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Extra help, crisis support and DHP

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Get help with your application

We can give advice, and help you complete claim forms for Housing Benefit, council tax reduction and free school meals. We can also provide a translation and sign language service.

Contact the benefits team to get extra help.

Other benefits you may be entitled to

There's information on the government's website about all available benefits, and tools to help you work out what you can get. 

Attendance Allowance

If you’re over State Pension age and need help due to illness or disability, you might qualify for Attendance Allowance. You may be eligible if:

  • you have a physical disability (including sensory disability, for example blindness), a mental disability (including learning difficulties), or a health condition
  • your disability or health condition is severe enough for you to need help caring for yourself or someone to supervise you, for your own or someone else’s safety
  • you have needed that help for at least 6 months

Check the full eligibility criteria to see if you can claim.

Help to apply

If you need help to find out more, or to apply, you can:

Introduction 

Welcome to Walsall Council's guide on Attendance Allowance. Could you be entitled to extra support? 

You may be eligible for a benefit called Attendance Allowance. We can provide support to help you make a claim. 

Attendance Allowance is a benefit for people over State Pension age who have a disability or health condition that means they need help with personal care or supervision to stay safe.  

You do not need to have a carer or be receiving care to qualify. 

It can help with extra costs if you have a long-term physical or mental health condition or disability that affects your daily life. 

It’s tax-free and will not reduce any other benefits you receive. In fact, it could increase them. 

Eligibility 

You can apply for Attendance Allowance if: 

  • You are over State Pension age.
  • You have a physical or mental disability (including sensory impairments).
  • You need help with personal care (like washing, dressing, or eating) or require supervision to keep you safe.
  • And you’ve needed this help for at least 6 months, unless you’re terminally ill. 

Apply online at www.gov.uk/attendance-allowance/how-to-claim or call the Attendance Allowance helpline on 0800 731 0122. 

Where to apply 

If you are ready to apply, go to Attendance Allowance Application to take you to the application. 

Support available 

If you need help applying, support is available via the Citizens Advice Sandwell and Walsall CASPER mobile unit.  

This will be at different locations in Walsall to support residents.  

Choose one of the options to see more: 

If you need help getting online, you can visit your local Walsall Connected centre for support. 

Our team at Walsall Connected can also make a referral to Citizens Advice. 

Before visiting our centres, check the opening times and availability on our website at Walsall Connected Website 

Got a question? Ask WALIS, our chatbot, on walsall.gov.uk. 

Discretionary housing payment (DHP)

DHPs provide short-term support to help with rent or housing costs.

They can also cover:

  • rent deposits
  • rent in advance
  • costs associated with taking up a new tenancy (for example, moving costs or arrears)

You're eligible to apply if you're responsible for paying rent, and you get either:

  • housing benefit, or
  • Universal Credit that includes the housing element

DHPs are not for:

  • services that are included in your rent
  • making up reductions in benefit due to sanctions or overpayments
  • paying an increase in your rent due to arrears
  • paying your council tax

DHPs are limited, so we have to make sure we are helping the people who need it the most. We will consider your income, expenditure and personal circumstances. We will also look at what you’ve done to improve your own financial situation before making a decision.

Make savings in your spending

The DHP fund is not available to support a lifestyle. We will look at areas where we feel you could make savings - for example, you could reduce a television package, get a better utilities deal or switch supermarkets. 

Speak to your landlord

If you rent privately and you are a good tenant your landlord may accept a lower rent for a short period of time. All landlords should be willing to discuss a repayment plan on existing arrears.

Increase your income

You might be able to increase your work hours, or take on agency work if you’re looking for something full-time. You may be entitled to other benefits – for example, if you are unable to work, Personal Independence Payments may help.

Find an affordable home

Find out more about your housing options and how we can help you.

Is the household contributing?

Working out if other members of the household could contribute more, even short-term, may get you through a difficult patch.

To support your application, you’ll need to provide the following evidence:

  • proof of your rent payments
  • proof of your rent arrears
  • Universal Credit award that proves inclusion of the housing element
  • proof of deposit or rent in advance amounts
  • recent bank statements

There is no formal right of appeal for a DHP decision. If your application is declined you can ask us to reconsider, and provide further evidence to support this.

Free school meals

You can apply online for free school meals if your child attends school within Walsall Borough and you meet the eligibility criteria.

Council tax discounts, reductions and exemptions

You may be eligible for council tax reduction. You can apply online.

State pension

Find out when you're eligible, what you'll get, and apply online on the government's website

Walsall local welfare provision scheme (WLWPS)

If you or your family need support in emergency circumstances you can apply for a local welfare provision award. Any application may be treated as an application for either an award under the Household support fund or crisis award. Details of the criteria are on our household support fund page.

Crisis award

You can apply for a crisis award if there is a severe risk to the health and safety of you or your family that cannot be met from another source. For example:

  • no access to essential needs (food, heating and clothing)
  • deterioration in health
  • domestic abuse, neglect and harm
  • breakdown of the family unit

A crisis is an event such as major flooding, gas explosion or a house fire. It can also be having no funds available to meet daily living expenses. It is different from the pressures of managing on a low income.

Community Care award

This type of award is no longer available.

How to apply

You can apply for a local welfare provision award below. We are no longer accepting applications for the Community Care award. You will need to supply information that validates your need, circumstances and eligibility.

Download the WLWPS policy for full details about eligibility, and the application and appeals process.

Download list

Contact the Housing and Welfare Support team to discuss an application.

Appointees

An appointee deals with the benefits of a person who cannot manage their own affairs because they’re mentally incapable or severely disabled.

You can download an application form to become an appointee, and find out more on the government’s website.

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