Community Support Grants (CSGs) are primarily intended to help vulnerable applicants live as independent a life as possible in the community. They compliment but do not replace our duties and responsibilities for community care, or support provided by other government or voluntary agencies.
The prime objectives of CSGs are to -
- help people establish themselves within the community following a stay in an institution or care home in which they received care, or as part of a planned resettlement programme following an unsettled way of life
- help people remain in the community rather than enter an institution or care home in which they will receive care
- ease exceptional pressures on people and their families
- help people to care for a prisoner or young offender on release on temporary licence
- help people with expenses to make certain journeys such as attending a relative’s funeral or visiting someone who is ill
A CSG is a grant and is not repayable.
Rules and exclusion apply. For further details regarding these, please ring us on 01482 300 303.
Trusted referrers can complete applications on behalf of an applicant.
Find out more about Trusted Referrers
Eligibility
A CSG could be awarded to you if -
- your main residence is within the Hull City Council boundary
- you are aged over 16
- you are in receipt of one of the following qualifying benefits
- Income Support
- Income Based Jobseeker's Allowance
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance
- State Pension Guarantee Credit
- Universal Credit
You may be eligible if you are going to be in receipt of one of these benefits within 6 weeks of leaving care.
There is no limit to the number of CSG award applications that you can make. However, awards cannot normally be made for the same items within a 12 month period.
How to make a claim
To make a claim you can either -
- Complete the form online
Please answer the questions in the form carefully and accurately as each application is checked and may be rejected if you do not meet basic qualifying conditions or have not fully completed the form. You may be notified by SMS text message if your application is rejected for this reason.
or
- call us on 01482 300 303
- call from The Wilson Centre customer service centre
- ask a Trusted Referrer to complete the application for you
How the grant is paid to you
Automated payment (BACS) into a bank, building society, or other account you give us details of.
You can use the following types of accounts -
- an account in your name or joint names that is suitable for BACs payments
- someone else’s account as long as you have the person’s permission for this, and it is suitable for BACs payments
- an appointee’s or a legal representative’s account, that is in their name, when they are acting on your behalf
Payment to a trusted referrer
Your payment can be made by BACs to a bank account provided by a trusted referrer who has helped you complete this form.
If this option is chosen the Trusted Referrer can receive the award on your behalf and help you purchase the items, you have been awarded through a supervised spending arrangement.
What to do if you disagree with our decision
First review
If you disagree with a decision, you must contact us in writing, within 1 calendar month of the date of the decision and tell us why you disagree with it.
The decision will be looked at again by a different officer to the 1 who made the original decision, they will then contact you to let you know the outcome. This may initially be by telephone, but you will receive a written notification about all review decisions.
On first review send your request to -
FAO Local Assistance Team
Freepost RSJC-KKBE-ABXZ
Hull City Council
PO Box 15
Hull
HU1 2AB
Second review
If you disagree with the outcome of the first review, you can ask for a second review by an Officer of our revenues and benefits adjudication team.
For a second decision your request must be received within 1 calendar month of the date of the first review decision. Your request must be in writing, and you must tell us what it is you disagree with.
The adjudication officer will review the decision again, they will contact you to let you know the outcome. This may initially be by telephone, but you will receive a written notification about all review decisions.
On second review send your request to -
FAO Revenues and Benefits Adjudication Team
Freepost RSJC-KKBE-ABXZ
Hull City Council
PO Box 15
Hull
HU1 2AB.
More information and advice
Citizens Advice
CA offers free, confidential, and impartial advice covering a range of issues regarding general areas of law or specialist advice and support on Welfare and Benefits you can either ring 01482 300 303 to ask for an appointment or visit the Wilson Centre customer service centre to attend a drop in.
Access information about Citizens Advice can be found here
Department for Work and Pensions
The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) may be able to provide financial help depending on your circumstances. They offer budgeting loans, short term benefit advances and hardship payments.
Contact DWP for further information
If you would like to know how much benefit you may be able to receive or help with budgeting, visit our benefit calculator and budgeting tools.
