Welfare support scheme

Homeless prevention which may include:

• Help to stay in your home
• Finding suitable alternative accommodation including in the private rented sector
• Preventing homelessness through supporting you in your current housing

Access to items that will enable a tenancy to be sustained including any of the following;

• Fridge, beds, sofa, wardrobes.
• Help with transport costs to access a housing unit/bed-space that is available

Protection of belongings – assistance with storage and removals can be provided for households who are homeless/threatened with homelessness and are owed a duty to be provided with interim accommodation, if it is likely their belongings would be damaged without assistance.

Bespoke funding packages for rough sleepers – a bespoke package of funding to assist trying to secure housing solutions and engagement to address barriers to housing for households who are rough sleeping.

Help with energy bills including helping customers in emergency situations together with providing longer term solutions to help with energy bills. 

Help with Council Tax bills which may include:

• applications for the Council Tax Reduction Scheme
• applications for Council Tax exemptions and/or discounts
• setting up special arrangements to pay
• applications for the Council Tax Discretionary Reduction Scheme

Help with Housing costs which may include:

• Applications for Housing Benefit
• Applications for the Discretionary Housing Payments fund
• Rent in Advance
• Rent deposit bond scheme

Separate policies apply for some of these existing schemes

Basic financial assessments to determine whether there are any other organisations or support available to help such as Universal Credit, Child Benefit or others.  We will undertake a full income and expenditure calculation of the household to determine if there is any excess income to be used to meet all or part of the support requested.

We will use eligibility criteria to ensure that the funds are available for vulnerable residents with the greatest needs.

To qualify for support for food, utilities or furniture referrals, you must meet one of the following conditions:

• Have suffered a disaster to your home such a major flooding, gas explosion or house fire, where serious damage has been caused to the home or the home has become uninhabitable.
• As a direct result of the inability to afford the goods or services requested, either the health of the customer or their partner will immediately deteriorate.

Other types of help, support and advice have different eligibility criteria so please speak to a Customer Services Advisor for more assistance.

No cash payments will be awarded.

Eligible customers will receive goods or services such as food via vouchers and delivery of white goods and furniture will be made directly to your home.

You will be required to provide evidence of identity and residency in Wyre Forest.

The assessment will be done by a member of our Financial Inclusion team who will undertake a detailed income and expenditure appraisal with you and may sign post you to other services to help you such as the Citizens Advice Bureau or the Housing Needs team.

The assessment undertaken will consider your personal circumstances, the type of help you are requesting and your eligibility for assistance.

Providing eligibility can be proven, the decision can be made on the day.

• Cash or cheque payments
• Payments into an individuals bank account

• A need which occurs outside the district of Wyre Forest unless the need is for a person who is in the process of moving into the district and that item or service will assist them with their move
• An educational or training need including clothing and tools
• Distinctive school uniform or sports clothes for use at school or equipment to be used at school
• Travelling expenses to and from school
• School meals taken during school holidays by children who are entitled to free school meals
• Expenses in connection with court (legal) proceedings such as legal fees, court fees, fines, costs, damages, subsistence or travelling expenses (other than emergency travelling expenses when stranded away from home)
• Removal or storage charges if the applicant is being re-housed following a compulsory purchase order , a redevelopment or closing order, a compulsory exchange of tenancies (if applicable) or under a housing authority’s statutory duty to the homeless
• Domestic assistance or respite care
• A medical, surgical, optical, aural or dental item or service (these needs can be provided free of charge by the National Health Service, if the applicant is getting Universal Credit, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, income related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit)
• Work related expenses
• Debts to Government agencies or local authorities
• Investments
• Purchase, installation, rental and call charges for phones
• Mobility needs
• Holidays
• A TV or radio, or a licence, aerial or rental charges for a TV or radio
• Garaging, parking, purchase and running costs of any motor vehicle except where payment is being considered for emergency travel expenses

Food banks – vouchers/referrals to be given in crisis or emergency situations which will include key consumables for babies (e.g. nappies)

Money advice – referrals to CAB who can undertake a detailed financial assessment in order to provide a long term solution to a customers financial situation

Charitable organisations – referrals to be given in crisis or emergency situations.

Energy – referrals to Act on Energy for support for energy/fuel bills and debt, grants for energy improvements and advice on tariffs.

If there are any disputes these can be raised verbally or in writing. Where a dispute regarding a decision for support is made, we will conduct a review and notify the customer within five working days of the dispute being received. This review will be carried out by an Officer different from the one who made the initial decision and the outcome will be confirmed over the phone, in person or in writing.

This decision will be final and no further disputes will be considered.