential or institutional accommodation means a place where you get a lot of care or supervision, like hospital, prison or residential care and nursing homes.)

If you need things for your home or other things that you cannot pay for in a lump sum, and you get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit, or payment on account of one of these benefits, you may be able to get a Budgeting Loan.

If you need immediate help with day-to-day living costs or something else in an emergency, you may be able to get a Crisis Loan.

If you need help to buy things for a new baby and you or your partner get a low-income benefit or tax credit, you may be able to get a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

(We use partner to mean a person you are married to or a person you are living with as if you are married to them).

If you get a low-income benefit or tax credit and need help towards paying for a funeral, you may be able to get a Funeral Payment.

If you or your partner are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or Pension Credit, and have a child aged under 5, or you are disabled or aged 60 or over, you may be able to get a Cold Weather Payment.

Winter Fuel Payments are paid to eligible households that include someone aged 60 or over to help with their winter fuel bills.

Definitions
The European Economic Area (EEA) is made up of all European Union (EU) countries: Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Portugal, Republic of Ireland, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom (UK), plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is not a member of the EEA, but as a result of an agreement with the EU that came into force on 1 June 2002, the EU rules on social security also apply to Switzerland.

UK means England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland but not the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man.

Great Britain means England, Scotland and Wales

Information taken from Department of Work and Pensions under Crown Copyright