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The two welfare schemes available in Calderdale are the Community Living Support, which is for housing related issues, and Emergency Support, which can help people under exceptional financial pressure or that are faced with a disaster pay a portion of a bill. Both are limited and any assistance is provided at the discretion of the Calderdale Council.

Each of the schemes has their own eligibility criteria in place, but in general they are to support residents on a low income or benefits. The applicant also needs to have no other resources or savings available to them. Only after these, and other conditions have been met, may the welfare schemes offer help with the everyday living expenses that the family may have.

Providing assistance such as household items or vouchers to pay for travel costs, the aim of Community Living Support is to help people so they either continue to remain living in their home or so that they can return to the community. Or there may be assistance to resettle a resident. CLS will also help those impacted by an illness or if an offender is returning to the community then support may be given to them.

The Community Living Support scheme will award the household the items they need so they can continue to live in their home. Some of the goods may be baby items, fridges, cookers, bedding, or even a washer if the family has a young child. It will help them get established in the community.

This type of assistance is only for Calderdale residents that are on benefits, such as Income Support, Job Seekers Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, or Universal Credit being some examples. However, the council can make exceptions if the person is currently in the process of applying to these programmes through a social worker.

The council will also review a letter of recommendation from a support or social worker. So if the individual is interested in applying for CLS then it may benefit them to work on this application in partnership with that social worker.

All information will be reviewed before a decision is made. If the council decides to provide the person with an award, then the item will be given to them and not cash. So the council may deliver the furniture such as a bed or other goods to the household. To apply for the Calderdale Community Living Scheme, dial 01422 288003.

The second option is the Calderdale Emergency Living Support, or ELS. This is to help pay for expenses for those under exceptional financial pressure or that are impacted by a disaster. A priority is for those who are also facing a health or safety issue if the council were not to support them.

Any financial assistance provided by the council will be the smallest amount needed to resolve the crisis and provide the family more time. The scheme may pay a portion of energy bills to keep electricity on or provide a parcel of food to the family. Or there can be a pre-paid card provided for other living expenses.

In some cases, the council will reimburse the applicant for the money they spend on certain items. If a resident needs a cooker from ELS, then the council will work with the individual throughout the process of them buying it. If the council approves the purchase, they will order the item and pay for it for the family.

Applications for the Calderdale Emergency scheme are taken over the phone. People that are local to the area and that want to apply should call 01422 288005 for details. The phone line is open Monday through Friday until 5pm.