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Funds from the Bolton Local Welfare Provision assist families on a low income with paying their bills in a crisis. The council, which is located in the greater Manchester area, created this scheme to replace the government welfare provision. Bolton may help paying utility bills or give out a free food parcel, or the council links families to rent deposit help, furniture, travel assistance and more.

It is provided as a cash limited programme. The Bolton welfare scheme and it will normally provide the person a voucher in lieu of money, so an applicant may receive assistance such as a bond to pay the deposit on a new home, pre-paid card for buying food, or furniture. White goods may also be passed out.

Applying for local welfare in Bolton

Any financial aid is for is for people in a crisis with a local connection to Bolton. Most of the applicants have had a reduction in their welfare or maybe some other type of reduction in income. The Local Welfare Provision scheme will also only provide one time help for the crisis, and this is not a charity programme. Some of the expenses that can be paid by the scheme are as follows.

• Crisis aid to help resettle someone or help them move into the community, and the council may agree to guaranteeing a rent deposit in this case.
• Families without food can get a voucher and referral. The Bolton Council will provide a referral to the soup kitchen or food bank in Manchester. Locate more free food banks in Manchester.
• Tenants with the threat of homelessness can use the welfare scheme for rent or housing payments, such as a deposit on a new home in the Manchester or Bolton area.
• A pre-paid card may be provided for a fuel bill, however this is a last resort and a payment plan should be used first.

Addressing health or a safety concern will be a priority of the scheme, and this means the council will offer free food or other forms of aid when someone does not have a meal or is going hungry. Or the council in Bolton does not want someone to be sleeping on the streets or without a home. So a priority is on housing and deposit help for new homes, and this is even more important with the availability of social housing being limited.

Another priority is on people with a disaster. Maybe their home had a fire and the applicant needs to move into a hostel and then they need help for the deposit on a new permanent accommodations. In this case the agency may have funds to help with those costs.

Money workshops in Bolton

The Local Welfare Provision Scheme will also ensure the client has access classes and workshops to help them with money management and advisers will help them work to financial independence. The aim of this free advice is to prevent a future crisis, with a focus on stopping homelessness in the community. So it covers budgeting, nutrition, legal aid for housing matters, and other aid.

Bolton classes touch on employment as well as debt reduction. Advisers show families how to budget and live within their income. Much of this is offered in partnership with Citizens Advice (CAB), which is a national not-for-profit. Find more ways to save money.

Applying for help

In many cases the Bolton Council will need to refuse an application due to limited funds or other reasons. In these cases they refer the client to Citizens advice at 26-28 Mawdsley St or they may provide a voucher for the local food bank, which is at Trafford St, Farnworth. The council will do its best to help people facing poverty by offering them assistance from the scheme or referrals.

The number to call for more information in 01204 333 333. Or people can drop in at the Town Hall which is at Victoria Square. Applications can be done in the office with a specialist.