In Work Emergency Fund - Anyone heard of it?

[Anyandallhelpappreciated]

Just that really.

I’m on UC and get help towards my childcare. I’m going to be increasing my hours at work and so asked for help from the FSF for the increase in childcare costs. I’ve been told I’m ineligible for FSF as my earnings are too high, but have been told that they’re looking at whether I could access some support via the In-work Emergency Fund. I’ve never heard of it before.

Really grateful if anyone has heard of it and can shed any light on what it is / how it works please?

I have Googled it but can’t find anything 🤷‍♀️

No not heard of it in 8 years as a Welfare Rights person - though I may have forgotten. Only thing I can find searching is an answer to a Parliamentary question in 2008. That predates UC of course.

Nothing I can find on CAB or Turn2Us either.

On a station at the moment with only a tablet for next access.

Will do some more looking when I'm home later this morning, unless someone else comes up with an answer in the meantime.

Thank you @Bromptotoo. I’ll also report back when I know more. Might be helpful for other people in a similar situation.

@Anyandallhelpappreciated quick check, are you in England?

Wales seems to have some sort of Discretionary Assistance Fund.

Scotland or Northern Irish may well too.

If it's not UK/GB wide that could be would be one reason why it's not leaping out on a search.

Otherwise could you ask the job coach who mentioned it for more info?

No no, I’m in England. Yes, I’ll ask for an update through my journal.

Ok so I didn’t get it. Apparently it’s emergency support for lone parents but you have to be working and have been with the employer for 26 weeks or less, which isn’t applicable to my situation.

Might be of help to some of the people you help though, @Bromptotoo so please do encourage anyone you believe could fit the criteria to ask about it.

Thanks.

It's essentially a sub-category of the Flexible Support Fund that applies to lone parents within the first 26wks of Employment - it's in one respect less restricted than the general Flexible Support Fund but also has a rather narrow eligibility criteria.

I actually can't find it anywhere on Gov.uk. This if the best I've found:

www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/107958/response/274897/attach/6/Adviser%20Overview.pdf?cookie_passthrough=1