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People applying for the City of London Emergency Support Scheme will be given either vouchers or the items will be provided to them in-kind. The welfare vouchers can help them pay bills, including housing or utility. Free in-kind items may be free furniture, clothes and household goods.

This means that the City of London council will not provide cash to the family or individual on a low income, but rather other forms of assistance will be provided which can help with paying certain bills and living expenses.

The scheme is available to anyone in a crisis and be receiving any one of up to 12 different government benefits. The other criteria include the person applying needs to live in the City of London borough area as well as be on a low income. If those, and other conditions are met, then vouchers may be issued.

Aims of City of London scheme and uses of vouchers

The government funding has a few main goals. They are to help people leaving some form of care, whether in an institutional or residential site. Or that can be help given to prevent someone from needing to move into a home. Or Emergency Support can assist with resettling. The various parts of this range from providing the person with furniture or voucher/bond for a rent deposit. Other housing assistance can also be provided.

Residents under exceptional financial pressure can also apply. The City of London uses the Emergency Support Scheme to assist families that are faced with a disaster or some unpaid bill that could lead to a safety crisis. The aim is to provide support when the applicant has no other options available to them to turn to. Also, vouchers are not used to assist a resident that is living in long term poverty, but the aid is meant to be one-off support.

Resettling in the city of London also involves housing. Emergency Support Vouchers do not offer direct rent or mortgage help, but the council can offer other resources for them. There are even homeless shelters in London.

The uses of the vouchers are for paying various bills as well as expenses. When it comes to housing assistance, the scheme can provide furniture or refurbished white goods. Bedding can also be obtained by London families.

More service type expenses can also be paid by the Emergency Support Scheme. This will be for storage if the person is moving, or welfare can issue a travel voucher for emergency travel to a funeral or for medical needs.

Bills and deposits can also be paid. As noted, cash is not issued but the voucher will be designated just for the expense in question. Residents of the City of London can have fuel bills or heating costs paid for or a portion of a rent deposit may be provided for private housing. If a landlord requires a small rent in advance payment, then that can be paid too in order to prevent homelessness.

So various expenses can be paid at the council’s discretion. The list above is just a sampling. They will also consider using the scheme to meet other needs as well.

The city of London Can also direct clients to loan programs for paying bills. There are budging schemes from the central government, local credit unions, and other short term relief. As one example, find government loans.

Application process for emergency support in London

The list of benefits that a resident can be on is as follows. They include Carers Allowance, Bereavement Benefit, Employment & Support, Industrial Injuries or Death, Pension or Tax Credits, Widows Benefit, Housing, or the Universal Credit. There are even others. Basically, any type of government support may qualify a family.

The emergency scheme is limited. People can only apply at most once every six months. Also, in many cases, if the applicant is receiving help from some other government grant or a loan from Department of Work and Pensions (DWP), or is on Universal Credit, or has received on in the recent past, then a voucher will not be issued. For an application, call the service centre at 020 7926 1000 for one.