1. What is the Discretionary Assistance Fund?
The Discretionary Assistance Fund gives grants to people who live in Wales. It gives grants to people who
- Need help to live independently in the community; or
- Have experienced an emergency or a disaster.
Grants do not need to be paid back.
There are two types of assistance available from the fund:
- The Individual Assistance Payment, which helps vulnerable people live independently in the community, and
- The Emergency Assistance Payment, which helps people who are in financial need because they have experienced an emergency or a disaster.
There is no set amount that you will receive from the fund. The amount you get, if you receive an award, will depend on your needs.
Applies to: Wales
Age rules: You must be aged 16 or over
Type of benefit: Means tested
Taxable: No
Administered by: Northgate Information Solutions, Family Fund Trading and Wrexham Country Borough Council
2. Can I get help from the Discretionary Assistance Fund?
The Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)
To be eligible to apply for this, you, or the person you care for must be getting either:
You, or the person you care for, must also be:
-
Leaving an institution such as a hospital, care home or prison after having lived there for three or more consecutive months (or on a frequent or regular basis), or
-
Planning to care for someone leaving an institution as described above and neither of you can afford to meet their needs, or
-
Needing help that could stop admittance to an institution, or
-
Part of a planned resettlement after a period of homelessness or leaving supported accommodation, or
-
Experiencing exceptional and urgent pressures on your household, for example, due to domestic violence, chronic illness, disability or an accident, or
-
In need of help with a one-off or short-term travel expense which is essential to you continuing to live independently.
The Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
To be eligible to apply for this, you must:
-
Not have the money to meet your needs which have come about as a result of the emergency or disaster, and
-
Have no other way to get the money, and
-
Think there will be serious damage or risk to your family's health and safety if you don't get awarded an Emergency Assistance Payment.
3. How do I apply to the Discretionary Assistance Fund?
4. How do I challenge a Discretionary Assistance Fund decision?
If you are not happy with the way your application was dealt with, or with the decision made, you can consider making a complaint or asking for a review of the decision.
You can find information on how to request a review of the decision on the gov.wales website.