Trafford Assist (Local Welfare Assistance) Policy

Trafford Assist is the Trafford Council’s local welfare assistance scheme to help residents in short-term acute financial difficulties.

The award depends on the applicant’s individual circumstances.

The scheme has been designed to help Trafford residents:

• meet immediate short-term needs in an emergency or as a result of a disaster;
• return to or remain in the community and help them to live independently in their own home;
• meet essential travelling expenses (e.g. to attend a funeral of a close relative).

What does Trafford Assist provide?

The scheme helps provide:

• Financial assistance to purchase food;
• Financial assistance for emergency gas and electricity;
• Financial assistance towards the cost of essential travel not funded through other schemes;
• Essential furniture / white goods.

What is the Trafford Assist payment method?

Trafford Assist operates a cash-first scheme for awards of food, gas and electricity and travel. Payments are made directly in to a successful applicant’s bank account via the Bankers Automated Clearing Service (BACs) which takes 3 working days to clear.

Alternative awards can be made to applicants who do not have a bank account, or in safeguarding cases where same day is required such as a food voucher or smart meter top-up voucher (for example: Paypoint).

Essential furniture/white goods are purchased by Trafford Assist through their contracted provider. There is no alternative cash equivalent option.

There is no cash handling for Trafford Assist awards.

What is taken into account when deciding to make a Trafford Assist award?

Exchequer Services will consider making an award under Trafford Assist to all applicants who meet the qualifying criteria set out in this policy.

Through this policy we will seek to:

• relieve poverty;
• support care leavers;
• encourage Trafford Council residents to get help through signposting;
• help those who are trying to help themselves;
• keep families together;
• support the vulnerable in the local community;
• help customers through personal crises and difficult events
• support disabled residents within Trafford to live independently within their own home;

Trafford Assist should be seen in the majority of cases as one-off emergency fund. It is not and should not be considered as a general top up of benefit or income.

Although repeat claims will be considered the applicant will be expected to engage with providers for support and assistance.

No more than two applications within a 12 month period will be awarded, per breakdown of awards below.

The Council will treat each case on its own merits and all applicants will receive equal and fair treatment.

Trafford Council is committed to working with the local voluntary sector, social landlords and other interested parties in the borough.

Who can apply?

The eligibility criteria for the scheme are as follows:

• The applicant must have UK residency
• The applicant must live in Trafford, or be expecting to live in Trafford in the next six weeks, and can provide evidence of this from an agency
• The applicatant must be 16 years or over

Applications for furniture items

For the first application for a furniture award within the scheme, there is no requirement to complete an income and expenditure form if an applicant is on one of the following state means tested benefits:

• Employment Support Allowance Income Related
• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance Income Based
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Free school meal for a dependent

If an applicant is not in receipt of the above or they are making a second application within a 24 months’ period they will be required to submit an Income and Expenditure form.

All applications for furniture items will require a visit to verify that the item is needed before the application is considered, unless the application form has been submitted by an internal service area.

Awards will not be made for the same furniture item within a 24 month period.

Applications for financial assistance for food

There is no requirement to complete an income and expenditure form if an applicant is in receipt of one of the following state means tested benefits:

• Employment Support Allowance Income Related
• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance Income Based
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Free school meal for a dependent

If an applicant has applied for one of the above benefits, but not yet awarded, then an award will be considered if proof can be provided of a pending claim.

If an applicant is not in receipt of the above, or has proof that they have applied, they will be required to submit an Income and Expenditure form.

Food awards will be based on household size.

Applications for financial assistance for fuel

There is no requirement to complete an income and expenditure form if an applicant is in receipt of one of the following state means tested benefits:

• Employment Support Allowance Income Related
• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance Income Based
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Free school meal for a dependent

If an applicant has applied for one of the above benefits, but not yet awarded, then an award will be considered if proof can be provided of a pending claim.

If an applicant is not in receipt of the above, or has proof that they have applied, they will be required to submit an Income and Expenditure form.

Fuel awards will be based on a set amount per household.

Annual consideration will be given to increasing the amount of the fuel award between 1 November – 1 March dependent on the general temperature reducing during that time.

Applications for financial assistance for essential travel

There is no requirement to complete an income and expenditure form if an applicant is in receipt of one of the following state means tested benefits:

• Employment Support Allowance Income Related
• Income Support
• Jobseekers Allowance Income Based
• Guaranteed Pension Credit
• Universal Credit
• Free school meal for a dependent

If an applicant has applied for one of the above benefits, but not yet awarded, then an award will be considered if proof can be provided of a pending claim.

If an applicant is not in receipt of the above, or has proof that they have applied, they will be required to submit an Income and Expenditure form.

Travel awards will be based on actual essential travel costs (proof required) that are not covered by other financial assistance for travel schemes, for example: the NHS Healthcare Travel Costs Scheme, Jobcentre Plus Flexible Support Fund.

How to make a claim

A claim under Trafford Assist must be made online electronically using the e-form provided. Assistance will be provided to those customers who may not be comfortable or who experience difficulty with applying online.

On request the customer must supply any relevant supporting evidence.

Exchequer Services may ask for any evidence in support of an application.

If the applicant fails to provide additional evidence requested, we will refuse the customers application.

Exchequer Services reserves the right to verify any information or evidence provided by the applicant in appropriate circumstances.

If you are already receiving support from other agencies or charities then the fund cannot duplicate this provision.

Method of payment

The applicant must hold a bank or building society account in their own name. Payments will not be made to a third party unless proof is provided that the third party has official authority to act, such as Appointeeship, Deputyship, Lasting Power of Attorney.

Exchequer Services will pay awards as detailed below:

• Food, fuel and travel – BACs (Bankers Automated Clearing Service) payment (three working days clearance)
• Furniture or white goods – order placed and delivery arranged direct by provider.

Customers without a bank account or in a safeguarding crisis where immediate assistance is required will be awarded a supermarket voucher for food awards or a Paypoint voucher for fuel and/or travel.

Reviews and appeals

A Trafford Assist award is not a payment of benefit and is therefore not subject to the statutory appeals mechanism. An applicant who disagrees with a Trafford Assist decision may dispute the decision. The Council must receive a request for a review within one week of being notified of the decision. An Officer of the Council will review the decision; this will not be the Officer who made the original decision.

Where the applicant is still not satisfied, they will be entitled to a final review which must be made in writing within one week of the date notified of the outcome of the review.

An Exchequer Services Team Leader will conduct this final review and the decision made will be reported in writing to the customer. This decision is binding and may only be challenged through judicial review or by complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman.

Fraud

The Council is committed to the fight against fraud in all its forms and has a zero tolerance fraud policy. An applicant who tries to fraudulently claim a Local Welfare Assistance (Trafford Assist) award by falsely declaring their circumstances, providing a false statement or evidence in support of their application, may have committed a criminal offence. Where fraud is suspected, the Council will investigate and this may lead to criminal proceedings.

Exchequer Services reserve the right to seek recovery of a previously paid award under Trafford Assist via any recovery method available to them.