The Welsh Government’s Discretionary Assistance Fund was introduced from 2 April, 2013, replacing the Social Fund, discontinued at the end of March 2013. The DAF grants will be administered by Northgate Public Services, in partnership with the Family Fund and Wrexham CBC.

The new fund comprises of two elements, Individual Assistance Payments (IAP) and Emergency Assistance Payments (EAP). The aim of IAPs is to help people enable or continue independent living and avoid the need for constitutional care and ease exceptional pressure on low income families. EAPs provide assistance to those who have incurred expenses due to an unforeseen emergency.

Grants will be determined by a series of eligibility questions, and applications can be made on behalf of the grant recipient if necessary.

Rather than being paid in cash, grants will be provided on payment cards that can be used at retailers, many of which offer home delivery if clients are unable to get to them. However, some EAP payments will be available through PayPoint outlets throughout Wales.

The fund is budgeted to run for two years, with £10.2 million available each year.

More information from Citizen’s Advice website