Finance Support replaces Social Fund

From 28 November, the existing Social Fund in Northern Ireland will be replaced by a service called Finance Support. This means that Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants, currently available from the Social Fund, will cease to be available from 27 November.

The UK Government abolished the Social Fund in Great Britain as part of Welfare Reform. With effect from April 2013, the funding for the Social Fund was provided directly to local authorities and the Scottish and Welsh governments, who gained responsibility for devising their own schemes. As part of the Fresh Start agreement to implement Welfare Reform in Northern Ireland, the Social Fund is now being replaced in Northern Ireland.

What is no longer available?

Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants will no longer available after November 27. They will be replaced by:

• Discretionary Support, which aims to provide temporary funding, in loan or grant form, to alleviate exceptional or crisis situations which present significant risk to the health, safety or well-being of vulnerable households.
• Short Term Benefit Advance, whereby claimants in financial need can receive some payment of their benefit in advance. This will be recoverable from future payments of the same benefit.

What continues to be available?

The following payments are absorbed into the Finance Support system, and are unaffected:

• Maternity grants
• Funeral payments
• Budgeting loans
• Cold weather payments

Help and advice

If you are in rent arrears, or having affordability issues with your property, contact our helpline on 028 9024 5640, or visit housingadviceNI.org.