Local Welfare Assistance Scheme Plans - Find a freedom of information request

You recently responded to our FOI request stating that you did not have a local welfare assistance scheme in 2020 and would like to know if you now have a scheme, or if you plan to operate one in the future.

1. In 2020/2021 did you create a new local welfare assistance scheme in response to the pandemic due to additional government funding?

2. Do you plan to continue this scheme in 2021/2022?

a. If yes, what percentage of the funding for this scheme will be drawn from your core spending power?

b. If yes, what percentage of the funding for this scheme will be drawn from additional government funding (beyond the Revenue Support Grant) e.g. the Covid Winter Grant Scheme? If you do not know the exact percentages, please provide an estimate.

3. How much was spent on local welfare assistance in 2020/2021 (including administration costs and any additional Government funding such as the Local Authority Emergency Assistance Grant for Food and Essential Supplies or the Covid Winter Grant Scheme)?

4. What percentage of the overall expenditure was spent on administration costs as opposed to direct grants in 2020/2021?

5. What percentage of the overall expenditure was spent on the provision of furniture and/or white goods in 2020/2021?

6. What were the number of completed applications to the scheme in 2020/2021?

7. How many were successful in 2020/2021?

8. If an applicant is not successful, do you direct them to other sources of help? If yes, please specify.

9. If you do provide furniture and/or white goods, what percentage of these items are provided as:

a. New items.

b. Preloved/reused items.

c. A loan for furniture/white goods.

d. Cash for furniture/white goods.

e. Other (please specify) If you do not know the exact percentage, then please provide an estimate.

10. Do you require applicants to have attempted other sources of support or take out an advance on their benefits before you will accept an LWAS application? If yes, please specify.

11. What is the local welfare assistance scheme budget in your local authority for the financial year 2021/2022 (including any additional funding above and admin costs etc.)?

Please see answers on the attached spreadsheet as requested.

If you would like to see a copy of this attachment, please request it from CustomerInformationService@lincolnshire.gov.uk quoting the reference number 1612885.

For where Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) has had a Local Welfare Scheme, as much detail as possible has been provided. However, some information in not held by LCC and is held by third parties and District Councils. Where this is the case has been indicated on the attached.