Help under the Essential Living Fund (ELF)
This information is just for people who live in the Southend City area.
Eligibility
You can claim from the 1 April 2026 if you are:
- 18 or over (may be able to claim if aged 16 to 17 if meet the qualifying criteria for Universal Credit (UC) housing costs or Housing Benefit (HB))
- a resident in the City of Southend (Where 'resident' means someone who lives in a property in the Southend-on-Sea City Council area or are accessing services such as the Job Centre as if a resident of the area. A 'resident' could also be a person who has been placed outside the City and is being supported by Southend on Sea City Council)
- on a low income or with little or no resources
- and you fit the below criteria
Criteria
1. You need help to establish in the community after a period of unsettlement.
- this could be if you have spent at least 3 months in a Care Home, Prison, Hostel or Similar Supported Lodging or
- you have been made homeless, have lost items as a consequence, and are establishing in the new accommodation via placement
2. You need help to remain in the community rather than enter into unsettlement
- this could be an award to ensure the risk of you becoming homeless or having to be admitted into care for example is reduced, and will ensure you can continue independent life in the community or
- the award would allow you to move to more suitable accommodation and continue independent life in the community
3. You need help with travel costs to visit a partner, parent or child that is staying in a hospital or a rehabilitation centre outside the Southend City for 4 weeks or more.
- for more detail please read through our Southend ELF policy
4. You need help with school uniform costs after:
- being placed as homeless in temporary accommodation by the Council
- being placed in a refuge
- loosing school uniform in a fire or flood
You must also be on certain state benefits.
For full detail please read through Southend ELF policy.
Do I qualify?
To see whether you qualify for the award you will need to answer questions about your:
- income
- earnings, and
- savings
You also need to give proof of your financial situation.
Assessment will be made of all other help you:
- have received, or
- have available to you
This includes any support you have already received through any other support the Government have recently made available.
What the scheme covers
Where you fit the criteria to claim, the scheme can cover applications for:
- furniture (such as bed, sofa, storage)
- household furnishings (curtains, bedding)
- white goods (such as cooker, fridge, washing machine)
- clothing
If you are awarded the grant, you will receive your award by one or more of the following:
- AllPay card
- high quality recycled furniture from a reputable charity
- white goods from a reputable local dealer
Only 1 award for each item can be considered.
How to apply
If you live within the City of Southend-on-Sea, use this online form.
After you apply
You will be notified by letter if your application is successful. The letter will include all details on how your grant will be paid.
For furniture awards
The award letter will have more information on how to get the items and what you need to take with you to get your items.
For white good awards
The provider will contact you.
AllPay cards
An AllPay card is similar to a Mastercard debit card. An amount of credit will already be loaded onto the card. The card can be used in any store that accepts MasterCard. The card should only to be used to buy the items you applied for. You must not give the card or PIN to any other person. This will be classed as misuse of the card and you will not receive further help from the scheme.
You cannot use the card:
- at a cash machine (ATM) to withdraw cash to receive cash back
- in petrol stations
- in off licenses
- in gambling establishments
- to attempt to purchase cigarettes, alcohol or petrol
The card will automatically be blocked if you do and you will not be able to claim from the scheme again.
Please keep your receipts so you can add up what you are spending as you go along. It is a requirement to keep your receipts as you may be asked for these at a later date.
The card is only valid for 4 weeks. After 4 weeks the card will be cancelled and made invalid. Any money left on the card will be refunded back to the Essential Living Fund scheme.
Further information
For more information please view the Southend ELF policy.
For more advice and guidance please see Essential Living Fund frequently asked questions.