Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales
The Welsh government has set up a national scheme to replace social fund community care grants and crisis loans in Wales, called the Discretionary Assistance Fund.
The Fund consists of ‘individual assistance payments’ to help people remain in or establish themselves in the community, and ‘emergency assistance payments’ for people without money because of a disaster or emergency. To qualify for an individual assistance payment, you must usually be getting a qualifying benefit (income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, income-related employment and support allowance, pension credit or universal credit).
Students on a qualifying benefit are eligible for individual assistance payments if they meet the other criteria, but you are expected to apply to your college’s or university’s discretionary fund first.
More information on the Fund, and how to apply, is at .