Local Assistance Award Scheme
About the scheme
The Local Assistance Award Scheme, formerly the Single Discretionary Award Scheme (SDA), helps people on certain benefits who are in financial hardship or experiencing a crisis. The scheme can help people who need food, gas and electric top ups, and in certain situations, it can help with domestic goods or furniture for the home.
There is also a support element to this service. When you make an application, we may assess your need for other support services. Where we identify a need for support, we will make referrals to our partners to provide that support.
Applicants must be willing to take up and remain engaged with the most appropriate support recommended by the Council, which may include: money advice, budgeting support, access to banking products, access to digital skills support, better off calculations, access to job clubs and training and housing advice. Certain groups, including pensioners, will be excluded from any 'towards work' requirements.
We may not ask you to engage with 'towards work' activity where you:
- Are in receipt of Employment and Support Allowance and are in the Support Group.
- Are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance at either the higher rate of Care or the higher rate of the Mobility Component but do not fall into a protected group above.
- Are in receipt of Personal Independence Payment at the enhanced rate of either the Daily Living component or the mobility component and do not fall into a protected group above.
- Are a carer, in receipt of Carers Allowance.
If you do not engage with your support programme, any award that you receive from the Local Assistance Award Scheme may be at risk. Please read our policy and guidance relating to awards.