Emergency funds and crisis support

If you are in an emergency or crisis situation there are some funds available from Newcastle City Council and the Department for Work in Pensions to help you pay for energy bills, household items, furniture, food, travel and other essential items.

Support to move or set up a home in Newcastle

Newcastle City Council runs The Supporting Independence Scheme for basic household items to help you live independently. For example beds, cookers and fridges. It’s for people on low incomes who are being supported by Adult Social Care or Children’s Social Care, Community Mental Health Teams, Housing Advice Centre, Probation, Your Homes Newcastle Advice and Support Workers and other housing support workers or resettlement teams to:

resettle in the community following a stay in an institution for example, a hospital, a care home or custody
remain in the community rather than enter an institution
set up home in the community, as part of a planned resettlement programme, following an unsettled way of life

Visit newcastle.gov.uk for more information. This scheme replaced the Community Care Grants which were previously part of the DWP’s social fund.

Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP)

DHP’s are short term extra payments to help you if you are struggling to meet your housing costs.

You must be getting help with your rent in Universal Credit or Housing Benefit to get a DHP.

Read more about Discretionary Housing Payments and how to apply from Newcastle City Council.

Non discretionary payments and loans from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can arrange loans or payments for people who receive benefits such as:

Funeral Payments can help you with the cost of arranging a funeral. Remember to check to see whether you are entitled to receive this help before making any funeral arrangements.
Cold Weather Payments are made automatically to people who receive benefits such as Pension Credit or Income Support during periods (seven consecutive days) of exceptionally cold weather.
Winter Fuel Payments are a one off annual payment for people of pension age over winter.
Sure Start Maternity Grants for those who are pregnant or had a baby and received health and welfare advice.
Budgeting Loans can help you to buy an item that you can’t normally afford for those on means tested benefits like Income Support and Pension Credit. You have to repay a budgeting loan. it is interest free and payment is taken out of your benefits to repay the loan.
Universal Credit Budgeting Advances are similar to Budgeting Loans. They’re for people on Universal Credit.
Universal Credit Advances are for Universal Credit claimants waiting for their first payment

Household support fund

Newcastle City Council is distributing money from the government Household Support Fund to help vulnerable people and families. This money is being used to fund:

free School Meal Vouchers for eligible children during half term and school holidays (including Easter, May and summer holidays)
support of localised Cost of Living and discretionary schemes delivered by Newcastle City Council
hardship payments for food and or utility bills for householders who are in financial difficulty through a supported application process

More information about the scheme can be found on Newcastle City Council website

Help for individuals and families from charities

Some charities help people in financial need. You can search them for charities that can help you in various circumstances.

Turn2us is a charity where you find charitable funds and grants to apply for, when you need money for essential things in life. For example, furniture, household items, white goods, electrical items, studying, bringing up children, experiencing life changing circumstances and more. They have a telephone helpline, benefits calculator and online information.

Find a grant

Gov.uk’s Find a Grant service is where you can search for government funding to help you pay for things such as a new boiler.

Cost of living help and support

Cost of living support website from Newcastle City Council has information about where to get help and support with housing, energy, debt, benefits, money, council tax, school and learning costs. This includes wellbeing hubs

Where can I get benefits advice?

It can be useful to speak with someone about the benefits you may be entitled to and how they may impact upon your other benefits. A local independent advice service can help guide you through the process such as;