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  • Social Fund
    • Budgeting Loans
    • Cold Weather Payments
    • Funeral Payments
    • Local Welfare Provision
    • Short Term Benefit Advances
    • Sure Start Maternity Grant
    • Winter Fuel Payments
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Social Fund

Who is this section for?

This section is for anyone on a low income.

What does it include?

Information about the Social Fund, a Government scheme to help people with expenses that are difficult to meet on a low income.

There are several different types of Social Fund benefits. For some, you can claim it as long as you meet the criteria, for others, payment is not guaranteed even if you are eligible to make a claim. With most, you have to be receiving certain other benefits to qualify.

How to use this section

The left-hand navigation bar gives you a comprehensive list of the contents of this section. Click on the links to go to each page.  Some key benefits are also are described in the boxes below.

• Help paying for essentials

  Local Welfare Provision, Budgeting Loans and Short term benefit advances

   

• New baby

  If you have a new-born or adopted baby and are receiving certain benefits, you may be able to claim a Sure Start Maternity Grant.

• Bereavement

  You may be able to claim a Funeral Payment to help cover funeral costs that you are responsible for.

• Winter

  If you claim certain benefits, you may be able to get Cold Weather Payments. If you have reached State Pension age, you may get a one-off Winter Fuel Payment. 

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