Can I Get A Community Care Grant For Carpets?
By
HuutiMoney
Community Care Grants are intended for individuals who are striving to make a place for themselves in the community and lack the financial resources for it. Through this blog post, we will learn whether someone can get a Community Care Grant for carpets. In addition to this, we will also discuss the eligibility criteria for a Community Care Grant as well as the help one may get from the Department for Work and Pensions.
Can I Get A Community Care Grant For Carpets?
Yes, you can get a Community Care Grant for carpets. However, you do not need to apply to the Department for Work and Pensions for a community care grant anymore and can simply place the request through your local council office.
To be able to qualify for a Community Care Grant, you should be claiming either of the following benefits (even on interim terms):
- Income Support
- (income-based) Jobseeker’s Allowance
- (income-related) Employment and Support Allowance
- Pension Credit
In addition to carpets, a Community Care Grant can also pay for the following items:
- furniture ( such as wardrobe, setee, sofas)
- household equipment (including cooker, washer, fridge)
- travel costs
- removal costs
- storage charges
- connection charges
If you inform your local authorities that you need carpets for your council house, they will be able to connect you to certain charities to help you find grants for furniture and carpets, while some of them may offer preloved items including carpets at reasonable prices.
However, you will not be able to claim a Community Care Grant in the following situations:
- housing costs such as mortgage payments and rent
- home repairs (unless it involves minor work)
- medical items such as spectacles or dental treatment
- domestic assistance
- to pay for and install a telephone
If your local council is unable to extend any support in this regard or you are not eligible for a grant, the local authorities can still help you by connecting you to charities or support groups to help you with carpets (other household equipment, and furniture).
If you are claiming Universal Credit, you can apply for a Budgeting Advance to help you with housing expenses such as carpets and if you are on other benefits, you can apply for a Budgeting Loan.
Who Can Get A Community Care Grant?
If an individual is faced with any of the following situations, they will be considered eligible for a Community Care Grant:
- Leaving an establishment or institution where the claimant received extensive care such as a hospital or care home and making an effort to establish themselves in the community.
- Providing care for someone who has recently left an establishment or institution and is trying to establish themselves in the community.
- You or someone in your family is faced with a disability or chronic disease.
- There has been a relationship breakdown in the family mainly due to a domestic abuse incident.
- There are structural problems with the property that you live in or you are living in an overcrowded place.
Can The DWP Help With Moving Costs?
If you are a Universal Credit claimant who is planning to move your house, you can apply for a Budgeting Advance from the DWP. They will ask for proof of your anticipated moving costs and grant an interest-free loan accordingly. This loan can be repaid to them over a period of 2 years through reduced payments of your Universal Credit claim.
In case you receive any other state benefit, you can apply for a Budgeting Loan from the DWP in the same manner. Deductions for loan repayment will be made from your benefits claim.
However, if you prefer a grant over a loan (since grants do not have to be paid back), you can consider the following options instead of the DWP:
- your local council authority
- a charity
- a hardship fund
Conclusion:
The discussion in this article makes it clear that if deemed eligible for a Community Care Grant, an individual can claim one for carpets as well as furniture, household equipment and even moving expenses. However, the DWP does not handle such grants anymore and claimants will have to apply through their local council authorities.
FAQs: Can I Get A Community Care Grant For Carpets?
How do I apply for a Community Care Grant in the UK?
With the abolishment of the Discretionary Social Fund, you can no longer apply to the DWP for a Community Care Grant in the UK. However, you can contact your local council authority for financial support for housing expenses through a grant.
What is a Community Care Grant in the UK?
A Community Care Grant in the UK is meant for individuals who are trying to make a place for themselves in the community; usually after spending a considerable amount of time either in a hospital or care home and require financial support for the purpose.
How long does it take to get a Community Care Grant decision?
While the time to be taken for a decision regarding a Community Care Grant application varies from case to case, it generally takes around 9 days for the authorities to reach a decision once an application is recieved.
What grants are available on Universal Credit?
While there are no grants that can be guaranteed to Universal Credit claimants, you can claim a budgeting allowance to meet emergency home needs. The amount that you can expect to receive as an interest-free loan from the DWP in such a case would be £348 for a single individual, £464 for individuals who are part of a couple and £812 for those who have children.
Can I get a grant to help me move house in the UK?
Benefits claimants who are struggling to pay for housing costs such as rent deposit or moving expenses can apply for a Discretionary Housing Payment through their benefits office or local council. While this is an interest-free loan extended through government support, the local council authority can direct interested individuals to charities and hardship fund schemes that provide grants.
References:
How low-income families can get free or cheap fridges, carpets and furniture
Community Care Grant from the Social Fund – Focus on Disability