Gateshead Council crisis awards help with bills

Families on a low income that are then faced with an emergency can seek financial help for paying their bills or free items from the Gateshead Council crisis award scheme. This is the local welfare provision in the town and the council created this to replace the central government programme.

The assistance from the council is only for an unexpected crisis. Examples of what welfare can cover include food, energy bails, emergency transportation, white good or household supplies and more. The Gateshead Council decides what bills to be paid.

So this may be families with a health or safety issue, or maybe they were impacted by a fire to their home or health emergency. In addition, the applicant will need to have applied for a means tested benefits or be on one. All of this will be verified with the Department for Work and Pensions and council tax records as well.

Bills paid by Gateshead award welfare scheme

Any financial aid is provided at the discretion of the council. If found to be eligible, the Gateshead Council will issue one of two awards. Most of the emergency support is offered as part of the crisis scheme component. This type of aid pays most bills, including fuel, heating, groceries and housing needs.

The assistance provided from this will be in the form of a voucher or payment made directly to the company owed, such as utility provider. The council will also give vouchers to the local Gateshead Food Bank, provide pre-paid cards for certain bills or deposit expenses, or give the items directly to the applicant, such as furniture. Or they may provide a parcel of food in a crisis.

The grants or vouchers from the crisis component are just one way to help financial help for bills. The council also has information on other local charities in Gateshead as well as national organisations. This help the disabled, poor, and others on a low income who are in need of help. Find a list of grants for helping pay bills from charities and other agencies.

In an effort to stop fraud in this welfare scheme, the Gateshead Council will never issue cash. If any aid is given it will be awarded using the vouchers or pre-paid cards noted above. If the person seeking help only says that cash will assist them, then no award will be given.

Some applicants are given community support awards by the council. This is more to keep the family living in the town of Gateshead or help them leave care and resettle back to the region. The assistance is at the discretion of the council, but they may have everything from furniture to bedding or white goods. In some instances the council will help with the rent deposit on a new, council approved home.

The council will make a decision on the application received for an award within 72 hours. In the meantime, they may link families to food banks in Tyne and Wear. Another option which must be done before seeking a crisis award is the family will need to have applied for a short term benefit advance first. This is used when the person is waiting on their benefits to start.

Conditions of Gateshead Council

The assistance is only for people under exceptional pressure, and they also need to be on benefits or applying for them. Proof of the hardship will need to be provided as part of the application. Also, referrals can be given to the council from a social or support worker.

If someone is applying for an award more than once, then the council will take a closer look at the request. The process is much stricter in this case. As an example, the individual will need to be involved in other support in the town, such as from Citizens Advice or involved in budgeting classes. They also need to prove to the council what they are doing to end the dependency on this welfare scheme.

To apply for an award, call the council at 0191 433 3676 or aner number to ring is 0191 433 3876. The customer support team will start the assessment process.