Milton Keynes payments from Local Welfare Provision

The Milton Keynes council can provide a limited number of residents with discretionary payments from the Local Welfare scheme, or LWP. The government funded programme can help address emergency needs such as for safety or health concerns, and this can include providing grants for various household expenses. All financial aid is at the discretion of the council, and can include credits for bills, rent arrears or basic needs such as food bank vouchers.

The two main aims of the Local Welfare Provision are to provide aid in a crisis and to also help people remain living in or resettle into the town of Milton Keynes. Since funds are limited and stretched thin, priority will always be for families on a low income that are facing a safety crisis. The vulnerable, such as seniors or disabled, will also be a priority when it comes to the scheme.

All grants provided from welfare are at the discretion of the council and its not-for-profit partners, and government funding is limited. There are no guarantees to receiving support, and even if funds are provided, it will only be for short term needs and this is not for addressing long term poverty.

Discretionary awards from welfare in Milton Keynes

The assistance will be for one off needs and emergencies. While the council will decide what bills and expenses can be paid, some examples of what the scheme can cover are as follows.

• Food – Applicants will normally be given a voucher that they can use at a local food bank, such as a church or Trussell Trust distribution centre.
• Vouchers or grants – These can be issued as pre-paid cards for heating costs or energy bill arrears.
• Housing – Credits can be provided directly to landlords for rent payments.
• Household goods – For people resettling in Milton Keynes, the council can provide for the delivery of beds, furniture, appliances, and items for the new home.

All awards and discretionary payments are made by the council based on an assessment and interview of the needs of the applicant. Any expense can be paid using a voucher or pre-paid card in exceptional circumstances, if the council decides it needs to. The assistance, whether for groceries or fuel bills or housing, will be tailored to the needs of the family.

All funds from the Local Welfare Provision (LWP) rely on money from the central government, so there is a strict application process and the council will severely punish any people committing fraud on their application. Applicants must be over the age of 16 and have a local connection to Milton Keynes. Ex-offenders can also get a voucher for needs such as food or furniture for a new home to help prevent them from re-offending. In some cases, there is also help for immigrants.

If a family does not qualify for a grant from LWP, then the council also offers another scheme. This one will provide the individual with a low interest rate loan. The key difference between this and welfare is the client will need to both repay the money and also pay a small amount of interest. Find information on the Milton Keynes emergency loan scheme.

Also, anyone seeking help needs to be out of options and can’t have access to other public or charity funds for their needs. They also need to have sought help from friends or family first, and be able to prove this. So the support from the council is a last resort, and people can only apply for a grant or food voucher at most twice per year.

The team to apply at can be called at 01908 253040. The main centre is at the Civic Offices, and the post is 1 Saxon Gate East, Central Milton Keynes, MK9 3EJ.