Community Living Support (CLS)
CLS aims to help people:
- Help people to live independently in the community.
- Return to the community after being in care.
- Stay in their home rather than go into care.
- Ease pressure on households and families.
- Meet living costs in an emergency or due to a disaster.
- Set up home in the community after having an unsettled way of life. (This is as part of a planned programme of resettlement.)
- Care for a prisoner or young offender when they leave prison on a temporary licence.
- Ease exceptional pressures on families because of a family breakdown or illness.
- Pay for certain travelling expenses e.g. going to a family funeral or visiting someone who is ill.
We get limited funds from the Government to run our local scheme. We may not be able to make an award in every case or for all the things you need.
Note: Have you made a recent claim for benefits from Jobcentre Plus and:
- Need a short-term advance;
- or want to apply for a budgeting loan?
You must contact your local Jobcentre Plus office, phone: 0800 0556 688.
It is not intended to assist with replacing items. In these circumstances you may be able to claim a budgeting loan from DWP. For more details, see: Budgeting Loans.
What can I get help with?
As there is a limited amount of money available. We may not be able to make an award in every case or for all the things you need. Priority is given where an award will play an important part in helping people cope with exceptional circumstances. Also, where it will meet the aims of CLS.
Priority items are:
- Cooker or microwave.
- Beds and bedding.
- Baby items.
- Fridge.
- Washing machine (where there are children under 5 years old in the household).
- Carpet for main living area (where there are children under 5 years old in the household).
We will further consider items where specific health issues increase the priority for their need.
How will you pay me?
Note: No cash will be paid.
- If we can make a CLS award, we will let you know the maximum spend amount for each item awarded.
- We will ask you to decide where you want to buy the items from. We will then order and pay for them for you.
- If you have a support worker you should ask them to help you with this.
Can I claim CLS?
You can claim help from CLS if you live in Calderdale and are getting one of these benefits:
- Housing Benefit.
- Council Tax Reduction.
- Income Support.
- Job Seekers Allowance (income based).
- Employment and Support Allowance (income related).
- Pension Credit.
- Universal Credit.
- Also, if you are due to leave care and likely to get one of these benefits when you leave.
Are you living in Calderdale temporary? We will not be able to offer assistance with essential items if you then find permanent housing elsewhere.
How do you decide if CLS can be awarded?
We will look at all the information on your claim, before deciding if we can make an award.
If you have a support worker, social worker or probation officer, ask them for help in completing the application form. Also, ask if they are happy to give a letter in support of your claim. The information you and your support worker provide will help us reach a decision.
- Applications for CLS can be made in advance. For example, if you and your support worker are working towards resettling you into the community.
- Do not delay making a claim until you have found a new place to live. We can make an interim decision in advance of your move. This decision is valid for up to 3 months.
When would I get a decision?
We will contact you by phone or email within 2 weeks to tell you if we can help.
How can I apply?
If you need a paper version of the form posted to you, call 01422 288005 to ask for this.