Community Care Grants

If you receive Pension Credit, Income Support or Jobseeker’s Allowance based on your income, or if you are leaving accommodation where you have been receiving care and are likely to begin claiming one of these benefits, you may be entitled to a Community Care Grant. A Community Care Grant is a one-off payment which you will not need to pay back. It is designed to help you to pay important costs which you cannot pay from your own income. The amount that you are entitled to receive will depend on the costs that you need to cover and how much money you have in savings, but if eligible you will receive at least £30. You may need this Grant if:

• Your family is going through an extremely difficult period
• You are resettling and need help covering expenses for your new home
• You must make a journey in the UK, perhaps to attend a family member’s funeral, but have travel costs you are unable to pay
• You need help caring for a prisoner who is staying with you temporarily
• You need care to ensure that you will not have to go into a care institution
• You need help readjusting after a period in a care institution

If you wish to apply for a Grant you are advised to contact Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688 and ask for assistance and a claim form. If you are successful the Grant will not affect any benefits to which you are currently entitled. If you are not awarded a Community Care Grant but you think that you are entitled to one, you are allowed to appeal the decision by contacting Jobcentre Plus.