Immediate and essential needs

In order for a client to be considered for a Recoverable Assistance Payment they must be able to identify a particular immediate need for an essential item or service.

In considering any application for payment consider:

• whether a payment would best meet the particular immediate need of the client
• the client's ability to meet the need from their own resources
• the assistance that is or might be available to the client from other sources to meet the need
• the existing debt level of the client from all sources
• the effect on the client or their immediate family (if any) if the need is not met and when that effect might be expected to impact on that or those persons and
• the extent to which the client has caused or contributed to the immediate need or to the situation that has given rise to the particular immediate need.

Consideration must be given to all the circumstances and other sources of assistance available to the client.

It must be established that the client has an immediate need for an essential item or service before a Recoverable Assistance Payment can be made.