Rising costs of living have left many worried about paying their bills in the lead-up to Christmas. Record levels of inflation and price rises across the board have led to financial hardship for many this year with the Bank of England warning the UK faces a two-year recession, the longest since records began.
The government has rolled out more help for those struggling to cope, including a £650 payment for means-tested benefits claimants, £150 for those with disabilities and a £400 discount off energy bills for all households over six months. There will also be a Christmas bonus and a £300 top-up to winter fuel payments in December. You can find out all the payments coming this month here.
December can be hugely stressful time for households and families in the lead-up to Christmas but there is some additional support available at short notice through the Welsh Government's discretionary assistance fund (DAF). In most cases claimants do not have to repay the money, which comes via your local council. Here is everything you need to know about the discretionary assistance fund (DAF) including whether you are eligible and how you can apply. You can get more cost-of-living news and other story updates straight to your inbox by subscribing to our newsletters here.
Read more: Nine big changes to your finances coming in October
The discretionary assistance fund (DAF) provides two types of non-repayable grant. The first is called the emergency assistance payment (EAP) which is a grant to help pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel if you:
- are experiencing extreme financial hardship
- have lost your job
- have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment
You cannot use it to pay for ongoing bills that you cannot afford to pay. The second grant is called the individual assistance payment (IAP). This is a grant to help you or someone you care for live independently in their home or a property that you or they are moving into.
You can use this grant to pay for appliances such as a fridge, cooker or washing machine and other ‘white goods'. You can also use it to pay for home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs.
How do I know if I'm eligible?
To get an emergency assistance payment (EAP) , you must:
- be in extreme financial hardship - for example you've lost your job, applied for benefits and waiting for your first payment or have no money to buy food, gas and electricity
- be in a crisis situation and in need of immediate financial support
- live in Wales
- be over 16
- have no other money, for example savings, and have considered all other legal and responsible lenders such as credit unions
For the individual assistance payment (IAP), you must:
- live in Wales
- be over 16
- have no access to other money and have tried all other affordable sources of funding - for example, a credit union
- not be living in a care home (unless being discharged in six weeks)
- not be in prison (unless being discharged in six weeks)
- not be a member of a fully maintained religious order
You must also be getting one of the following:
- Income support
- Income-based jobseekers' allowance
- Income-related employment and support allowance
- Guaranteed credit element of pension credit
- Universal credit
You must also meet one of the following:
- you are leaving a care home or institution (hospital, prison or foster carer) after 3 months (minimum) to live independently
- you want to stay living in the community rather than having to go into an institution (hospital or care home)
- you are setting up home after an unsettled way of life
- you need to move home quickly due to a relationship breakdown or domestic violence
- you are going to care for a prisoner or young offender released on a temporary license
How do I apply?
Between May 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023, you can get no more than five EAP grants in a year (rolling 12 months). You can apply for a grant either online through the Welsh Government website here, by post or by phoning 0800 859 5924 between 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday.
How long before I get my money?
Applicants for these grants are means-tested, meaning how much you get will be determined by a variety of factors including your income, savings and other capital. It takes 24 hours to process applications for the emergency assistance payment. If your application is successful you'll get a PayPoint voucher or direct bank payment for food, gas, electricity and emergency travel, and vouchers to help you buy clothes.
It takes ten working days to process applications for the individual assistance payment. If successful, you will get ‘white goods’ such as a fridge, cooker or washing machine from AO Retail Limited, as well as home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs from The Furnishings Service (TFS).
You cannot apply for a grant if you have already received a grant in the last 28 days or in the last seven days if you are impacted by Covid or are on universal credit and are experiencing financial hardship, or have already received three grants in the last year (or five grants if you’re in receipt of UC or impacted by coronavirus). To get all the latest money-saving news straight to your inbox twice a week sign up here.
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