Departments Directions Social Fund Guide

Part 2 - Community Care Grants

Direction 4 (a)(iii) - Families under exceptional pressure

General

2750All families, especially those on low income, face pressure at various times, so that in itself is not a reason to award a Community Care Grant. However, Community Care Grants may be awarded to ease exceptional pressures on a family, i.e. circumstances which put a family under greater pressure than might normally be associated with low income. Consider the degree of this pressure in terms of its effect on the individual family as well as the type of pressure or how common it is.

2751It is important to recognise that what constitutes "exceptional pressure" covers a very wide range of personal circumstances. It may be the result of acute domestic difficulties which can be described as specific to the family, such as:

the breakdown of a relationship (especially where domestic violence is involved); or
the onset of, or deterioration in, a disability of a member of the family

2752Alternatively, exceptional pressure on a family unit may be due to a sudden domestic upheaval imposed by an unforeseen calamity, for example:

a house fire; or
a natural disaster such as flooding; or
where a disaster has resulted in the evacuation of all or part of a community to a different area, which may also include evacuation to the UK from overseas.

2753Exceptional pressure on a family unit may also be due to the longer term consequences of displacement from a country outside the UK for political or religious reasons. A Community Care Grant may be considered where a family whose application for asylum in this country has been successful is moving into the community from temporary accommodation provided by the Home Office.

2754In the types of circumstances indicated in paragraphs 2752 and 2753 above, consider carefully, having regard to all the facts of the case, whether it is appropriate to award a crisis loan or a Community Care Grant (see para 2065).

2755The specific circumstances giving rise to a need may be important in deciding the priority of an application. Consider giving a higher priority to a new type of expense which has arisen as a direct result of special circumstances, particularly if these were unforeseeable. For example:

a mother with young children needs household items following the violent breakdown of a relationship; or
the sudden deterioration in the condition of a disabled child justifies an award for a washing-machine; or
a family is experiencing hardship as the result of a localised disaster and urgently needs the replacement of essential household items damaged or destroyed as a result of this disaster.

2756If the applicant applies for a Community Care Grant as a result of being refused either a Budgeting Loan or Crisis Loan on the grounds of inability to repay, consider whether this lack of access to a loan to alleviate the need concerned has contributed to the pressure on the applicant and his or her family.

2757Always ensure that the consideration of "exceptional pressure" is fully documented on the SF902. If an Decision Maker considers that the pressure is not exceptional, the reason(s) should be clearly indicated, referring to the salient facts of the case.

2758"Family" in this section should generally be taken to mean couples, including those with children, people caring for children or pregnant women over 24 weeks. Decision Makers can use discretion in defining a family, though the definition in Social Fund (Maternity and Funeral Expenses) (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2(1) is a useful reference. When considering the meaning of "family", however, Decision Makers must consider all the circumstances of each particular case and are at liberty to be flexible in their interpretation, bearing in mind the overall intention of Community Care Grants. There may be circumstances, for instance, when it may be appropriate to extend the definition of family beyond the conventional "nuclear" family scope to include siblings. For example, two elderly sisters living in the same house would be as vulnerable as conventional families to a variety of stressful circumstances, particularly those resulting from unforeseen calamities such as flooding.

2759An award of a Community Care Grant should normally be to help members of a family to stay together. In addition, the guidance in para 2758 should be borne in mind when considering what is meant by”family”and a rigid interpretation of the guidance should be avoided.

2760When dealing with families under exceptional pressure:

close links with the Health and Social Care Trust, Social Services Departments are very important
you need to know how the HSCT carries out its responsibility under Part IV of the Children (Northern Ireland) Order 1995

2761The financial contribution of HSCTs varies considerably. Unless there is local agreement on the type of circumstances in which the HSCT provides help, do not expect families under exceptional pressure who apply for Community Care Grants to look to the HSCT in the first instance.

2762District liaison links with HSCTs will provide information on how they operate locally.

Family Fund

2763The Family Fund:

is an independent Government funded organisation registered as a charity
Gives discretionary grants
considers applications from families caring for a severely disabled child/children, aged 15 years and under

2764The Family Fund considers applications related to the care needs of a severely disabled child. Applications can be considered where a family meet the Fund’s eligibility criteria and the child meets the Fund’s criteria for a child with a severe disability. Applications can be considered for any item related to a child’s care needs, where there is no statutory provision. All grants are discretionary and subject to available funding

2765The Family Fund cannot help where an item is the responsibility of a statutory agency such as the health authority, local government, social services, housing or education department. Examples of such items include:

medical services; equipment and continence supplies including nappies, buggies and wheelchairs – responsibility of health trusts or authorities
equipment for daily living such as ramps, hoists and bath aids – responsibility of social services or social work department
educational equipment – responsibility of education department

2766The fund also cannot help with general household items which are needed by all families and do not relate to the disabled child; arrears of rent; fuel bills or general debts.

2767Be aware of the Family Fund when dealing with applications from families with a severely disabled child. The possibility for help from the Family Fund should not be used in isolation as justification for refusing a CCG. The Family Fund support is discretionary. Families and children must meet Family Fund eligibility criteria. New applications to the Family Fund can take several months to process. The Family Fund can only consider a further application from a family after 12 months from their previous grant award is made.

2768But ensure that such families know how to access additional help from the Family Fund, to supplement any help that might be available through the CCG scheme. All applications to the Family Fund must be submitted on a Family Fund application form. Application forms can obtained:

- by telephoning: 0845 130 45 42, minicom 01904 658085 or

- by writing to:

The Family Fund
4 Alpha Court
Monks Cross Drive,
Huntington,
York,
YO32 9WN,

email: info@familyfund.org.uk

2769The child's parents must agree to an application being made to the Fund.

2770The following paragraphs contain guidance on some circumstances in which Community Care Grants may be appropriate. Use discretion sensitively and with imagination when considering other circumstances.

2771-2789

Breakdown of a relationship

2790A Community Care Grant may be awarded to help an applicant move to different accommodation where the applicant was formerly part of a couple, with or without children and where the relationship has recently ended. In these circumstances, remember that any award must ease the pressures on both the applicant and his family.

2791When deciding if a relationship has ended recently, take account of what has happened since the relationship broke down, e.g. the applicant may have spent some time in a refuge or other temporary accommodation until permanent accommodation could be found. In such cases it may be reasonable to award a Community Care Grant even if the relationship has not recently ended.

2792Some applicants may remain in the same accommodation but need certain items because, following the end of the relationship, their partner left with the items.

2793Check the facts of the case as far as possible from IS/ESA/JSA records and other Departmental records. If additional information is required to reach a decision, consult any social worker, local counsellor or community worker involved in the case. In domestic violence cases information may also be available from a women's refuge or police liaison officer.

2794Do not consult outside agencies without the the applicant's consent

2795Consider giving higher priority to cases where there has been domestic violence and a Community Care Grant will help protect the applicant and/or any children from risk, e.g. if a family needs travelling expenses to move to a refuge in another area where they are less likely to be traced by a violent partner.

2796If possible it will be desirable to verify circumstances with a responsible third party. However, absence of such verification should not automatically preclude a payment.

2797You should be particularly careful to avoid making any enquiry which may put the applicant at further risk.

2798When dealing with claims arising from domestic violence, you should alert SSDs if you suspect that a child is at risk of harm.

2799Tell the applicant that it will not normally be appropriate to make Community Care Grants more than once for the breakdown of the same relationship.

What types of need may be considered

2800Consideration may be given to one or more of the following. This list is not exhaustive:

removal expenses and storage charges
furniture, household equipment, connection charges
clothing
fares when moving home

Removal expenses

2801You will normally be able to decide whether to make an award for removal expenses from the information on or supplied with the application. If you need to clarify the evidence or need further information, ask for, but do not insist on, as much supporting evidence from the applicant as is reasonable and necessary to substantiate the application, e.g. a removal estimate, without incurring any expense to the applicant. See paras 2067-2072.

2802Many people hire self drive vans as an economical method of moving and a refundable deposit is often charged. A Community Care Grant would not be appropriate for this part of the cost, but a Budgeting Loan may be considered. A self drive van will not be suitable for many applicants and should not be considered on grounds of economy only.

Storage charges

2803If the applicant has furniture in storage and it is needed in the new home, a Community Care Grant may be awarded for storage charges.

Furniture, household equipment, connection charges and start up grants,

2804You may either:

award a Community Care Grant for, e.g. specific items of furniture, furnishings, bedding, connection charges and household equipment which the applicant needs
pay an amount sufficient to meet the need which can be increased according to the number of children the applicant has

2805When deciding how much to award, the Decision Maker should consider whether the home is partly furnished and whether the applicant already has the item.

Clothing and footwear

2806A Community Care Grant may be awarded for clothes and/or footwear in cases of domestic violence where either:

an applicant is unable to recover clothes from the shared home
clothes have been damaged as a result of the breakdown

As a general rule the applicant and their children should have at least one change of clothing and enough protective clothing.

2807-2819

Reconciliation of a relationship

2820You should normally consider awarding a Community Care Grant if an applicant returns to the shared home after a period of separation due to the breakdown of the relationship, if, prior to the separation either:

the couple had been living together for about three months or more in the case of couples with children
the couple had been living together for about two years or more in the case of couples without children

Use the periods given as guides to indicate if there is an established relationship.

Apply your discretion to the individual circumstances of each case.

2821Check the facts of the case as far as possible from IS/ESA/JSA records and other Departmental records. If additional information is required to reach a decision, consult any social worker, local counsellor or community worker involved in the case but only with the applicant's consent.

What to award

2822Community Care Grants may be awarded for removal expenses. It will not normally be appropriate to make a Community Care Grant for household items. Community Care Grants should not normally be available on reconciliation within three months of the award of a grant for the same purpose.

2823-2839

Families needing to move house

2840A Community Care Grant may be awarded to help someone to move to a new home, e.g. the applicant's home is particularly overcrowded. The family should, as a result of its individual circumstances, be under exceptional pressure, see Direction 4(a)(iii).

2841If the applicant or a member of the family will be caring for someone coming out of institutional or residential care or someone who wishes to stay in the community, refer to the guidance in paras 2400-2656 on Direction 4(a)(i) and 4(a)(ii).

2842Consider if another authority, such as the HSCT, may help a family with a disabled child.

What types of need may be considered

2843Consideration may be given to one or more of the following. This list is not exhaustive:

removal expenses, except where the NIHE has a duty to rehouse the applicant, see Direction 23(1)(a)(vii)
essential items of furniture
fares to take up the tenancy of the new home

Essential items of furniture, household equipment and connection charges

2844People moving home will normally already have most of the furniture they need. Consider awarding a Community Care Grant if, e.g. the move is from furnished to unfurnished accommodation or items from the old home are not suitable.

2845If the move involves moving or installing domestic appliances, the cost of disconnection and connection may be met.

2846-2859

High washing costs because of a disabled child

2860If the family contains a disabled child, decide whether a Community Care Grant for a washing machine would relieve pressure on the family.

What to award

2861A Community Care Grant may be considered for a washing machine. The award should cover the cost of either:

a new machine including any connection charges
repairs to a washing machine

2862If there are no suitable drying facilities, e.g. outdoor drying area, drying cupboard, you may award a Community Care Grant for a tumble dryer, or if appropriate a dual function washing machine/tumble dryer. The cost of connection may be met. Applicants should be advised that tumble dryers are expensive to run. Some applicants may prefer alternative drying facilities, e.g. spin dryers.

2863-2879

Repair/replacement of items damaged by behavioural problems within the family

2880You may wish to give a higher priority to an application from a family with a child suffering from learning difficulties or a mental health problem, whose particular condition results in behavioural problems. If further information is required in order to reach a decision, check the nature of the child's condition with, e.g. SSD, doctor, district nurse, but only with the applicant's consent.

2881Community Care Grants are not intended to meet regular items of expenditure or the regular replacement of items, e.g. clothing, bedding and even major household items such as cookers, beds and mattresses.

2882If an item has recently been replaced with the help of a grant, consider if a loan would be more appropriate. Take into account any other resources, including IS, income-related ESA or income-based JSA premiums (but not mobility payments).

2883There are specialist firms which are able to supply robust items of furniture and equipment, e.g. beds, which you could consider to remove the need for regular replacement.

What types of need may be considered

2884Consideration may be given to one or more of the following. This list is not exhaustive:

essential household items
clothing
redecoration
security items

Essential household items

2885Decide what items are needed and award a Community Care Grant as appropriate.

Redecoration

2886An award for redecoration:

should normally only cover the cost of materials
may also include labour costs if the work cannot be done by:
- the applicant
- relatives
- friends
- neighbours
- charitable or voluntary organisations
- employment training

Security items

2887A Community Care Grant may be given for an item which would give added security for a disabled child, e.g. barriers on stairs.

2888-2899

Minor structural repair to keep home habitable or for safety of child

2900Priority should be given to families with a disabled child.

2901A Community Care Grant may be awarded if:

the applicant is responsible for the repairs and
the home is not NIHE or similar property and
the work is not an adaptation which the NIHE has a duty to carry out under the Chronically Sick and Disabled Persons (Northern Ireland) Act 1978

If necessary, you may ask applicants if they possess an estimate for the work when considering whether a repair or improvement is minor. See paras 2903-2904 below as well as paras 2067-2072.

2902The Department has directed that grants or loans cannot be made for repairs and improvements to the dwelling occupied as the home, including any garage, garden and outbuildings, other than minor repairs and improvements. IS or income-based JSA may be payable for the interest on a loan taken out for these costs but the exclusion applies whether or not additional IS or income-based JSA is actually awarded.

2903The use of the term “repairs and improvements” includes the cost of both materials and labour. A repair will generally put right something that is defective. An improvement will generally upgrade something, or add something to the property that was not there before.

2904It is difficult to precisely define the term “minor”. The following considerations, however, will be relevant when deciding whether a repair or improvement is “minor” or not:

the nature and extent of the work
the time needed to complete the work
the cost of the work

What to award

2905If the applicant asks for a Community Care Grant to pay for repairs and improvements which are not minor, advise the applicant that:

an allowance towards the interest payable on a mortgage or loan taken out to finance some repairs or improvements may be included in the IS, income-related ESA or income-based JSA assessment. The IS (General) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1987 Schedule 3 para 16(2) and, where appropriate, the Jobseeker's Allowance Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1996 Schedule 2 para 15(2) specify the repairs and improvements for which interest may be included in the IS, income-related ESA and income-based JSA . Ask the relevant officer who made the benefit decision on behalf of the Department what help may be available from the IS/ESA/JSA section for each individual case. For people under 60, IS, ESA or JSA help for interest will not generally be payable until they have received IS, income-related ESA or income-based JSA for a continuous period of 12 weeks
government grants for home improvement and repair may be available under Part III of the Housing (Northern Ireland) Order 1992. The NIHE administer the scheme.

2906A Community Care Grant may be awarded for a survey fee charged which cannot be included in a mortgage or loan for which IS, income-related ESA or income-based JSA would be payable.

2907-2919

Clothing (including footwear) for disabled children

2920A Community Care Grant for clothing should normally only be awarded if the particular disability or condition of the child causes either:

excessive wear and tear on clothing to such an extent that it would be unreasonable for the applicant to meet the cost from weekly IS, income-related ESA or income-based JSA, or payments on account of such a benefit even with a family premium and the disabled child’s premium
rapid weight gain or loss

What to award

2921Decide the amount of the payment and what it covers. The child should have at least one change of clothing and sufficient protective and warm clothing.

2922-2939

Fuel board charges

2940A Community Care Grant may be awarded for certain fuel board charges to families with a disabled child or a child under five.

What to award

2941A Community Care Grant may be awarded for:

installation of prepayment meters if the applicant has difficulty budgeting for quarterly bills. Allow the cost of any additional wiring or piping if the new meter is sited in a different place from the old one
reconnection charges if:
- the applicant's gas or electricity supply has been disconnected and
- the debt is to be met by Third Party Deductions (TPD).

2942The Department has directed that Community Care Grants should not be awarded for fuel bills.

If the applicant has difficulty budgeting, they should be advised about TPD arrangements, and the case referred to the TPD liaison officer.

2943-2959

Short term boarding out prior to adoption

2960A Community Care Grant may be awarded if the applicant's child:

is being placed for a short limited period with specialist foster parents while adoption is arranged
is not in HSCT care and boarded out by them

2961If the arrangement is being made by a voluntary organisation, a lump sum may be paid to them if the applicant requests this, but the applicant or someone acting on behalf of the applicant should make the application.

What to award

2962A Community Care Grant could be given for up to eight weeks to cover boarding out fees. Review the situation after eight weeks but continue payment if necessary. Community Care Grants for short term boarding out prior to adoption should be given a high priority.

2963-2999