Community Care Grants

Community care grants are paid to families or individuals who are having difficulties, including those who have needs relating to illness or disability.

Community Care Grants are allocated on a discretionary basis and don’t have to be repaid. In terms of benefits Community Care Grants are not counted as income either so should not effect your other benefits.

Eligibility for a Community Care Grant

In order to be eligible for a Community Care Grant, you must be receiving one of the following:

• Income Support
• Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Pension Credit

You could also be eligible if you are due to start receiving one of these benefits because you’re moving out of care.

For those who are receiving one of the benefits above, Community Care Grants are awarded for a range of reasons. The following circumstances are all eligible for help from a Community Care Grant:

• You are moving out of residential care to live independently
• You are being moved to a more suitable home by your Local Authority or another welfare organisation
• You need some help to avoid residential care and to continue to live independently
• Your family is under exceptional pressure due to disability or illness in the family
• You care for someone who is ill or disabled
• You need help to visit an ill or disabled relative, or to attend a funeral

However, there are also strict guidelines regarding what a Community Care Grant can’t be used for. For example a Community Care Grant can't be used for medical fees, respite care or debts.

How Much Will I Get?

Community Care Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis, so the amount you could be eligible for will depend on your individual circumstances.

However, if you have savings these will be taken into account. If you are under 60 and have savings of over £500, or are over 60 and have savings over £1,000 you are likely to receive a reduced Community Care Grant.

Community Care Grants can be paid directly into your bank or building society account.

Applying for a Community Care Grant

In order to apply for a Community Care Grant you need to fill in an SPF300 application form. You can get one from your local Jobcentre Plus or download one from the Directgov or Department for Work and Pensions websites.

When you fill in the form you need to include as much detail regarding your situation as possible, and make it clear how the grant would help to alleviate any pressures or difficulties which you are facing.

Once you have applied for a Community Care Grant you should receive a decision on your case in writing. If you are unhappy with the decision you then have 28 days to submit an appeal.

Priority Cases

Community Care Grant payments come from what is known as a social fund. Each area is allocated a social fund with a maximum budget. There are usually more applications for Community Care Grants, and other schemes under the social fund, than there is money to pay them. Therefore decisions about who gets a Community Care Grant have to be based on need.

How much of a priority each case is will be based on how urgent the needs are, and how great the benefit brought to the recipient will be.

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