COVID-19 Financial Support for Individuals - GOV.WALES
←
→
Page content transcription
If your browser does not render page correctly, please read the page content below
COVID-19 Financial Support for Individuals
CONTENTS
This is a short guide to the
1 INTRODUCTION financial support that might
be available to help you now.
2 LOSS OF INCOME We understand that the
Coronavirus pandemic is
especially worrying if you
have difficulty paying your
3 HOUSING bills and/or your rent, but
there is help and advice
available to assist you.
4 FINANCIAL HELP
5 LIVING COSTS
1
6 HEALTH AND WELLBEING An accessible version of this
document is available for
download at
gov.wales/support-
7 FAMILY SUPPORT homeowners-and-tenants-
campaign-material-
coronavirus
8 CONTACTS
Digital ISBN 978-1-80082-706-6 © Crown Copyright 2021
INTRODUCTION
Support from the Welsh Government Discretionary payments
If you meet most of the criteria but do
Self-isolation support scheme not get benefits, you could still apply for
You could get a payment of £500 to help a discretionary payment from your local
with loss of earnings if you’ve been told to authority. Discretionary payments are only
self-isolate and cannot work from home. If made in exceptional circumstances.
you’ve tested positive for COVID-19 or have
been formally told to self-isolate by the
NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service on or
after 23 October 2020, you can apply for a
payment.
The Self-isolation support scheme is for
those on low income, who cannot work from
home and must self-isolate.
Payments will be taxed, but are exempt from
National Insurance contributions. It should
not affect any benefits you get.
To check your eligibility and find out how to
apply, contact your local authority.
Subject to meeting eligibility criteria the
scheme is also available to parents and
2
carers of children up to and including Year 8
(or up to age 25 if the learner has multiple
and complex needs) who have been asked to
self-isolate.
LOSS OF
INCOME
Support from the UK Government Personal Independence Payment
Personal Independence Payment can help
Universal Credit you with some of the extra costs if you have
Whether you are self-employed, have a long-term health condition or a
recently lost your job, working reduced disability. For more information on Personal
hours or are on a zero hours contract, or Independence Payment please visit
taking unpaid leave to look after your child/ www.gov.uk/pip or you can make a claim by
children as a result of school closures, you calling free on 0800 917 2222. All face-to-
may be eligible for the DWP’s Universal face assessments for health and disability-
Credit, which can include help with paying related benefits have been temporarily
your rent. You can claim online at suspended but you can still make a claim for
www.gov.uk/apply-universal-credit Personal Independent Payment.
For those who cannot use digital services,
applications can be made over the phone: Statutory Sick Pay
If you are employed and are ill or self-
Universal Credit Helpline 0800 328 5644 isolating you may be eligible to claim
Welsh language 0800 328 1744 Statutory Sick Pay (SSP), which will help you
towards your living costs, or to pay your
If you need help to make a claim for rent and bills. If you’re employed but your
Universal Credit Citizen’s Advice can help earnings are too low to claim SSP, you may
you. Call free on 08000 241 220 or visit be able to claim Universal Credit to help you
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/helptoclaim towards your living costs and afford your rent
and bills. You may be eligible for Statutory
New Style Employment and Support Sick Pay if you’re required to self-isolate
Allowance because you’ve been notified that you have
If you are ill or are self-isolating you may come into contact with someone who has
2
be able to get New Style Employment and coronavirus, and you’re unable to work as a
Support Allowance, either on its own or at result. Find out more at
the same time as Universal Credit. More www.gov.uk/statutory-sick-pay/eligibility
information on New Style ESA can be found
at www.gov.uk/guidance/new-style- Job Retention Scheme (Furloughed
employment-and-support-allowance Employees)
More information can be found at
Telephone: 0800 328 5644 (option 3) www.gov.uk/guidance/check-if-you-
Textphone: 0800 328 1344 (option 3) could-be-covered-by-the-coronavirus-job-
Welsh language telephone: 0800 328 1744 retention-scheme
New Style Job Seeker’s Allowance If your salary is reduced as a result of these
You might be eligible for New Style Job changes, and you are having difficulty
Seeker’s Allowance to help you when you meeting your living costs and paying your
look for work, either on its own or at the rent and/or bills, you may be eligible for
same time as Universal Credit. If you’re support through Universal Credit.
unemployed or work less than 16 hours a
week you may be able to get New Style JSA. Self-employed scheme
More information can be found at The Self-employed Scheme has been
LOSS OF
gov.uk/jobseekers-allowance/apply-new- extended. If you were not eligible for the first
style-jsa and second grant based on the information
in your Self Assessment tax returns, you
Telephone: 0800 055 6688 will not be eligible for the third. Further
INCOME
Textphone: 0800 023 4888 information can be found at
Welsh language: 0800 012 1888 www.gov.uk/guidance/claim-a-grant-
through-the-coronavirus-covid-19-self-
employment-income-support-scheme
Whether you’re a tenant in the social sector Discretionary Housing Payments
or private sector, it’s important that you talk (This applies to both social and private
to your landlord at the earliest opportunity if sector tenants)
you think you will have difficulty paying your
rent and bills, as they may be able to help These can provide extra money when your
you. local authority decides that you need extra
help to meet your housing costs on top
Early Alert Scheme (This applies to private of the benefit support you already receive
sector tenants only) through the DWP.
This is an independent service delivered by
Citizens Advice Cymru, providing advice To get a Discretionary Housing Payment, you
to private sector tenants on rent, income, will need to either already be receiving the
benefits and cost savings. You can access old scheme Housing Benefit or the housing
this support at any point from the first sign contribution element through Universal
that you are going to struggle to pay your Credit.
rent and bills. The service can include an
assessment of your income and expenses To access a Discretionary Housing Payment
to help with budgeting. The service can please contact your local authority.
also help you to establish an affordable
repayment plan with your landlord or letting
agent. This will help to address rent arrears
and reduce the risk of you losing your home.
If you are worried about paying your rent
or household bills you can call the Private
Rented Sector Debt Helpline on Freephone
0808 278 7920.
Tenancy Saver Loans (This applies to
private sector tenants only)
3
Delivered by Credit Unions, this scheme is
for private sector tenants who have fallen
behind on their rent because of Covid-19.
Subject to meeting the eligibility and
affordability requirements of the scheme,
the loan is paid directly to your landlord
reducing the likelihood of eviction.
Responsibility for repaying the loan lies
with you as the tenant, but loans are made
more affordable by the low interest rate (1%
APR), and the repayment period of up-to five
years. If you would like more information,
complete the enquiry form https://
creditunionsofwales.co.uk/tsl/ and a Credit
Union adviser will get in touch to talk you
through the scheme and check whether it’s
right for you.
HOUSING
Welsh Government’s Discretionary Council Tax Reduction Scheme
Assistance Fund If your household is on a low income, you
A fund of last resort intended to support could receive support towards some, or all of
people experiencing extreme financial your Council Tax bill through the Council Tax
hardship. Reduction Scheme.
Flexibility to support coronavirus impact For more information please visit
To provide more help for those households www.gov.wales/council-tax-discounts-and-
facing significant additional hardship due to reductions-information-leaflet
the Coronavirus crisis, Welsh Government
has asked the DAF Service Centre personnel
to apply greater flexibility and discretion with
regard to the number and frequency of EAP
payments that clients may require during
this period.
Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
EAPs are a grant to help with essential costs
if you are in a crisis situation and in need
of immediate financial support for reasons
such as loss of job or delays in benefit
payments. The payment is intended to help
cover the cost of food, gas and electricity,
clothing and emergency travel.
You can apply online for a Discretionary
4
Assistance Fund payment at
gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-
daf/how-apply
or by calling free on 0800 859 5924.
FINANCIAL
HELP
Water Free School Meals
If you are having difficulty paying your If your child or children are entitled to free
water bill, you should contact your supplier school meals, you will continue to receive
immediately. If you are with Welsh Water, this support, even if their schools are closed
they have outlined the support they can or if your child or children are self-isolating or
provide, which includes payment plans and need to shield because of COVID19.
water rate reductions. More information can
be found at www.dwrcymru.com/en/My- Local authorities in Wales have all made
Account/Help-Paying-My-Water-Bill.aspx arrangements to ensure that pupils who
receive free school meals continue to get
Gas and electricity them.
The UK Government has agreed measures
with the energy industry to support people These arrangements can vary according
through the coronavirus pandemic. Any to the local authority area you live in. You
energy customer in need of financial help should contact your local authority to find
will also be supported by their supplier, out how the scheme is being administered, if
which could include debt repayments and you haven’t been contacted already. To find
bill payments being reassessed, reduced your local authority contact details please
or paused where necessary, whilst see www.gov.uk/find-local-council.
disconnection of credit meters will be
completely suspended. Pupil Development Grant Access (PDG
Access)
Broadband and mobile phones PDG Access is funding for families to help
If you are concerned about paying your pay for some of the costs of the school day,
broadband or mobile bill, you should contact specifically school uniform and other kit.
5
your supplier immediately, as they may be Families whose children are eligible for free
able to put a payment plan or other support school meals can apply for this grant if they
in place to help you stay connected. are:
Banks, credit cards and loans • Entering reception class or year 3 in
Many banks and credit card firms are primary school
offering payment holidays, increased • Entering year 7 or year 10 in secondary
overdraft facilities and low interest rates to school
help people throughout the coronavirus • Aged 4, 7, 11 or 14 in special schools,
pandemic. If you are concerned about special needs resource bases or pupil
paying your bank or credit card payments, referral units
you should contact your financial services
provider immediately, as they may be able to Funding is also available for looked after
put a payment plan or other support in place children in every school year.
to help you. www.gov.wales/pupil-development-grant-
access
LIVING
COSTS
During this challenging time, it’s really Substance misuse national helpline
important that we take care of ourselves and Visit: www.dan247.org.uk
others. Freephone: 0808 808 2234
Or text DAN to: 81066
Welsh Government have developed a
website which gives practical advice on Domestic abuse
how you can stay safe, support your mental To find help if you are experiencing violence
health and wellbeing and protect others in in your home visit:
your community. To find out more, visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk/cymraeg/Teulu/
gov.wales/safe-help. gender-violence/domestic-violence-and-
abuse-getting-help
Live Fear Free
Live Fear Free provides easy to access, Dewis Cymru
helpful confidential advice on a variety of Online database with wellbeing resources.
matters which may be relevant to your To find out more visit: www.dewis.wales.
situation. It is open 24/7, is free and will not
show up on phone bills. Healthy Start
If you are pregnant or have children
The helpline provides help and support under the age of four you could qualify
for anyone who is experiencing or knows for Healthy Start if you’re on benefits or if
someone experiencing domestic abuse and you’re pregnant and under 18. You get free
sexual violence. vouchers every week to spend on milk, fresh,
frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh,
There are four ways to make contact: dried, and tinned pulses, and infant formula
milk. You can also get free vitamins. To find
By phone: 0808 80 10 800 out more, including how to apply go to
6
Text service: 07860 077333 www.healthystart.nhs.uk or you can also
E-mail: info@livefearfreehelpline.wales call our helpline at the Healthy Start Issuing
Live chat: www.gov.wales/live-fear-free Unit on 0345 607 6823.
C.A.L.L. Helpline
Talking about worries and problems
can make things easier and there are
services available to support you. The
C.A.L.L. Helpline is a dedicated mental
health helpline for Wales, which provides
confidential listening and emotional support
and will help you contact support available
in your local area, including voluntary and
charitable organisations.
It can be contacted on 0800 132 737 or
by texting ‘help’ to 81066. The C.A.L.L.
website is at: www.callhelpline.org.uk
HEALTH &
WELLBEING
Family Information Service Ethnic minorities Youth Support Team
Free information on services and activities EYST offers services for BME young people,
for children, young people and families. To families and individuals including refugees
find out more visit gov.wales/find-your- and asylum-seekers living in Wales. To find
local-family-information-service out more visit: www.eyst.org.uk.
Additional Learning Needs Carers Trust Wales
SNAP Cymru provides information, advice National charity committed to improving
and support for parents, children and young support and services for unpaid carers. To
people who have, or may have, additional find out more visit: www.carers.org.
learning needs. To find out more visit:
www.snapcymru.org.
Parents
Free practical tips and advice for all your
parenting challenges. To find out more visit:
gov.wales/parenting-give-it-time.
7
FAMILY
SUPPORTCitizen’s Advice Cymru Care and Repair
Citizen’s Advice Cymru offers free, Care and Repair provides information, advice
confidential advice on a range of issues and practical services that help older people
including money, debt and benefits. in Wales stay safe, warm and well at home.
They fit disability aids and adaptations,
To speak to an adviser, please call supply home maintenance services, help
0800 702 2020 (9am to 5pm, Monday to maximise income and access grants, and
Friday) or to access information and/or talk make homes safe to return to from hospital.
to adviser online, please visit
www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/about- To find out more, call 0300 111 3333 or visit
us/contact-us/contact-us/contact-us www.careandrepair.org.uk
If you are self-isolating and friends or Mental Health and Money Advice Service
neighbours are not able to help, please Hafal, as part of Mental Health UK has
contact your local volunteer centre (County launched the Mental Health & Money Advice.
Voluntary Council) for help and advice. To The service supports people affected by
find out more, please visit mental health and money issues including
www.thirdsectorsupport.wales/contact carers, friends, families and professionals
within the area.
Age Cymru Advice
Age Cymru Advice offers free, confidential, Further information can be found by visiting
impartial and bilingual expert advice service www.hafal.org/recovery/finance-money
for over 50s in Wales. They can help older
people, their families, friends, carers and Even if you think that you do not ordinarily
professionals with information and advice on qualify for financial support you could now
matters affecting older people. be eligible for some help with day to day
living costs.
To find out more, call 08000 223 444
between 9:30am and 4:30pm, Monday to
Friday or email advice@agecymru.org.uk
8
CONTACTSNOTES
You can also read
