Money you don't have to Pay Back

I am going to start this blog with what money is available that you don't have to pay back.

The first item we will look at is The Community Grant (form SF300) http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Diol1/DoItOnline/DG_4017560 or pick the form up from your local job centre.

• You can apply for items you require, for example if you are moving into council accommodation for the first time, due to perhaps for example coming out of prison, there are several items you would require, cooker, bed etc. If you are granted the community grant you receive the total amount they have said you are entitled to paid in to your account, you do not receive vouchers.

A community grant is available if:

• You are already getting Income Support, income-related Employment and Support Allowance,

The form itself' is quite long but a majority of the information required is just name, address, national insurance number etc.

The important part of the form is the section where you fill in the items you require. You enter the item you require, cost, who will use it and why you require it and what benefit it would give.

• An example would be:

• Cooker , cost £279.0, myself for the family, My current cooker is broken and I have been advised repair will be over £300. I am unable to afford the £300 or the £279 to purchase a new one. I am currently only able to cook microwave meals, which are expensive and not healthy for my family. Having a cooker again will mean I can afford to and be able to prepare proper healthy meals for my family.

This part of the form is the most important, you should really think about what you require, why and how it will help. Remember you can list as many items as you like, it does not mean you will be given the money for them all, but you can ask. Other items people may need, would be cookers, washing machines, tumble dyer if you live in a flat and have no where to put your washing out, security items .IE window locks, smoke alarms etc, bed, bedding, cloths. These are just a few examples if you think about what is in a house there are lots of essential items.

Community grants can also be applied for to assist with funeral costs, travelling expenses in certain circumstances,i.e visiting someone is ill.

The list is not exhaustive the important thing to remember is the detail for the items you are applying for. You can apply for a community grant more than once a year, but remember you can not apply for something you have applyed up to 26 week previously.

Please feel free to to e-mail me at : jasette11@googlemail.com if you require any assistance with a form.