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Orkney Islands Council

Scottish Welfare Fund

IMAGE: Orkney Islands Council logo with the text “ORKNEY ISLANDS COUNCIL”.

A Community Care Grant may be awarded:

To help people establish themselves in the community following a period of care where circumstances indicate that there is an identifiable risk of the person not being able to live independently without this help

  • The person must have been in accommodation for 3 months or more where they received significant and substantial care, supervision or protection. For example hospital, care homes, hostels, prison or supported accommodation.

To help people remain in the community rather than going into care where circumstances indicate that there is an identifiable risk of the person not being able to live independently without this help

  • People most at risk of going into care may be those having difficulty dealing with life in the community, for example: dealing with personal and domestic tasks, needing basic household items, repairs to maintain or improve a home or help someone to move to provide care for someone.

To help people set up home in the community, as part of a resettlement programme, following an unsettled way of life

  • This may include a young person who is leaving residential supported accommodation or someone who has a history of repeat homelessness.

To help families facing exceptional pressures and who lack the resources to meet irregular costs to provide a safe and secure environment for their family

  • Exceptional pressures may include: a breakdown of relationships (perhaps domestic violence); to meet the needs of a chronically ill child or disability in the family; there is a serious problem with accommodation resulting in a move. The priority is the children.

To help people to care for a prisoner or young offender on release on temporary licence

  • The grant is for the person caring for the prisoner to help them adjust to life outside prison.

Who is eligible to apply?

You must be aged 16 years or over, resident in the local authority, and be on a low income:

It is for the Local Authority to determine what constitutes a low income. A person entitled to one of the following benefits will be considered to have met the condition of being on a low income. However, it is not essential to be in receipt of one of these benefits to be eligible:

  • Income Support;
  • Income –based Jobseekers’ Allowance;
  • Income –related Employment and Support Allowance;
  • Pension Credit;
  • Universal Credit

If you are not receiving one of these benefits but are likely to qualify on leaving an institution or residential accommodation in which you received support or care you may still be considered for a grant.

Applications can be made online on the Orkney Islands Council website, over the phone or face-to-face at the Council Offices

You will not be entitled to apply if:

  • If you or your partner have savings over £700, if you are below state pension credit age, or £1,200 if your or your partner are above state pension credit age.
  • You are a care home resident, hospital in patient, in prison or release on temporary licence – unless planned discharge or release date within 8 weeks.
  • You apply for needs that are specifically excluded – for example, ongoing needs that are likely to become a feature of normal expenditure. For more details you can refer to the Council’s Scottish Welfare Fund Policy.
  • You have applied in the past 28 days for the same items or services unless there has been a relevant change of circumstances.

How much grant is available?

The amount of money that the Council can spend each year for the Scottish Welfare Fund is limited. Even if your application is considered as being eligible to qualify for a grant it does not mean that you will receive an award. Your application will be assessed on:

  • The nature, extent, severity and urgency of need;
  • The vulnerability of the applicant and the likely consequences of refusal;
  • Whether the application is considered a high, medium or low priority;
  • The level of funding available and the priority of the application.

How will the grant be paid?

Grants may be paid in cash, direct to your bank account, or in kind. If successful, your application will be processed within 15 working days.

Appeals

If you are unhappy with the outcome of your application you may ask for a review of that decision within 20 working days of the date of that decision.

Where to get more information

You can get more information from the Council’s Enterprise & Sustainable Regeneration Service – Benefits Team, Council Offices, Kirkwall, Orkney, KW15 1JS.

Tel: 01856 873535 extension 2116; email swf@orkney.gov.uk

Website: http://www.orkney.gov.uk/Service-Directory/S/scottish-welfare-fund.htm

June 2023