Little-known tool that can unlock cash grants worth up to £2,000
Struggling households could get free cash subsidies to help cover living costs through a little-known tool.
It contains a database of around 1,400 grants and support schemes and simplifies the process of checking your eligibility.
There are around 8,000 charities and organizations in Britain offering cash to help struggling families. These can be searched using the Turn2us Grants Search tool.
Not all subsidies have to be repaid. The tool searches the subsidies and lets you know if you qualify.
Each grant is different, but they can provide support for a range of different necessities, such as groceries and even kitchen appliances.
Other grants have specific requirements for spending. For example, a business grant must be spent on business expenses.
Similarly, an education grant may need to be spent on education or training costs.
One grant user who used the tool said after finding out he was eligible for a £1,000 grocery grant, he used it to cover the costs of a move.
They said: “It was a huge help at a difficult time for me.”
Christelle Tambi, product owner of the Grants Search tool at Turn2us, said: “Anyone can qualify for a grant from a charity that could provide some vital extra cash.
“The amount can range from £100 to £2,000 depending on what you need it for.
“Our free online Grants Search tool makes it easy to find out.”
“Answer a few quick questions about your situation and discover grants from UK charities in minutes. “
How to use the grant search function
First go to the Turn2us website (grants-search.turn2us.org.uk).
Then simply search for what is available specifically in your area by entering your zip code.
You will then be asked to provide details about yourself, such as your name and gender.
You can also go deeper by telling Turn2Us about your current health and work situation.
Once you have found a grant you think you qualify for, you can apply through Turn2Us.
You must be logged into your Turn2Us account to register. If you don’t have one, you can sign up for free.
Each fund has a different time frame. This can vary from five days to three months.
If you are successful, you are usually allowed to spend the money on whatever you want, but cash is usually provided for essentials and bills.
Meanwhile, others are provided to help pay for white goods, which can come in handy if your fridge or freezer breaks down.
Who can submit an application?
Anyone can apply for a grant and many charities help people who cannot claim benefits due to their status in Britain.
Although it is not guaranteed that you will receive a subsidy.
Claiming benefits does not affect your right to apply.
What other grant tools can I use?
There are some other search tools you can use to find grants you may qualify for.
The government website has a grant search function with more than 100 government grant funds.
You can find the tool by searching the government website for ‘find a subsidy’.
Get Grants Funding Finder is a free resource for grant fundraisers with information about hundreds of grant funders, including what they fund, how much they give, and how to apply.
The grants are divided into twelve groups: arts and heritage, capital, children and young people, community, disability, education and employability, environment and animals, faith, health and wellbeing, school, sport and honorable groups.
What other support is available?
Councils in England are still providing support through the Household Support Fund, which is worth £842 million.
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt also expanded the Household Support Fund (HSF) for the fifth time, adding a further £500m to the pot.
What you are entitled to depends on where you live. Each local authority sets its own participation criteria.
If you have a disability and are working, you may be eligible for a grant worth up to €66,000.
The grants are available through the government’s Access to Work programme, which is administered by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
It may seem obvious, but you should check to see if you can qualify for benefits if you haven’t already done so.
The latest research from analytics firm Policy in Practice shows billions in benefits are going unclaimed, including £7.5 billion in Universal Credit.
The Sure Start Maternity Grant is available to new or expectant mothers and is worth up to £1,000.
The money is intended to cover the costs of having a child and for those receiving certain benefits, including Universal Credit and Pension Credit.
A total of three million people are eligible for the Warm Home Discount this winter, with most receiving the £150 payment automatically.
But there are those who need to apply before the March 31 deadline.
Are you missing out on benefits?
You can use a benefit calculator to check whether you are not missing out on money you are entitled to
Charity The Turn2Us benefits calculator figuring out what you could get.
Upright free calculator determines whether you are eligible for various benefits, tax credits and Universal Credit.
MoneySavingExpert.com and charity StepChange both have benefits tools powered by Entitledto’s data.
You can use The Policy in Practice calculator to determine which benefits you can receive and how much money you have left every month after paying your housing costs.
Exactly what you are entitled to will not be clear until you file a claim, but calculators can indicate what you may be eligible for.
Do you have a money problem that needs to be solved? Get in touch by emailing money-sm@news.co.uk.
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