Emergency payments in Bristol

The city of Bristol offers Emergency Payments for basic living needs. For those that qualify they will be given a voucher at most two times per year, and the voucher (which is free) will allow the family to buy clothes or food or help with utility bills. The city of Bristol voucher can also top up electricity or gas meters. The Emergency Payment is in addition to welfare or government benefit schemes.

The aim of the emergency payment is to help meet basic needs – not give out cash. Clothes, food, and utilities are three of the main bills that everyone needs to pay, whether they are poor or well off. This is why the city of Bristol provides free vouchers for those needs.

There are several criteria that need to be met by the applicant. Even if met, vouchers are only offered at most twice per year. (Most residents in Bristol City only get one voucher per year.). In order to be considered for a free emergency payment voucher, the applicant needs to be in a financial crisis; they can’t have access to friends, family or savings; the applicant needs to live in the city; there needs to be an emergency that is one off and short term, otherwise welfare is used; the applicant can’t have any other resources available to them.

Uses of Bristol emergency payments

There are three household needs that are covered. Cash is not provided, and there is not cash for paying the bills. Instead vouchers are given to the Bristol resident. They can be used to get the following items.

Food can be bought from the Bristol city Emergency Payment voucher. Fresh fruits, veggies, tinned meat, tea, biscuits, and all other grocery items can be bought. The voucher can be used at all grocery stores including Tesco, Asda, Aldi, Salisbury and others.

Clothing can be bought with a voucher. It can be school uniforms or work items. Or parents can buy clothes for their kids or winter gear.

Top up gas or electric meters. This is a form of utility bill help. The vouchers from the City of Bristol emergency payment scheme will help families on a low income get their power or lights on year round or during the winter. It gives the person time to apply for payment plans, the Home Warm Discount Scheme, Winter Fuel payments or other aid. Or find other heating bill payment schemes.

If housing assistance is needed, that is not covered. But the Bristol City can link clients to rent deposit schemes, council housing, mortgage help, or other schemes. Emergency Payments are only for clothing, food, or utility bills; that is all. As one example, the crisis and prevention welfare fund may help with those expenses.

Application period for Emergency Payments

The vouchers can be approved in a matter of hours. The Bristol City will tell the applicant within 5 business hours. This means if someone were to apply by 12 noon, free vouchers may be given out by 5pm. The communication is over email, text, or phone.

Vouchers need to be picked up when approved. The address is Citizen Service Point at 100 Temple Street. The telephone number is 0117 922 2000. Call Monday to Friday for details on Emergency Payment Vouchers.