Q2A

Got an enquiry ........

please can you offer some advice for a young friedn of mine. she is just twenty one, and is one her own with 2 babies, one under a year, the other is two. she has split up from their father and he has left their / her house in a bit of a shambles. she is doing her best to redecorate but she has had to get rid of her back room carpet. she needs laminate flooring in there preferably, but anything clean will do. she has not had much success trying to get communicty care grant social fund loan etc. please can you suggest anything that might help her. she is on benefits obviously. thank you

This is our reply.......

Hi. Thanks for your enquiry to q2a.

From the information you have provided us regarding your friend there maybe some help available under the Social Fund. As we are not aware why your friend was unsuccessful in getting the Community Care Grant etc it doesn't however mean that she may not be entitled to them. We will need to look at where your friend would fit in the qualifying conditions of these discretionary payments.

1. Community Care Grant - If you need financial help to live independently in the community or to ease exceptional pressure on you and your family you may be able to get a Community Care Grant. You don't have to pay it back. You can apply for a Community Care Grant if you are either already getting Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance or payment on account of one of these benefits. From what you have told us about your friend she would fall under the 'ease of exceptional pressure on you and your family' as low income, lone parenthood and poor living conditions comes under the qualifying conditions. As does the breakdown of a relationship is a common source of exceptional pressures.

2. Budgeting Loans - are interest free loans to help people with expenses which are difficult to budget for after a 26 week period on income support, income based jobseekers allowance and income-related employment and support allowance. There is a minimum loan of £100 to a maximum payment of £1500. The loan is allowable for furniture, household equipment and improvement/ maintenance to your home.

However we would suggest she visits the Lancashire Welfare Rights Service. We don't know why your friend has been unsuccessful in her applications as she would seem to be a strong candidate. Unfortunately it could be the way her application was worded as the final decision is based on what is put before the panel. Lancashire Welfare Rights Service are very good in supporting and advising on how to go about wording application forms so that your friend can clearly show where she meets the qualifying conditions. We give the contact details below and suggest she calls them to find out how best to get help from them as it might involve a journey.

Another place that maybe good to try is the Open Door Furniture Recycling Project which as a local charitable organisation. It is your community based furniture scheme which is set up on a not for profit basis to provide basic furniture, household goods and domestic appliances for disadvantaged people living within Burnley and Pendle who are excluded from buying these items through traditional outlets.

Welfare Rights
Burnley and Pendle Area Team
19-21 Carr Road
Nelson
BB9 7JS
Tel: 0845 053 0013

Open Door Furniture Recycling Showroom
Opening Times
Wednesday 10.00am - 3.00pm
Friday 10.00am - 3.00pm

Unit 127A
Lomeshaye Business Village
Turner Road, Nelson
Lancashire
BB9 7DR
Telephone: 01282 452400

We hope this information has been helpful and your friend is able to get her house back in order. If we can help any further with this, or anything else please do email us again.

Best wishes

Q2A

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