Scheme purpose and start date
Purpose of the scheme
The Essential Living Fund (ELF) is primarily intended to help vulnerable people live as independent a life as possible in the community.
Its prime objectives are to:
- help people establish in the community after a period of unsettlement
- help people remain in the community rather than enter into unsettlement
- help people with certain travel costs
- help children with school uniform costs
For more on each of these, see the explanation on our Eligibility page.
Start date of the scheme
The ELF scheme is effective from the 1 April 2013.
The policy is reviewed yearly. This policy is effective from 1 April 2026.