Some people only find out that they have been sanctioned when they go to the bank and discover that their benefit has not been paid.  If you are sanctioned your benefit will be stopped for at least 4 weeks. If you are sanctioned a second time your benefit can be stopped for 13 weeks or even longer.

• Write to Jobcentre Plus asking them to reconsider the decision to sanction you, stating why you think you should not have been sanctioned. [Alternatively use the letter in the information pack below.]

• If they change their decision then your benefit will be restored.

• To lodge an appeal you need to write to Her Majesties Courts and Tribunal Service. The reconsideration decision will have details of how to appeal and where to send it. Remember you must go through the reconsideration before you can appeal.

 

The Scottish Welfare Fund can provide a Crisis Grant, usually ‘in kind support’, to citizens on qualifying benefits in order to: 
provide a safety net in a disaster or emergency, or when there is an immediate threat to health or safety.

 

A disaster is something like a fire or a flood. An emergency can be when they have lost money or it was stolen. Crisis Grants award decisions will be made within 2 working days and there are a variety of methods available to support grant awards. 

 

The grants are available to people who do not have alternative means of paying for what they need. The grants do not need to be paid back  Grants are intended to meet one-off needs rather than on-going expenses.

 

Applications for a Scottish Welfare Fund grant can be made by telephoning the Grants Services team on 0141 276 1177, Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm.

 

 

 

DWP can offer support to people waiting for their first payment of benefit and who, in the absence of any other financial support, need an advance of that benefit to tide them over until the benefit is in payment. DWP will also continue to provide Budgeting Loans for those on income related benefits and Budgeting Advances for those on Universal Credit.  If you would like to apply for any of the continuing DWP benefits please contact the DWP directly on 0845 603 6967

 

 

Social work may be able to assist in a small number of cases by providing you with a limited payment for immediate needs. This payment can be in cash or kind such as fuel cards, food or nappies. They will need to know why you have no money. We will check whether you have been to a social work office before and whether you currently have a social worker. We will also check whether there have been previous requests and what these payments were for. In the first instance we will expect that you have been to the DWP and have requested, but been refused, a Crisis Grant. We will require proof that a claim has been made. If you do not have proof of the decision, the person you speak to at your local social work office will phone the DWP to confirm the decision. We will then consider your particular circumstances. For example:

 

• do you have any dependant children?

• are you young, vulnerable and pregnant?

• are you vulnerable and have recently moved out of social work care?

• are you vulnerable with mental health problems? 

 

If you are not in any of the above categories but still feel that you need assistance, you may be able to access a payment. This would only be in “exceptional circumstances”, such as leaving a violent relationship or if there has been a fire in your home or it has been flooded. If you are unsure whether we can help you, you should contact your local social work office for advice. If you cannot get to your local office, another social work office may be able to make a payment to you. They will only do this, after contact has been made with your local office.

 

 

If you have been refused a Crisis Grant and social work decide to give you assistance this will normally be enough to last for one day.

 

A GAIN welfare rights officer may be able to suggest other options, such as food banks or other charities. 

 

Some free food distribution centres are listed in the GAIN directory under the Support Services category or select "food distribution" in the Specialist Services.  

 

For free advice click here to search our database of advice centres across Glasgow or call the GAIN Helpline on 0808 801 1011. Calls are free from land-lines and mobile numbers.