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Dept for Work and Pensions

Answer

Mrs. Calton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what is the average amount by which community care grant payments have fallen short of the amounts applied for in the last four years for which figures are available. [85159] Malcolm Wicks: The discretionary Social Fund provides help with unexpected or occasional costs which vary widely in their nature and importance, to a wide range of client groups. People applying for community care grants can request any items they wish, whether or not they fall within the scope of the scheme. In deciding whether, and for what items, a grant is payable a balance has to be struck between meeting people's needs and the costs of providing that support from available resources. The available information is in the table. Figures for the average amount requested refer to all applications, not all of which will be successful. Community Care Grants _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Year Average amount initially requested (£) Average amount initially awarded (£) 1998-99 761 343 1999-2000 772 342 2000-01 794 338 2001-02 833 338 _________________________________________________________________________________________________. Notes: For 1998-99,and part of 1999-2000, it was possible to make a dual application for both a budgeting loan and a community care grant. For these years the average amount applied for is based on community care grant applications only, while the average amount initially awarded is for both types of application. Dual applications were phased out from 5 April 1999. Source: Social Fund Policy, Budget and Management Information System.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

85159; 397 c170W

Session

2002-03

Subjects

Applications Community care grants

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk