Back on Track Policy 2023-24

Crisis support aims to prevent an immediate deterioration to the wellbeing of the applicant or their partner or dependent.

There will be two stages to the assessment of a crisis support application:

• an assessment of need - to establish if the applicant meets one of the qualifying conditions set out in 2.1
• a financial assessment - to establish if the applicant has immediate access to any other form of financial assistance

2.1 Qualifying conditions

Applicants must have:

An immediate need for assistance with essential daily living expenses that has arisen following an exceptional event or unforeseen circumstances and as a direct result of the inability to afford the services, the wellbeing of the applicant or their partner or dependent will immediately deteriorate. Also, the applicant or their partner must meet at least one of the following:

• they have a serious physical health problem for which they are receiving treatment, or there is a severe risk to their health and safety
• they have a dependent child who normally lives with them and that child's health and safety would be at immediate risk
• they are at risk of homelessness
• they have a substance or alcohol misuse problem, which they are receiving treatment or support for
• they are on probation or receiving support relating to their offending history
• they are affected by or at risk of domestic abuse, hate crime, honour based violence or forced marriage
• they have a learning disability
• they have a physical or sensory impairment
• they have a mental health problem, which they are receiving treatment or support for
• they are pregnant
• they require support with costs to ease exceptional circumstances for the applicant and their family

2.2 Crisis support award values and duration

The value and duration of the award will be at the discretion of the Council, in relation to the needs being presented and the financial situation of the applicant.

In most cases support provided to cover needs will usually last no longer than the period until their next payment of benefit or wages.

Applicants can receive a maximum of two awards in any one financial year, with the exception of awards which are made where a purse or wallet has been lost or stolen. In such cases only one award will be made in any one financial year.

Applicants will not usually be able to receive support with a value exceeding £100 in any financial year.

Applicants making repeated claims for crisis awards will continue to be referred or signposted to relevant advice services. Should the applicant refuse to engage after a referral to a partner agency then future applications may not be considered.