The Moray Council

Scottish Welfare Fund: Crisis Grant and Community Care Grant (Moray)

Two one-off grants for Moray residents aged 16 or over on a low income who have no other source of help. A Crisis Grant meets living expenses such as food, heating, nappies, toiletries and travel in an emergency, or living expenses and household items after a disaster, to avoid an immediate threat to health or safety. A Community Care Grant pays for essential items such as furniture, household equipment and removal costs to help someone leave care, stay out of care, set up home after homelessness or cope with exceptional pressures. Crisis Grant decisions come by the end of the next working day.

Apply on the funder’s site

You could get: Amount not specified; no fixed round
Deadline: Rolling; apply any time
Effort: Light; short form, little evidence needed

Who can apply

Moray residents aged 16 or over who are on a low income and have no access to any other source of assistance
People receiving Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, Pension Credit or Universal Credit are considered to be on a low income
If you are entitled to an advance of benefit you cannot get a grant for the same situation
A Community Care Grant may not be awarded if you or your partner have savings over £700 below pension age, or £1,200 above it
Funds are limited each financial year, so meeting the criteria does not guarantee a grant

What it funds

Crisis Grants, to meet expenses to avoid an immediate threat to the health or safety of you or your family:

In the case of an emergency, short-term living expenses
In the case of a disaster, living expenses or household items
Community Care Grants, to help you in the following circumstances:
Following a period in care, if you aren't able to return home without some help
To prevent the need for you to go into care, if you can't continue to live at home without some help
To help you set up or maintain a settled home, alongside other support to help sustain your tenancy, after being homeless or living an unsettled way of life
To ease exceptional pressures, over and above that of living on a low income, that you and your family may experience
To help you care for a person released from prison or young offenders' unit on temporary release

living expenses are essential items such as food, heating costs, nappies, toiletries, and travel costs in case of an emergency.

Community Care Grant applications can be made for essential items such as furniture, household equipment, travel costs, removal expenses, storage charges, and connection charges for gas and electricity.

What it will not fund

Needs that occur outside the United Kingdom
Educational or training needs, including school uniform, equipment and school travel
Court and legal expenses, fines and bankruptcy costs
Removal or storage after a compulsory purchase, redevelopment or closing order
Televisions, radios, licences, telephones and mobile phones (unless there is a particular need, such as a personal alarm)
Repairs to council or social landlord property
Rent in advance and rent deposits
Debts and arrears (except emergency pre-paid fuel meter top-ups)
Expenses the council or another body has a statutory duty to meet
Medical, surgical, optical, aural or dental items or services
Domestic assistance and respite care
Work-related expenses
Investments
Holidays
On-going expenses that are, or are likely to become, a regular feature of spending
Community Care Grants where you or your partner have savings over £700 (below pension age) or £1,200 (above pension age)

How to apply

Apply online (eligibility questions come first; you can save and return with a reference number and password), by phone on 01343 563456 (8.45am-5pm Monday to Friday, with a call-back if needed), face to face at an Information Hub, or by paper form
Say why you need help and which items or living expenses are needed, with your phone number and email
Send any supporting evidence to awards@moray.gov.uk or take it to an Information Hub
The council phones you and confirms its decision by email or letter

a Social Worker, Housing Support Officer or Citizens Advice Bureau can help with the application. Out of hours emergencies: 03457 565656.

Have ready

Proof of identity and circumstances, if asked
Helpful evidence such as bank statements, evidence of income and expenditure, photographs or medical evidence

for a Crisis Grant while on Universal Credit with more than 7 days to the next payment, send evidence of your last Universal Credit payment (date, amount, deductions) and a bank transaction print since that payment.

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