Winter grant scheme questions and answers

The Winter Grant scheme is for individuals or families living in Coventry who are experiencing hardship due to COVID.

What is the grant for?

The grant can be used to help with the following:

• support with food
• warm clothing and blankets
• heating/lighting repairs
• essential items such as sanitary products
• to pay for energy bills such as gas, electricity, oil and water/sewerage bills
• to purchase essential items like fridge’s, freezers and ovens

What won’t the grant be considered for?

The grant cannot be used for payment of rent, housing costs or to pay off debts.

This information will help you if you need support with any of these or wish to know what other local support and guidance there is available.

Can I still apply if I have no recourse to public funds?

Where all members in a household are without recourse to public funds, they are not eligible to apply for this scheme. Exceptions to this rule are where there are community care needs, serious health problems and/or risk to a child’s wellbeing.

How much money will I receive?

The government has allocated a fixed amount of grant funding to each local authority, so the award made to residents will be based on need.

How will I be paid?

If your application is successful, your award could be paid in the following ways:

• Food awards will be made by food parcel or a food voucher
• Support for gas, electricity, oil, water/sewerage will be made by either a Paypoint Energy top up or Paypoint voucher
• Support for essential items may be via a referral to the Charity British Heart Foundation or a voucher which can be used in Tesco stores
• Support for essential repairs such as heating/lighting may also be provided; contact us if you require assistance

Will the grant affect my benefits?

No, this funding is applicable to all who qualify and will not affect your benefits. It is also available to people not on benefits.

Can I apply online?

Yes, there is an online application form available

Will I need to send in proof of my financial hardship?

Depending on your circumstances we may require examples of evidence to support your application. We will discuss this with you.

Can I make an application on behalf of someone?

Yes, we want as many people as possible in Coventry to benefit from this support. We will accept referrals from third parties such as social workers, relatives, friends etc.

Can I make more than one application?

Yes, depending on your circumstances you can make multiple applications.

How long does the Winter Grant scheme last?

The scheme started at the beginning of December 2020 and will finish on 31 March 2021.

Will the scheme remain the same throughout this period?

The terms of the scheme are subject to change. If this happens, we will update our policy and publish these changes.

How will you decide if I qualify?

Once we receive your application, a member of our community support team will contact you to discuss your application. We will use government guidance to determine if you are eligible for support. We will tell you the outcome of your application.

If my application is rejected, can I appeal?

If you are unhappy about the outcome of your application, you can request a review of the decision by writing to us or emailing us within one calendar month of the decision date. You must clearly explain why you think the decision is wrong and provide any additional information that you think should be considered.  We will look at the decision again and you will be contacted about the outcome of the review.

How are you managing the risk of fraudulent applications?

We endeavour to ensure that all applications are made legitimately. If your application contains a false statement or you provide false evidence to support your case, you could be committing an offence under the Fraud Act 2006.