There are various government-led schemes and initiatives available to help you out financially depending on where you live in the UK.
Wales, for example, has the DAF Fund – a source of financial assistance for those struggling with living costs and have no other means of support. But what exactly is the DAF Fund and who is it designed for?
What is the DAF Fund?
The Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) is a scheme introduced by the Welsh Government in 2013 to provide some much-needed assistance to individuals experiencing extreme financial hardship. The aim of the initiative is to provide a financial safety net for those struggling to afford their living costs and have no other means of support.
However, it is designed to provide immediate help in response to unexpected financial hardship and shouldn’t be viewed as a long-term solution. Because of this, the application process is fairly simple and straightforward with most applications made online or over the phone and approved within a matter of days.
Some of the factors that will be considered when you apply are your income, savings, and what led to your current financial situation.
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How does the DAF Fund work?
The DAF Fund provides two types of financial assistance depending on your circumstances: the Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) and the Individual Assistance Payment (IAP). We’ve outlined both below:
Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
The Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) is a grant designed to pay for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing, and emergency travel, if you have experienced sudden financial hardship (e.g. you’ve lost your job or have applied for benefits but are waiting for your first payment).
The EAP is designed for people who have experienced a financial emergency, disaster, or crisis, and can’t be used for ongoing bills that you can’t afford to pay.
Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)
The Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) is a grant intended to help you or someone you care for live independently at home within the community.
The IAP covers essential living costs needed to maintain a reasonable standard of living and can assist with a wide range of expenses like groceries, heating, clothing, and gas and electricity bills.
Am I eligible for the DAF Fund?
The eligibility criteria for the DAF Fund depends on which of the two payments you are applying for. We’ve outlined the qualifying criteria for each below:
Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP)
To qualify for the EAP, you must:
- Be in extreme financial hardship (e.g. lost your job, applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment, or have no money for bills that are due immediately)
- Be in a ‘crisis situation’ and require immediate financial support
- Be over the age of 16
- Live in Wales
- Have no other money or savings and have considered all other options, including a credit union
Individual Assistance Payment (IAP)
The eligibility criteria for the IAP are a little more complex. To qualify, you must:
- Not be living in a care home or prison (unless you’re being discharged within six weeks)
- Not be a member of a fully maintained religious order
- Be over the age of 16
- Live in Wales
- Have no other money or savings and have considered all other options, including a credit union
Furthermore, you must be in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Guaranteed Credit element of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit (standard/personal allowance)
Lastly, you must meet one of the following conditions:
- You are preparing to leave a care home or institution (e.g. hospital, prison, or foster home) after a minimum of three months to live independently
- You want to stay living in the community rather than move into an institution
- You are getting ready to set up home after an unsettled way of life
- You need to move into a new property quickly due to a relationship breakdown or domestic violence situation
- You are going to care for a prisoner or young offender released on a temporary license
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How much will I get with the DAF Fund?
There is no set amount you will receive with the DAF Fund – the amount provided depends on your personal needs and will be at the discretion of your local council.
For the EAP, you will receive a PayPoint voucher or BACS payment for food, gas and electricity, and emergency travel and vouchers to be used to buy clothing.
For the IAP, you will receive the white goods (e.g. fridge, cooker, or washing machine) and home furniture (e.g. beds, sofas, and chairs) you need provided from a list of approved partners.
How do I apply for the DAF Fund?
There are various ways to apply for the DAF Fund, but you can’t apply if you’ve already received a grant in the last seven days or have had three grants in the last year. Applications can also be made on behalf of someone else who is unable to complete the form independently.
EAP payments are usually processed within 24 hours unless you apply after 12pm on a Friday in which case you will receive a response the following Monday. IAP payments can take up to 10 days.
If your application is not approved, you can request a review.
We’ve outlined the different application methods below:
Online: https://www.gov.wales/discretionary-assistance-fund-daf/how-apply
Address: Discretionary Assistance Fund PO Box 2377 Wrexham LL11 0LG
Telephone: 0800 859 5924 (9.30am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday)
Email: [email protected]
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Is there a DAF Fund England?
In England, there is no single, unified Discretionary Assistance like the one in Wales. Instead, financial assistance is provided through various local schemes and programmes managed by local authorities. These schemes are known as Local Welfare Assistance Schemes.
Overview of Local Welfare Assistance Schemes
Financial assistance for individuals and families facing crises in England is provided through various local schemes managed by local authorities, rather than a single unified fund like in Wales.
These Local Welfare Assistance Schemes (LWAS) offer various forms of support:
- Emergency payments
- Food vouchers
- Help with utility bills
- Support buying essential household items
The availability and specifics of these schemes vary significantly between local authorities.
Eligibility
To be eligible for this type of support, people tend to be experiencing severe financial hardship or be facing a financial emergency.
While eligibility is usually determined by the council in control of the fund, typical criteria includes the following:
- Low income
- Receipt of certain benefits
- Sudden financial difficulties due to unexpected events.
Because each local authority sets its own requirements, which can differ widely, the best way to find out whether you’re eligible for support is to visit your local council website.
How to apply for a Local Welfare Assistance Fund
Applications for assistance are made directly to the local authority, with processes and required documentation varying by location.
Generally, applicants need to provide proof of identity, residence, income, and details of their emergency or hardship. Application methods can include online forms, phone calls, or in-person visits.
Difference between the Discretionary Assistance Fund and the Disability Access Fund
Because of their similar acronyms, the Discretionary Assistance Fund is often confused with the Disability Access Fund, a fund in England that targets a different group of vulnerable people and serves a different purpose.
While the Discretionary Assistance Fund is a Welsh fund designed to help people who are struggling financially, the Disability Access Fund in England focuses on improving access to early education for young children with disabilities.
The Disability Access Fund provides funding to early years providers to support children aged 3 and 4 who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and are accessing free early education. The main features include:
Annual payment: £800 per eligible child, paid directly to the early years provider.
Use of funds: To support providers in making reasonable adjustments and improving accessibility, ensuring inclusive educational environments.
Local authorities manage the distribution of this fund, working with early years providers to ensure the funds support inclusion effectively.
Additionally, people in need of this support may have access to a SEN inclusion fund; all local authorities in the UK must have inclusion funding available to assist early years providers in supporting children with special educational needs (SEN).
Conclusion
The DAF Fund is designed to help eligible individuals afford their day-to-day living costs after a financial emergency or live independently within their community.
Both versions of the fund – the EAP and the IAP – are grants, meaning they don’t need to be repaid and can be applied for up to three times within a rolling 12-month period as long as there is a gap of seven days between applications.
There is no set amount you’ll receive from the DAF Fund and your award will depend on your needs as outlined in your application.
