The Social Fund is intended to help you with living costs that aren't covered by your weekly benefit payments.
The Social Fund is made up of non-repayable grants and some repayable loans. To get a Social Fund payment you usually have to be receiving a 'qualifying benefit'. These differ for each type of grant or loan. You don't have to be receiving any benefits to apply for a Crisis Loan.
The Social Fund is run by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and is divided into two parts: the 'regulated' Social Fund and the 'discretionary' Social Fund. The regulated social fund consists of the following non-repayable grants:
As these payments are set down in law, you have an entitlement to claim them and to appeal to an independent tribunal if you dispute the DWP’s decision.
The discretionary Social Fund consists of the following grants and repayable interest-free loans:
Discretionary Social Fund payments are subject to annual local and national budgets. If there's no money in the budget, you won't get a payment.
Social Fund loans are repayable through weekly reductions in your benefits. If you're no longer on benefits, you'll need to negotiate repayments with the DWP.
Social Fund payments don't count as income or capital for other benefits and they're not taxable.
You'll normally be excluded from Social Fund payments if you're subject to immigration control. Seek help and advice if there's any question over your immigration status.