Family Fund

[Anna85]

I see by another post that the Family Fund criteria has changed.

I got some forms months back where the specialist HV I was seeing signed it - would that form be still okay to send in.

Also,

Do you think it will be harder to ger a grant now as I saw they will concentrate on families with lowest income still and with more then 1 disabled child (however will assess claims on a individual basis).

I was unsure whether to apply in first base.

x

I'd apply, they can only say no. There's no time limit on when you can next apply if they say no, so if you got more evidence in 3 months time you could apply again. If they say yes then you have to wait 12 months before you can reapply.

Definetely apply, as bigcar said, you dont ask you dont get. I only have 1 disabled child and have had a few times.

I handed my forms in 3 weeks ago (the old forms), they are coming out to see us next week so the exceped our forms. We applied for 3 things and have 2 dd's with sn's (fingers crossed we get our 3 things).

What kind of things did you ask for Marne? Can you ask for more then 1 thing?

they changed the criteria, and then they changed it back again

I looked on website tonight and it was if you got things like child tax credit, working tax credit etc! x

I think you can ask for 3 things (although you might not get all 3), we have asked for a climbing frame, holiday vouchers and some fencing for the garden (to make it safe for the dd's), we were only just under the limmit on what money we have comming in so i'm a little worried, the lady is comming to visit up on monday.

So is the criteria income based or the benefits?

I think its earnings + tax credits but they don't take into acount DLA (i may be wrong, can't remember).

I think that was the previous criteria, Marne. They used to have a set figure which included income including some benefits.

Now they are saying that if you get any tax credits/other income-related benefits, the govt have deemed that you're on a low income so you should be eligible.

It means that families who get a higher level of benefits due to a bigger family, 2+ disabled children etc are more likely to be eligible now.

When they come out to visit you but do they do?

I have been asked to have any reports, pead letters ect.. available for them to look at, they also want to meet the dd's. I think they just like to check that you actually need the items you have asked for.

There are 2 things which I thought about for DS which is:

Bedroom furniture & laptop. We currently have a desktop but its really old now and slow would that be turned down do you think?

Sure they would supply both of those.Definately the laptop my dd was given one by ff last year

Its just I already have a computer so wasn't sure if it would be granted!

i've had for about 4 years now (apply once each year). very nice lady came out on first application, was very straightforward, basically showed proof of benefit and she met my ds LOL, THAT TOLD HER IT ALL!! Was awarded about 3 weeks later. Always ask for help toward holiday and once asked for clothing (ds chews off zips etc just bought 2 new jackets last week n for the bin already). Anyway been given each time applied and when asked for clothes was given ff card with £100 can spend in bhs & argos. This year was given £550 haven holiday voucher. They do give for laptops etc though i dont know that i'd actually tell them you already have desktop , just in case. Application now very straightforward takes about 3 mins to do online because applied before and you get a number to use for future reference. Good luck :)

Thats what I was thinking and if they came out they would see it!! DS would just prefer something he could class as his own and could take in his bedroom! x