Festive closure 

Our office will be closed for the festive period from 25 December 2025 and will reopen on Monday 5 January 2026. 

We will be open on 29, 30 and 31 December between 10am – 12pm and 2pm – 4pm. During these times, we will be focusing on handling reviews of crisis grants received due to the urgency of these applications. If you wish to request a review of a community care grant application you can do so online. Alternatively, you can call us on 5 January 2026 and we can take your application over the phone.

Our normal service resumes on 5 January 2026 at 10am. 

Case summaries

Subject Month / Year Outcome
Common medical conditions with respect to priority Ms C applied for a community care grant application April 2019 Upheld
Priority hall carpets Ms C requested an independent review of the council's decision on her community care grant application March 2019 Upheld
Exceptional pressure qualifying criterion Ms C applied for a community care grant for a replacement bed and sofa, carpets for her living room, window blinds, clothing and redecorating costs March 2019 Upheld
Common medical conditions with respect to priority Mr C, a housing officer, applied for a community care grant on behalf of his client, Ms A March 2019 Upheld
Low income Mr C applied for a crisis grant as he had repaid gambling debts February 2019 Not upheld
Resident within the local authority area Mr C applied for a crisis grant for living costs February 2019 Upheld
When applicants incur detriment sourcing items themselves Ms C applied had obtained a larger tenancy due to overcrowding issues February 2019 Upheld
Exceptional circumstances for crisis grants Miss C applied for a crisis grant for living expenses after spending her Universal Credit (UC) payment repaying money she had borrowed from a friend January 2019 Upheld
Low income Mr C applied for a crisis grant as he had repaid gambling debts November 2018 Not upheld
Definition of an emergency Ms C applied for a crisis grant November 2018 Upheld