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Central government funding is used by the Wokingham council to pay for the emergency welfare scheme. This financial assistance scheme replaces some of the other benefits that are used in the past, such as Crisis Grants. Families that are local to Wokingham, and that need help, may be able to get free food, gas or energy bill help, assistance settling into the community, transportation, and other support from welfare. Cash is only given in rare instances.

Not one in the area is entitled to receiving help. Wokingham emergency welfare is a discretionary scheme. There is limited funding and resources. The council will assess each application on a one off basis, and make a determination. If an application is denied, then other organizations as well as assistance programs in the Wokingham area can help, including Trussell Trust food banks, churches, local housing allowances (LHA), and more.

Types of support from welfare in Wokingham

The aim is to keep people healthy and safe. Welfare is also used to help those leaving care (a hospital) or that need to settle into the Wokingham area. Those are reasons why grants from welfare may be offered to help pay bills (so the family stays warm) or why welfare may give free food to the hungry. For people looking for housing or to settle, the scheme may give them free furniture, household items, bedding, and the like in the form of vouchers to buy those goods. But it will not help pay the cost of housing, but there are other ways to get help with rent arrears.

When it comes to goods provided by welfare, there will not be money given to the resident. Instead partners of council, including the Salvation Army, re-use centres, and other organisations will provide the family with items for free if the client has a voucher. Some may be gently used. What may be given includes a bed, nappies, white goods, fridges, or anything else the family needs for their home or flat. The goods will help them settle in the Wokingham community.

Welfare can provide financial help in a crisis. However the council also requires the applicant to stabilize their living situation. This is when other social services are used. Anyone who receives a welfare grant, no matter what bill or white good is pays for, also needs to take part in other programmes. In these cases there are workshops around money management, debt reduction, and saving. Partners of the Wokingham council organize these activities, with Citizens Advice and the Wokingham credit union being the lead.

Applying for welfare

This form of government assistance is only for the low income. Usually the applicant needs to be on some form of benefit, whether it is job-seekers, Universal Credit, or maybe they receive rent help from LHA. If the applicant is not on benefits, but they are still facing a crisis, then welfare may be able to assist in those cases.

Families or individuals seeking an emergency grant need to be on a low income. Many are in food or energy poverty. They also need to have very few savings in the bank or credit union. The welfare scheme is not for the well-off…meaning those who can provide for their families.

The council will assess each application, but the family needs to have applied for loans or other aid from the Department for Work and Pensions first. Some form of support may be given on a discretionary basis. A decision as to the welfare application will be made within 30 days, and residents can appeal any denial. In addition, if the application is not approved the council will still link the applicant to other charities or government schemes In the area.

For more information, the customer support team can be called at 0118 974 6000. Or the post of the council is Shute End.