Method of Award
For the organisations that claim via the Southend Emergency Fund, the bid will be for a specific offer of a Resilience Service and will identify the level of assistance to be given and the number of people that will be helped. Payment will be issued to the organisation
For those applying for a Crisis Payment, the level of assistance will be identified via the application and the offer of assistance will be given by one of the below methods to the applicant taking into account a Cash First approach where viable given the applicants circumstances and need:
- the award of funds on an Allpay Card to spend on relevant items awarded
- the award of funds via PostOffice Payout to spend on relevant items awarded
- in-kind provision of the energy efficient white good item, furniture or household item awarded
A cash first approach enables people to address specific needs with dignity and choice empowering them to make informed choices to best suit their circumstances.
The decision maker will decide the most appropriate way to make the award.
For those provided Resilience Services by Citizens Advice, there may be funding given to assist the applicant to settle the issues they are facing. The CA will decide the best offer of assistance to make accounting for the applicants personal circumstances and the resilience offer they need.
For HP this could be made to the applicant or their landlord. HP should normally be paid to the person who receives the benefit payments. For example, if the HB is paid to the applicant, then the HP will be paid to the claimant as well. However, where it is considered that it is not reasonable to pay the applicant directly, payment can be made to another payee as long as that person is also a 'person affected' by the benefit decision. For example, if HB is normally paid to the landlord, payment can be made to the landlord if it is considered reasonable to do so (both the landlord and applicant are a 'person affected' by the Housing Benefit decision). HP for council tenants will generally be paid directly to the tenants rent account. HP payments should mirror the payment frequency cycle used to pay claimants HB. Or as a separate calendar monthly payment to the UC claimant where UC is in payment
For any other agreed awards the amount will be determined by the number of people identified through any targeted work and the remainder fund allowance.