Welfare Reform.... LCCs The Care and Urgent Needs Support Scheme

 

From 1^st April, 2013, Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants within the DWP Discretionary Social Fund will be abolished. From that date, within Lancashire, a new local scheme will be established, administered by Lancashire County Council, called The Care and Urgent Needs Support Scheme.

The new local scheme is there to support vulnerable people in urgent need who have no access to other means of support. This might be to allow them to live in the community or to deal with a particular crisis.

Eligibility

To be eligible for the scheme, you must live in the area covered by Lancashire County Council (this excludes Blackpool, and Blackburn with Darwen who have their own schemes)

• be over 16

AND

• On a low income, this would normally mean that you were getting:

  • Income Support,

  • Income based Job Seekers Allowance ( JSA),

  • Income related Employment and Support Allowance ( ESA)

  • or Pension Credit ( Guarantee Credit only)

AND

• Either leaving care or requiring support to stay in the community

OR

• Able to demonstrate that you are without immediate resource to meet the basic needs of yourself and/ or your dependents

To access the scheme

Helpline : 0845 0530015