City of Chelmsford Local Welfare Provision grants to pay bills

The council run City of Chelmsford Local Welfare Provision is a scheme that uses government funds to provide financial assistance to the low income as well as people who are in an emergency situation. The scheme, part of the Essential Living Fund (ESF), offers free in kind goods, vouchers for food or furniture, grants for pre-paid energy meter accounts and other support. It is available after all the Budgeting Loan as well as Budging Advances and Hardship Payments from the Department for Work and Pensions have been used by the family.

Local welfare is only for residents of the city. Applicants can’t have any savings they can rely on to pay their bills or housing costs, they can’t have received a grant from welfare in the last 12 months, need to be over age 16, and be in need of financial help to prevent serious risk to health and safety.

The ESF welfare scheme not only provide help from the council, but the applicant will also be linked to additional support services for everything from debt help to job programmes from Citizens Advice Bureau. Other government benefits including Funeral Payments, Cold Weather Por Winter Fuel Payments (for heating bills), budgeting loans for furniture or housing, and more will be assessed as well. All of the schemes and assistance programmes available in City of Chelmsford will be aimed at the applicant who needs support.

Crisis applications to local welfare

There are two instances in which the City of Chelmsford council will give an immediate response to an application for financial aid. They are if the family needs help with paying electric or gas bills or if they need food. A crisis will be if their electricity is about to be turned off or if the family (parents, kids, and dependents) are going hungry. In those examples the person who is facing the crisis can drop in at the council office (see the post below) and apply face to face.

If there is some other financial emergency that does not involve electric, gas bills, or food, then ring the council at the number below. A decision will be made by the customer support team at the Civic Centre whether the issue is a crisis and deserves an immediate response. If so, then the family will still need to drop in at the centre to apply in person. In an emergency a decision is made within 1 day. Or link is given to other financial assistance from grants.

Applying for ESF welfare in city of Chelmsford

Applications need to be provided. There will also be a face to face interview given, but it may take up to 30 days unless it is a crisis. The interview will cover both household and personal circumstances around the claim. The applicant will need to provide details on their income, savings, dependents, and why they need a grant from the local welfare scheme.

The council will make a decision on the application as soon as practicably possible following receipt of the backup (savings, income, etc.). There is no statutory right given to any City resident of someone who live in Essex County (which ESF is a part of) to get a welfare grant for paying bills and all awards from the council are discretionary. In addition, government funding is limited and not all applications can be satisfied.

If approved, the Local Welfare Provision scheme will provide the goods to the person. This may be vouchers to use at a food bank, white goods, furniture, or other items from partners in Essex County. If the need is for electric or gas bill help, then a meter will be topped off. Only in exceptions cases will cash be given.

For more information, call the council at 01245 606606, and that is the customer support centre. Or the drop in for emergencies is Civic Centre, Duke Street, Chelmsford, Essex, CM1 1JE.