Financial help moving home
There are potentially three government schemes available to social tenants to help with the financial implications of moving home. These are:
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Community care grants
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Crisis loans
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Budgeting loans
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Community Care Grant
These provide financial assistance that does not have to be repaid.
Eligibility will depend upon your personal circumstances but normally applies to persons leaving or avoiding a move into institutional care.
Crisis Loans
These are interest free loans provided to persons over 16 years of age to assist if you are unable to pay for basic living costs and that this will be a serious risk to the health and safety of you or your family. Basic living costs include necessary equipment such as a cooker or a fridge as the absence of these may pose a serious risk to your family. For more information about Crisis Loans contact your local DWP office.
Budgeting Loan
As with crisis loans these are interest free loans. They may be applied for if you have been claiming Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA) or Pension Credit, or payment on account of a combination of these benefit for at least 26 weeks.
The maximum loan at any one time is dependent on your circumstances - length of time on benefit, persons in the household, savings, etc. but will not exceed £1,500.00. It can be used for:
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Purchasing furniture or household equipment Purchasing clothing or footwear Paying rent in advance or removal expenses for a new home Paying travelling expenses.
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Paying for things to help you look for or start work.
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Improving, maintaining or securing your home.
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Repaying hire purchase or other debts you took out to pay for any of the above.
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) office should be contacted for more information.
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Financial help
