A brief guide to the main sources of help, including benefits, loans, grants and the Social Fund.

This explains that the Social Fund is for people on low incomes, and can give grants or loans to help obtain important essential things, like heating costs, funerals, household items, clothing & footware, urgent safety costs.

The Social Fund is a scheme to help people with expenses that are difficult to meet from a low income. It covers Funeral Payments, Cold Weather Payments, Winter Fuel Payments and Sure Start Maternity Grants. Advances of Benefit are a form of payment on

If you’re on a low income and have to meet the cost of unplanned expenses, you may be eligible for a payment from the Social Fund or your local council to help. This factsheet explains what you may be eligible for, how payments are made and how to complai

Information about Housing Benefit and other benefits to which people aged 60 and over may be entitled.