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Sure Start Maternity Grants (the Social Fund)

A Sure Start Maternity Grant is a payment of £500 which does not have to be paid back.

To qualify you or your partner must be receiving income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment.

You should claim:

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus office, Social Security office or at the Pension Service for the SF100 Sure Start form to claim.

• More information on Maternity Grants and to download a form Opens new window
• Sure Start Maternity Grant (money, tax and benefits section)

Funeral Payment (the Social Fund)

A Funeral Payment can help with the essential costs of a funeral, which you or your partner are responsible for arranging.

To qualify you or your partner must be receiving income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Income Support, Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit at a rate higher than the family element, or Working Tax Credit where a disabled worker is included in the assessment.

The payment is recoverable from any money available form the deceased person's estate.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

• More information on Funeral Payments (money, tax and benefits section)
• Advice on arranging a funeral and other responsibilities after someone dies (government, citizens and rights section)

Community Care Grants (the Social Fund)

A Community Care Grant (from £30 up to £1,000) does not have to be paid back.

To be eligible you must be getting Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, or payment on account of one of these, or are likely to get one of these benefits or entitlements when you move out of residential or institutional accommodation.

Grants may be awarded to help people:

Grants can also be awarded to help ease exceptional pressures on families, to care for a prisoner or young offender released on temporary licence, or to help with certain travel costs.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

• More information on Community Care Grants (money, tax and benefits section)

Budgeting Loans (the Social Fund)

Budgeting loans are interest-free (from £30 up to £1,000 in total) for the cost of things other than regular expenses (eg furniture, household equipment, clothing, footwear, things to help you look for or start work).

To be eligible you or your partner must have been getting Income Support or income based Jobseeker's Allowance, Pension Credit, or payment on account of one of these, for at least 26 weeks.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

• More information on Budgeting Loans (money, tax and benefits section)

Crisis Loans (the Social Fund)

Crisis Loans are interest-free and can help if there is a serious risk to the health and safety of you or your family following an emergency or disaster. You do not need to be getting any benefits but you must be over the age of 16. Whether you can get a Crisis Loan will depend on your particular circumstances.

Ask at your local Jobcentre Plus for a claim form and more information.

• More information on Crisis Loans (money, tax and benefits section)

Tax credits

Tax credits are payments from the government. If you're responsible for at least one child or young person who normally lives with you, you may qualify for Child Tax Credit. If you work, but earn low wages, you may qualify for Working Tax Credit.

The amount of tax credits you get depends on things like:

• how many children you have living with you
• whether you work - and how many hours you work
• if you pay for childcare
  
• if you or any child living with you has a disability
  
• if you're aged 50 plus and are coming off benefits
  

Your payments also depend on your income. The lower your income, the more tax credits you can get.

• Tax credits (money, tax and benefits section)

More useful links

• Support for disabled parents (disabled people section)
• Rights, legislation and disabled parents (disabled people section)