Help in a Financial Crisis - Local Welfare Provision
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The Local Welfare Provision team at Wiltshire Council may be able to help if you or close family members are going through a personal financial crisis and have no means of getting help anywhere else.
What is a crisis situation?
A crisis situation is defined as “where a household has insufficient resources to meet an urgent need that poses an immediate and substantial risk to the health and wellbeing of the applicant and/or a member of their family”. A crisis refers to “an urgent need as a result of an emergency, disaster or unforeseen circumstance, not to be confused with the pressures generally associated with managing a low income”. Examples of a crisis may include:-
- No access to essential items such as food, clothing and heating
- Imminent risk of homelessness
- A flood, fire or gas explosion
What help will be available?
The council will not give cash awards but may be able to provide help and support in the following ways:-
- They may be able to direct you to another organisation that can provide specific help with your particular problem
- They may be able to help you with access to food or energy such as electricity or gas
- They may be able to help you with access to one off items such as a cooker, washing machine or fridge
- They may be able to help you with essential furniture items for setting up home
Who can apply?
To be eligible to access the scheme you must be in a crisis situation, for example, be without food or heating and have no other means of support, or need help and support to live back in or remain in the community. As well as being able to demonstrate that you need help all of the following criteria would need to be met, you must be :-
- 16 or over
- A Wiltshire resident or, in the case of those who are homeless or leaving an institutional establishment, have local connections with Wiltshire
- Require immediate support to meet an urgent need that poses a serious risk to health and safety of yourself or an immediate household member or you are in a vulnerable situation and need help to live independently in the community
- Able to demonstrate that they have no other resources or alternative way of meeting this need
How to apply
The scheme can be accessed by contacting your local [Citizens Advice Bureau] or the Local Welfare Provision Team at Wiltshire Council on 0300 003 4567 or email LWP@wiltshire.gov.uk. All applicants will be required to complete an application form click here to download. The Local Welfare Provision Team can also help you with the form and answer any other questions you may have about the scheme.
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