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<p>Local welfare assistance is an umbrella term used describe local authority provision
for people who are in need of urgent help. Local authorities’ abilities to act in
this area are provided under various powers, for example, section 2 of the Local Government
Act 2000 enables local authorities to provide financial assistance to any individual.</p><p>
</p><p>Since the reforms to the Social Fund in 2013 which abolished Crisis Loans and
Community Care Grants, the Local Government Financial Settlement has included a notional
amount relating to local welfare provision in each upper-tier and unitary authority’s
general grant. The settlement for 2015-16 set this amount at £129.6 million for England
in each year until 2019/20.</p><p> </p><p>The Department for Work and Pension's (DWP)
2014 review found that local authorities delivered support more effectively than the
previous provision and that councils are best placed to decide how to target flexible
help to support local welfare needs. The Government has no further plans to review
provision.</p><p />
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