turn2Us
Turn 2 us are a national charity for helping peoples when times are tough. They help people find financial support and get back on track
Turn 2 us have an online searchable database of grants and benefits that could be available, they also have a benefits calculator that will help you find out of you may be entitled to benefits you are unaware of.
Main Website
Benefits Calculator can be found at
https://benefits-calculator.turn2us.org.uk/
Download the Benefits Calculator checklist (this will save you time when you check)
Turn2us Information Checklist
Grants Search
https://grants-search.turn2us.org.uk/survey/
Find welfare benefits and grants information that is relevant to you. Search by your situation or use the A-Z of benefits if you know the name of the benefit you want to find out about.
https://www.turn2us.org.uk/Your-Situation
Contact Turn2us directly
Tel Helpline: (9am-5.30pm Monday-Friday)
Sheffield City Council Grants
Grants & Benefits
A quick guide to some of the help that is available
Information you will need to apply for all grants.
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Your personal details including name, address, phone number, email address and date of birth.
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Your National Insurance Number
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Personal details of your partner (if you have one) including Date of Birth and National Insurance Number. You should also have details of any benefits or income they are getting (If any)
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Details of any other adults in your household including date of birth.
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Details of dependent children including names and dates of birth
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Crime reference number if your emergency was caused by a crime
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Details of your regular financial income and outgoings including your partners**. You will be asked to explain what has happened to cause your emergency or disaster and to provide details of your financial situation. Some of the information you provide (for example the benefits you receive) will be checked before a decision can be made.
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**We may ask you to provide proof of any benefits received and/or bank statements for the last 3 months in order for us to consider your application. These can be provided in person, by post or via email, or in some cases attached to your online application. Also, you can create a PDF copy (you can often download one via online banking) and attach it to you application or send it via e-mail. (You will need your application reference number)
If you are applying by telephone, you will need to make sure you have this information ready before you make the call. If you apply online, you will be able to save your application and return to it later if you are missing any information.
What are the different grants or funds for?
Household Support Fund
The Household Support Fund is a none repayable grant to help people living in Sheffield with food and home essentials. It is not a loan, and you are not expected to pay any of the award back. You will need your National Insurance number, you cannot apply without one.
You can apply for help with...
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food and housekeeping (groceries, toiletries, baby essentials etc)
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telephone and broadband (mobile phones, top-ups, broadband charge etc)
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gas and electricity
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clothing, including school uniforms
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wider essential needs not linked to energy and water, should the local authority consider this appropriate in your area
Please note: for all grants you will need to satisfy the Assessor/Council that these are a last resort and you have no other way to access funds
Sheffield Local Assistance Scheme
This is made up of two types of award
The aim of the Local Assistance Scheme is to support independent living and help Sheffield residents in crisis situations with an identified need that cannot be met from another source. The scheme was set up following the abolition of some parts of the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) Social Fund (Community Care Grants and Crisis Loans). While the Local Assistance Scheme is quite similar to the Social Fund in purpose, it is not the same scheme and has its own policy, rules and awards.
Sheffield Independence Grants Sheffield Independence Grants are to support independent living in the community. They can be used to help people establish themselves in the community or to remain there. For example, they may be used to help people setting up home following a period in institutional care, avoid the need to go into care or cope with exceptionally difficult family circumstances. Awards can be made to help provide essential household items and services (including travel costs in particular circumstances).
Sheffield Crisis Grants Sheffield Crisis Grants are intended to help people who do not have enough money to meet their short term needs arising from a crisis. They are used to prevent serious risk to the health and safety of an individual or their family.
There are no repayments required for Local Assistance Scheme awards, details of each grant is provided below
Please Note
You can only be awarded two Sheffield Crisis Grants in a rolling 12 month period, regardless of any change in circumstances. If you do not have internet access at home, you can use the internet for free at your local library or in First Point at Howden House.
You must:
Be aged 16 or above, and be a Sheffield resident
You can apply and get more information from:
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In person (at Howden House)
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Post
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e-mail
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Online (Click for details)
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Telephone 0114 273 4567 (you can fill out an application via phone, see what information you will need above
For more information you can call in or write to:
Local Assistance Scheme
3rd Floor Howden House
1 Union Street
Sheffield S1 2SH
e-mail: LAS@sheffield.gov.uk
You can get more information at:
https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/benefits/local-assistance-scheme
Or call on: 0114 273 4567
So which grant is applicable to my situation?
Sheffield independence Grant
Sheffield Independence Grants are to support independent living in the community. A Sheffield Independence Grant can help if:
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You, a member of your family, someone you look after or someone you will be looking after, to return to the community from care
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You, a member of your family, someone you look after or someone you will be looking after, to return to the community from prison
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You, a member of your family, someone you look after or someone you will be looking after, to stay in the community instead of going into care
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Ease exceptional pressure on individuals and families *(see note below)
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You or your partner look after someone on leave from prison or a young offender’s institution on a temporary licence
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You to set up home as part of a planned resettlement programme if you have had an unsettled way of life It can also be used to help with certain travel expenses in the UK. The journey could be:
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To visit a close friend or family member who is ill
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To attend a relatives funeral
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To visit a child who is being looked after by another parent while awaiting a court decision
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To ease a domestic crisis, or To move to suitable accommodation.
Under some circumstances, a Sheffield Independence Grant could also be awarded to help with:
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Repair or supply of household items (white goods)
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Removal and Storage Expenses including reconnection of moved appliances
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Improvement to living conditions (redecoration or minor repairs)
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Utility connection charges / installation of pre-payment meters (but not bills)
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Travel expenses to hospital for appointments
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Certain other travel expenses (including an overnight stay if this is essential) as described for situations above
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Clothing
* Note about exceptional pressure on individuals and families: All individuals and families on low income face pressures. Exceptional pressure means a situation which causes additional pressure on an individual or family. Examples of this could be a relationship breakdown, having to cope with new health problems, or existing health problems suddenly getting worse.
How will I be paid for Sheffield Grants?
It will vary depending on which award you get, see the 'what now' guidance in your award e-mail or when finishing your form online
Sheffield Crisis Grant
You could get help if:
Sheffield Crisis Grants are to help people who do not have enough money to meet their short term needs because of an emergency or disaster. They are used to prevent serious risk to the health and safety of an individual or a family member residing with them. An emergency means an unforeseen event or situation resulting in needs that must be met urgently (for example, theft).
A disaster is an event of sudden and great misfortune (for example, a major fire, flood or gas explosion). Less serious situations such as a small fire in one room or a leak from a washing machine do not qualify as a disaster
Sheffield Crisis Grants are generally awarded to cover day to day living expenses (food, groceries, nappies, pay as you go fuel meters).In some situations, a Sheffield Crisis Grant could also be used to help with accommodation costs (e.g. rent in advance for privately rented properties) or travel expenses (e.g. access to hospital) if there is no other way to prevent a serious health and safety risk to you or your family. In the event of a disaster, a Sheffield Crisis Grant could be used to help with items or services other than day to day living expenses (for example clothing, household items or travel expenses to enable you to return home if you are stranded outside Sheffield as the result of a disaster).
For more information on the Assistance Scheme, download the full guidelines HERE