Departments Directions Social Fund GuidePart 2 - Community Care Grants
Direction 6 - RepayabilityThe Department directs that
Any award within direction 4 shall not include a determination that it is repayable; an award within direction 4 is referred to in these directions as a community care grant.
Repayability
3600Community Care Grants are not repayable. Regard a Community Care Grant awarded prior to discharge from care on the expectation that Income Support (IS), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA(IR), income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA(IB), or State Pension Credit (SPC) is likely to be payable as correctly made even if IS, ESA(IR), JSA (IB), or SPC does not subsequently become payable.
3601If it is discovered that there has been a misrepresentation of facts, refer to the guidance on overpayments from the Social Fund (see paras 9000-9001)
3602-3649
Direction 26 - Trade DisputesThe Department directs that
Where the applicant or his partner is disentitled from receiving a jobseeker's allowance pursuant to Article 16 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (trade disputes) or would be so disentitled if otherwise entitled to that allowance, or is in receipt of reduced rate income-based jobseeker's allowance pursuant to Article 17 of the Jobseekers (Northern Ireland) Order 1995 (trade disputes - effect on other claimants) a community care grant may not be awarded except in respect of travelling expenses within the United Kingdom in the following situations -
(a) if the visit is made by a partner or dependant who is not affected by the trade dispute, an award may be made in respect of travelling expenses for -
(i) a visit to a patient who is a close relative or who was prior to his admission to hospital or similar institution a member of the same household, or
(ii) a visit to a person who is a close relative or who was prior to his illness a member of the same household as the visitor and is critically ill but not in hospital or similar institution.
(b) if the visit is made by a person who is affected by the trade dispute, an award may be made in respect of travelling expenses for -
(i) a visit to a partner in hospital or similar institution, or
(ii) a visit to a dependant in hospital or similar institution, if the person affected by the trade dispute has no partner living with him who would be eligible for an award within paragraph (a) of this direction, or the partner is also in hospital or similar institution, or
(iii) a visit to a critically ill close relative or member of the household of the person affected by the trade dispute, whether or not he is in hospital or similar institution.
General
3650Community Care Grants for the cost of fares incurred by people affected by trade disputes, their partners and dependants may be awarded only where they either:
- are in receipt of Income Support (IS), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA(IR) or income-based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA(IB)
- would be in receipt of IS, ESA(IR) or JSA(IB) but for the trade dispute
3651If a Community Care Grant is being awarded for a partner or dependant who is not affected by a trade dispute, an escort's expenses can be awarded if the visitor cannot travel alone. The escort may be the person affected by a trade dispute
3652If the visit is made by a person who is affected by a trade dispute, expenses for an escort should not normally be met.
3653-3689
What to award
3690The amount to be allowed should normally be the cost of:
- `standard' rate public transport, excluding air fares, or
- the cost of petrol, either:
- up to the cost of public transport, if this is available
- in full, if public transport is unavailable or the visitor cannot use public transport because of physical disability or because they are frail and elderly, or
- taxi fares, only if either:
- public transport is unavailable and there is no access to private transport
- the visitor cannot use public transport because of physical disability or because they are frail and elderly and there is no access to private transport
Hospital visits and home savings
3691‘Home savings’ is the label used to describe the amount of money a family may be saving out of benefit/allowance/tax credit payments because a member of that family is being cared for free of charge in hospital. You should consider whether it is appropriate to offset any home savings against the cost of hospital visits when an applicant seeks a grant to meet, in whole or in part, the costs of visiting a family member in hospital for whom they claim benefit.
3692Any benefit/allowance/tax credit payments (but not the mobility component of DLA) paid to the family for the patient should be considered. Premiums should be ignored. For further guidance, please see paras 3152 – 3159.
3693The cost of overnight accommodation, and breakfast if included in the charge, may be met when either:
- the return journey cannot be completed in one day because of distance or transport difficulties
- the visitor needs an extended visit, e.g. to see a child through a crisis
3694-3799
|
