Crisis Grants

Crisis Grants help meet immediate short-term needs when an emergency or a disaster has happened, and there would be a risk to wellbeing without a grant.

They are usually for food, gas or electricity but where a disaster has happened, for example a flood, items like cookers and furniture can be provided

Examples of what might be considered an emergency for which a grant for living expenses may be awarded include:

  • where an unexpected expense has resulted in all the applicants benefit or income being spent, for example, travelling to hospital to visit a sick child
  • where money has been lost or stolen and living expenses are required
  • where there is, or has been, a breakdown of relationships within the family, perhaps including domestic abuse
  • when a person has nowhere to stay and may resort to rough sleeping
  • when a person is stranded away from home without any means to get back
  • when an applicant is experiencing domestic abuse and leaving an abusive relationship/partner and needs immediate help
  • when the applicant is a grandparent or other relative who is in work but has taken on care of a child/children, and a transfer of the benefits in respect of the children is pending
  • when the applicant has received the outcome of a ‘fit for work’ assessment for Employment Support Allowance, is not in receipt of benefits and has appealed this decision
  • when the applicant has a short-term gap in regular income, for example, due to redundancy or a significant change in working pattern
  • when a refugee has family members arrive on Family Reunion visas, and requires immediate help (recognising they will have to set up a new Universal Credit joint claim with an expected delay)
  • Where applicants have insufficient funds available to meet their living costs and which presents a risk to their health and safety

Crisis Grants can be awarded to meet one-off needs rather than on-going expenses. Unless exceptional circumstances apply an applicant can only get 3 Crisis Grants in a 12-month period.

Applicants must be 16 or over, in receipt of a low income and not have access to any other appropriate source of financial support.