Holidays can be a very financially draining time in general with households having to plan for extras such as gifts, decorations, food etc. But this year, with the cost of living crisis and the soaring energy prices which have left some people having to choose between food or heating, this Christmas is starting to look very challenging for many.
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As reported by Wales Online, in order to alleviate the financial burden from households who are struggling during this period, the Welsh Government is going to be giving away grants through the discretionary assistance fund (DAF).
The discretionary assistance fund
The grants provided by the DAF need not be repaid. These grants are of two kinds: emergency assistance payment (EAP) that helps with essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel in the following cases, if you
- are experiencing extreme financial hardship
- have lost your job
- have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment
The second type of grant is called individual assistance payment (IAP) for people who live alone.
You can use the grant money to pay for a fridge, cooker or washing machine and other ‘white goods’ or even home furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs.
To receive the grants you need to meet the eligibility criteria. You can find all the details on the website of Welsh DAF here.
How to apply for the grant
You cannot apply for a grant if any of the following are applicable in your case:
- already received a grant in the last 28 days (or in the last 7 days if you are impacted by COVID or are on Universal Credit and are experiencing financial hardship)
- already received 3 grants in the last year (or 5 grants if you’re in receipt of Universal Credit or impacted by coronavirus)
You can apply for a grant either online through the Welsh Government website or you can send in your application by post or even by phone by calling 0800 859 5924 between 9.30am to 4pm Monday to Friday. It takes 24 hours to process applications (made Monday to Friday).
Sources used:
Wales Online: ‘The grants you can get this Christmas that you don’t have to pay back’
