Help for people affected by the flooding

If you are reading this, you are probably suffering from the terrible flooding in the area, and may be in an evacuation centre.

This page outlines what emergency financial help may be available to you from the Department for Work and Pensions Social Fund scheme.

Detailed information on the Social Fund is in A guide to The Social Fund on the Department for Work and Pensions website.

Two types of help

There are two types of emergency financial help available for the most needy. The next two sections will help you find out if you might qualify.

For people whose homes have been flooded Jobcentre Plus can provide financial help through:

• Crisis Loans
• Community Care Grants
  

Crisis Loans

Q: What are crisis loans?
A: As the name suggests, they are interest free repayable loans to help with immediate essential costs, for food, clothing or household items.

Q: Who is eligible?
A: You may be eligible if you:
- are facing danger to your health or safety
and
- have no other financial means such as savings

Q: How do I find out more information?
A: You can:

- contact Jobcentre Plus.  Our phone number and address is also in the Business section of your local phone book.  We will arrange the best way for you to make an urgent application.

- read information about Crisis Loans

Q: How quickly will I get the money?
A: If you are eligible, you will be told straight away and payment will normally be by a cheque that you can cash at a Post Office.

Community Care Grants

Q. What are Community Care grants?
A. Community Care Grants are non repayable grants to help to support vulnerable people living in the community by giving awards.  For example they help people remain in the community rather than enter care or to ease exceptional pressures on families.

Q. Who is eligible?
A. You may be eligible if you:
- are in receipt of Income Support, income based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit
and
- have no insurance or other resources to meet the need.

All individual circumstances are taken into account and there are other considerations that can affect whether a payment is made or how much it is.

Q: How do I find out more information?
A: You can:

- contact Jobcentre Plus.  We will tell you how to apply
- read the Information about Community Care Grants on this site

We will be very busy over the next few days, so please bear with us.

You can read current flood News and alerts on the DirectGov website.