How long will I wait for a decision?

Some of our grants, eg. emergency grants, can be processed quickly (usually 4 weeks for a decision), once we’ve received all the information we need.

Other grants, such as financial support or health grants, may take 8 weeks or more for a decision. However, each application is unique and may require more time to ensure we get the best outcome for you.

When will payment be made?

If your application is successful, you will receive an outcome notification. If there are no conditions attached, the grant will be paid into your bank account within 2-3 working days of the notification, or to a relevant service provider.

In the case of larger grant amounts, we may choose to spread these throughout the year to help you budget and limit the impact it may have on any state benefits you are receiving.

Are there any restrictions on how I use a grant?

The new grants criteria have more defined categories and we would of course expect a grant given to meet the need for which you have applied.

If you have applied and received a grant for ‘General living expenses’, this can be used to help your current situation, to support you and your family.

What if I can't find a category for the help I need?

If you need help towards something that isn’t listed within any of the grant categories, please contact a member of our grants team to see how we can help. 

What can I apply for?

The easiest way to answer this is to use the quick eligibility checker which will give you results specific to your situation.

The types of support available are:

Is there a cap on what I can apply for?

For most applicants, we would normally be unable to provide grants totalling more than £6,000 in any 12 month period (with the exception of health, debt support and school fees), although each application is viewed on its own merits.

If you think your needs may exceed this or are unsure, please contact our grants team to discuss your situation.

How do I continue the application I started?

If you have started an application and not completed it, you can come back to it later. If you have clicked save you should have a link in your email (check your spam folder).

Note: If you haven't already, please do ensure you have gone through our eligibility checker first so you won't be disappointed and please contact us before applying for debt support or health grants.

Do I have to apply online?

If you can apply online then this is the quickest method to apply for a grant and hence will speed up the processing of your application.

However, you can also apply using a paper application which can be posted to you. You can request a paper application:

Please only send in copies of supporting documentation. We are unable to return any paperwork.

If you still have questions, then please contact us.