The DWAS scheme is for Worcester residents only. Please contact the relevant local authority for details of schemes in their area.
- A DWAS application must be made by a referral agency - you cannot apply directly. A supporting agency or organisation must apply on your behalf. This could be a support worker, care worker, health professional such as a mental health worker or health visitor, children's centre, local charity, housing or homelessness support service.
- All applications for assistance via DWAS should be made online by the referring agency using our online form. You will require a login to access this online form. If you or your organisation do not already have a login, you can request one by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
About Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme
The Worcester City Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme (DWAS) is intended to assist vulnerable low income Worcester households in crisis who need assistance with the cost of food or white goods.
The scheme is used to complement other services and will not cover needs more appropriately addressed by other funds or benefits (see list further down the page).
All requests will be considered on an individual basis with due account given to the vulnerability and personal circumstances of each applicant.
Temporary changes have been made to the scheme from November 2020 utilising hardship funding made available by the government due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Further details of these changes can be found in the pdf DWAS guidance document (293 KB) . Once this funding has been exhausted, the previous DWAS guidance will apply and this web-page will be amended accordingly.
Type of support and goods
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Type of Support |
Goods Available |
Maximum Number of Applications |
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Resettlement Support To assist with white goods or other essential items to help with re-establishment in the community after a period of unsettled or supported accommodation. |
Goods available as follows: WHITE GOODS:
Families:
All white goods are new and include delivery and installation by a qualified fitter. No choice can be given on the size, type or style of white goods. OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS: Provision of goods or vouchers, dependent on item(s) required. NB: Applications for an award in the Other Essential Items category must be made using a document separate application form (88 KB) , NOT the online form |
One application for the lifetime of the scheme. Only those items needed at the point of application should be applied for (referrers are responsible for verifying need prior to submitting application). Any combination of items counts as one application. Applications from members of the same household will be treated as a repeat application. |
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Crisis Support To assist with an immediate short term need for assistance with emergency food and white goods. Support is available for vulnerable households who are experiencing a disaster, crisis or exceptional financial pressure and the health of a member of the household will significantly deteriorate as a direct result. |
Food /Energy Vouchers: these can only be redeemed for food or utility top-ups (at stores with a Paypoint machine)
White Goods:
All white goods are new and include delivery and installation by a qualified fitter. No choice can be given on the size, type or style of white goods OTHER ESSENTIAL ITEMS: Provision of goods or vouchers, dependent on item(s) required. NB: Applications for an award in the Other Essential Items category must be made using a document separate application form (88 KB) , NOT the online form
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Food / Energy Vouchers: A maximum of four applications per 12 month rolling period can be made for each household for food and energy vouchers. Applications from members of the same household will be treated as a repeat application. Each voucher awarded counts as one application:
White Goods and other essential items: One application for the lifetime of the scheme. Only those items needed at the point of application should be applied for (referrers are responsible for verifying need prior to submitting application). Any combination of items counts as one application. Applications from members of the same household will be treated as a repeat application |
DWAS applications
You cannot apply directly – a supporting agency or organisation must apply on your behalf. This could be a support worker, care worker, health professional such as a mental health worker or health visitor, children's centre, local charity, housing or homelessness support service.
- Your supporting agency or organisation will gather information necessary for submitting an application with you.
- Your support agency will complete an online application form to make the application.
- You must provide your support agency or organisation with the information they need for the application to be processed.
- If your support agency or organisations are unable to answer questions on your behalf you risk your application being declined.
Sharing your information
If you are provided with help and support through DWAS, please be aware that we will share your information with other partner agencies in order to signpost you to the appropriate organisations.
DWAS scheme eligibility
Eligibility criteria are used to ensure the funds are targeted at the most vulnerable residents with the greatest needs. Full details can be found in the scheme’s pdf DWAS guidance document (293 KB) .
Applicants must meet the following eligibility criteria:
- Is over 16
- Has been resident in Worcester City for at least 6 months or has a strong connection to Worcester City if they are homeless, or have moved to Worcester City after leaving custody or institutional care.
- Is not subject to immigration control and would not fail a habitual residency test
- Has no savings or other means of accessing support
- Is in one of the following priority groups:
- Households which include dependent children under the age of 16
- Households which include a pregnant woman
- Households which include a person with a disability or chronic illness
- Households which include a person who is receiving support from secondary mental health services
- Homeless households
- Households which include a person receiving care or support in the home from the local authority or health service
- Households which include a person who is considered to be vulnerable due to having suffered violence or domestic abuse
- Is in receipt of, or is entitled to one of the following income related benefits:
- Housing Benefit
- Income Support
- Income based Job Seekers Allowance (JSA)
- Income related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
- Guaranteed Pension Credit
- Universal Credit
Crisis Living Support eligibility
In addition to the scheme eligibility criteria listed above, applicants for Crisis Living Support must also be experiencing one of the following issues:
- Experiencing exceptional financial difficulty, e.g. due to being the victim of robbery/burglary, or having significant unexpected expenditure
- Having experienced a disaster or emergency, such as fire, flood, gas explosion, bereavement
- Experiencing homelessness, or the threat of homelessness
- Fleeing violence or domestic abuse
Re-Settlement Support Eligibility Criteria
The Re-settlement Support element of the DWAS is intended to meet the ‘planned’ need of a vulnerable person coming out of unsettled or supported accommodation which is unfurnished and where the applicant does not already have essential white goods. For example someone:
- Leaving hospital
- Leaving Prison
- Leaving institutional or residential care
- Moving out of temporary accommodation
- Moving out of refuge accommodation
- Moving out of hostel or supported accommodation
- Homeless households or rough sleepers moving into independent accommodation
In order to ensure that assistance is available to those in most need, an application to the Discretionary Welfare Assistance Scheme should only be made where all other options have been exhausted.
DWAS cannot assist in the following circumstances:
- The applicant is able to get help privately, either from their own money, savings or resources, or where family or friends are able to assist them
- The applicant has white goods available to them but they would prefer new items
- The household has received 1 award of white goods or other essential items for the duration of the scheme. For the purposes of a DWAS award, households are members of the same family who live together. Applications from members of the same household will be treated as ineligible.
- The need could be met through eligibility to any of the following schemes:
- DWP Short Term Benefit Advance (while awaiting first or increased DWP payment)
- DWP Budgeting Loan
- DWP Hardship Payment
- DWP statutory social fund payments (for example, Winter Fuel Allowance, Sure Start Maternity grants, or Funeral Payments)
- Requirements under Fair Access to Care services (FACS), for example, statutory duty to provide medical or disability equipment
What happens if my application is declined?
Your referrer can request a second opinion by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. with details of your circumstances and details of why they believe discretion should be given to make an award outside the normal policy on the grounds of exceptional circumstances. The request must be made in writing within seven days of the original decision.
A second opinion will be considered by an Officer who was not involved in the original decision and the agency will be notified of their decision.
The outcome of the second opinion is final and there is no right to request a review or further appeal.
Other Advice and support
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Source |
Details |
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Budgeting Loan/Advance |
A Budgeting Loan/Advance is extra money on top of your benefits to help pay for certain essentials. You have to pay back a Budgeting Loan. A Budgeting Advance is an extra amount of Universal Credit to help you pay for certain expenses. You have to pay back a Budgeting Advance |
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Discretionary Housing Payment |
To apply for Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) you must: If the benefit payment amount does not cover your total rent, then you can apply for this additional payment. Discretionary housing payments are not payments of housing benefit and there is only a certain amount of money available each year so it's important that you make your claim as soon as possible. You can apply for discretionary housing payment by downloading and completing the pdf discretionary housing payment form (277 KB) . Or you can get a form at our Customer Service Centre at: Customer Service Centre Alternatively, call 03004 560560 and ask for a form to be sent to you. We aim to deal with your claim within 28 days. |
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Disabled Facilities Grant or disability related expenditure |
A Disabled Facilities Grant (DFG) are mandatory housing grants, and awarded to enable applicants to have access to and around their homes, or to use essential facilities in the home to enable them to live independently. A referral from the Occupational Therapist (OT) via Social Services confirming that the works are ‘necessary and appropriate is required. This referral will specify the works required.
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Domestic Violence and Abuse: Help from DWP |
This guide provides information for victims of domestic violence and abuse about the services and support offered by DWP. |
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Foodbank |
If you need help from our foodbank there are a few simple steps to follow. The most important step is to get a foodbank voucher. In order to provide the most appropriate help for the circumstances of your situation the foodbank work with local agencies. If they feel you are struggling to put food on the table, they will issue you with a foodbank voucher. The local agency can also provide long term support if needed to help address some of the issues behind the reasons for your crisis. Agencies we work with include: Citizens Advice, housing support officers, children’s centres, health visitors, social services and some local charities.
They will also discuss any dietary needs you may have and exchange your foodbank voucher for a parcel of three days of emergency food. They will also help to support you in any other ways appropriate for your situation If you have any further questions the FAQ’s page may help, or feel free to give the Foodbank a call |
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Furniture |
Furniture is available via other organisations, including Armchair , Freecycle or Gumtree. |
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Hardship Payments |
A Hardship Payments are reduced-rate payments of Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) and Universal Credit (UC) that are made in limited circumstances, including if you have been sanctioned. |
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Short Term Advance |
A Short Term Benefit Advance is paid as a loan, which has to be paid back out of your future benefit payments |
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Support For Mortgage Interest Loan |
Support for Mortgage Interest Loan is help towards paying the interest payments on your mortgage or other loans for home purchase, repairs and home improvements. This help is in the form of a loan. |
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Utility & Energy Bills |
British Gas & EDF Energy www.britishgasenergytrust.org.uk For EDF & British Gas Customers: email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. EDF Energy Trust, PO Box 42, Peterborough PE3 8XH Tel: 01733 421060
Npower Customers For Npower Customers: www.npowerenergyfund.com Apply online or if you would prefer to be sent an application form in post telephone 01733 421 060 or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. stating the name and full address to send the form to the address stated (no stamp required) The Fund can help with debts of domestic gas / electricity charges owed to Npower. |
| Severn Trent Trust Fund |
Severn Trent Trust Fund
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