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The Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) is a government scheme designed to help individuals and families in Wales who need help to live independently or are experiencing extreme financial hardship due to an unexpected crisis or disaster.
Introduced by the Welsh Government in 2017, the aim of the scheme is to assist those who are unable to meet their essential costs after exhausting all other means of financial support.
In this article, we’ll explore the DAF Fund in greater detail, including how it works, who is eligible, and how to apply.
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The DAF Fund is made up of two types of financial assistance: Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) and Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP).
The Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) is a grant designed to help vulnerable individuals who require financial assistance live independently within their community.
The payment, which does not need to be repaid, provides essential funding to those who need help to meet expenses and maintain a basic standard of living.
IAP can assist with a variety of basic living costs, such as food utilities, and clothing, and can be used to purchase white goods (fridge, cooker, washing machine) and home furniture (bed, sofa, chair).
The Emergency Assistance Payment, or Emergency Assistance Payments (EAP), is a grant designed to provide immediate financial support to individuals dealing with an emergency situation or crisis.
The payment, which does not need to be repaid, can help individuals meet their basic living costs in times of extreme financial hardship when their income doesn’t come close to covering their immediate expenses.
Examples of situations where EAP could help include a sudden job loss or a fire or flood in your home.
There are separate eligibility criteria for the Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) and the Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP).
Familiarising yourself with the eligibility criteria for both grants can help you determine whether your financial situation could qualify you for additional help and support.
The Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) has certain eligibility criteria you must meet if you want to qualify for certain items. For example, if you want to apply for white goods (fridge, cooker, washing machine), you must:
Additionally, you must be receiving one of the following benefit payments:
Lastly, you must meet one of the following conditions:
The Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) has certain eligibility criteria you must meet to qualify to receive payment under the scheme. To be eligible, you must:
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Check if you qualifyThe easiest way to apply for the DAF Fund is by visiting the Welsh Government website here. The application form will ask for details of your financial situation, including why you believe you are in a financial crisis or emergency.
Alternatively, if you have no access to the internet or would prefer to apply manually, you can also send an application:
Discretionary Assistance fund
PO Box 2377
Wrexham
LL11 0LG
0800 859 5924 (9:30am to 4:00pm Monday to Friday)
However, it is worth noting that you will be unable to apply for a grant if you have:
While all the information you provide will be taken into consideration when you apply for financial support under the DAF Fund, sometimes problems can arise or you can receive a decision you weren’t expecting.
If you are not happy with the way your application was dealt with, you can complain using any of the above contact methods. Your complaint will be considered if:
Alternatively, if you’re not happy with the outcome of your application, you can request a review using this form.
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