Local Welfare Scheme

This fund is currently closed.

We will reopen applications in April 2024 when new funding will be available.

The aim of our Local Welfare scheme is to support residents who:

are facing unexpected costs
need emergency help

The scheme:

provides a short term and one-off form of support
is offered in the event of an emergency or crisis when family, friends, charities, or insurance cannot help
helps to minimise the risk of harm to vulnerable residents and their household

Support the scheme offers

This scheme can provide one-off payments in emergencies and help with the cost of essential items that are difficult to budget for.

It helps to ease the financial pressure for residents in Bracknell, who have low income and are most in need.

The scheme offers support for basic living costs and the cost of meeting essential items to help you remain in your home, or when moving in a new home for:

cost of food through a referral to a local food bank
cost of utilities including gas and electricity reconnection
cost of essential clothing and footwear
essential appliances and basic white goods
essential furniture such as beds and mattresses
cooking equipment, or other basic kitchen utensils
removal and delivery costs up to a maximum value of £500
carpeting or flooring to meet the needs of a disabled member of the household up to a maximum value of £500

Help to meet other needs may be considered where essential to the safety of a resident or family member and where other options exhausted.

Who can apply

To be eligible, applicants must:

be 16 years of age and
have the right to reside in the United Kingdom and
have lived in Bracknell Forest for the past 6 months continuously or 3 out of the last 5 years and
be in receipt of a qualifying state benefit or low income and
be able to demonstrate, through a financial assessment, that they are unable to meet the costs of the emergency and
be able to demonstrate that it has not been possible to secure support from other means and
be able to demonstrate other exceptional circumstances apply such as fleeing domestic abuse or leaving residential care

Qualifying benefits include:

Universal Credit
Income Support
Income based Jobseekers Allowance
Income based Employment and Support Allowance
Pension Credit
Housing Benefit
Council Tax Support

Low income is defined as earnings less than £384.62 a week for a family or £257.69 a week for a single adult.

Who cannot apply

Applicants who:

have their living needs provided for them for example a person in hospital or a care home, a prisoner, a member of a religious order, a person in relevant education, except in cases where they are about to leave and return to the local community and can demonstrate a connection to Bracknell
have assessed capital or savings more than £2000 (not including the value of their home) and who have access to those funds except where in cases, the cost of the emergency item exceeds this for example a replacement boiler
are subject to immigration control or who have no recourse to public funds
have earnings more than the Benefit Cap figure of £384.62 per week for a family or £257.69 per week for a single adult
have received an award from the Bracknell Local Welfare Scheme in the past 12-month period unless there are exceptional circumstances and except in the case of a referral to the foodbank where 3 applications may be considered in a 12-month period

How to apply

Applications are currently closed.

Circumstances in which award will not be considered

In certain circumstances, support with immediate needs may be better met from another source and in such cases, we will signpost applicants to the source of assistance best suited to their needs. Such circumstances may be where the:

need relates to a household item or repair that would be the responsibility of the landlord or owner of the property, the applicant will be supported to approach the responsible party for assistance
applicant has refused to seek support from the responsible party to meet the need or has otherwise failed to seek to resolve the situation directly
need relates to a rent deposit or rent in advance, in such cases, the applicant will be directed to the Discretionary Housing Payment scheme or the Housing Options team for support

Reviewing unsuccessful applications

This is a discretionary scheme and not every application will be successful. The scheme may close if funding exhausts before the end of the financial year and any future applications may not be possible.

There is no statutory right of review in this scheme. Applicants unsatisfied with the outcome of an application, may request a review.

Reviews requested must:

be sent to Welfare and Housing Service in writing, and within 5 days of the notification of the award
state the reasons that the applicant disagrees with the decision
provide any further supporting evidence that may be relevant

Requests for review must be emailed to lwp@bracknell-forest.gov.uk.

Requests for review will be considered and we will notify applicants of the outcome of a review within 14 days of receipt of the request.

This decision will be final, and no further reviews will be accepted.

Financial inclusion and further support

Bracknell’s Local Welfare Scheme is only one form of support. Where applicable, we will be referred to third parties such as Citizens Advice for additional support.

If you would like to find out about benefits or other forms of support that may be available, the following websites offer a great deal of advice and other forms of support: