Other sources of assistance

Rather than paying Community Costs, the client (or their partner if any) may have other options that they have not considered. These may include (but are not limited to):

• eligibility to income support (main benefit or extra help)
• assistance from other government agencies
  (such as Working for Families Tax Credits from Inland Revenue)
• negotiating payment of accounts by instalments at a reduced rate
• refinancing

Consider each option and decide if there is something that could better meet the needs of the client.

Note a bank overdraft facility is not considered a resource available to a client.

Check to see if the partner in the community qualifies for income support. This will need to be done before the Residential Subsidy Unit can consider paying Community Costs to the client.

Consider:

• Main Benefits
• Accommodation Supplement
• Advance Payment of Benefit
• Disability Allowance
• Temporary Additional Support

Note if the client or partner (if any) is already receiving or continues to be eligible to receive Special Benefit, you can review this to include the ongoing essential costs in the community, see:

• Receiving Special Benefit
• Documenting your decision