Social
Fund:
One-off
payments through Community Care Grants, Budgeting Loans and Crisis
Loans. Budgeting loans no longer require people to request specific
items. If Community Care Grants might apply, always go for these rather
than a loan!
Believe it or
not, people can actually be refused a crisis loan because they have no
predictable way of repaying it....
Council
Tax Benefit (CTB):
Benefit
available to meet all or part of cost of Council Tax for those of 18 or
over who qualify on income grounds. Calculation is similar to that for
Income Support/ Child Tax Credit.
Remember that
it is possible to have income and savings above Income Support levels
and still qualify for Council Tax Benefit. Some people with serious
mental health problems and some carers will be ‘disregarded’ for Council
Tax purposes, attracting non means-tested reduction in Council Tax bills
- further info from Local Authorities.
Housing
Benefit (HB):
Benefit
available to to meet all or part of rent and service charges for those
16 or over who qualify on income grounds. Calculation is similar to that
for Income Support/ Child Tax Credit.
Remember that
it is possible to have income and savings above Income Support levels
and still qualify for Housing Benefit.
