UNISON’s winter essentials grant programme offering grants of £200 towards food shopping opens Wednesday 11 December 2024.
If you’re a UNISON member on a low income, you may be eligible to apply for a £200 voucher towards your food shopping.
Applicants must:
- Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 11 December 2024. Subscriptions must be up to date.
- Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 11 June 2024, excluding the School Uniform Grant.
- Have savings (including the total combined rolling balance on current accounts) below £1,000 to qualify.
- Must be responsible (or their partner, if applicable) for household fuel bills. Only one application per household will be considered.
And EITHER:
Be on a low income, meaning a net household income of no more than £26,000/year (£2,166.67/month)**
OR:
Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child and/or Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit
- Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
- Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
**Where members have no recourse to public funds and their household income is above £26,000/year an assessment will be undertaken to see whether they would be eligible for benefits if they did have recourse to public funds so that they are not disadvantaged.
How do I apply?
All applications should be made online via the UNISON website. Applications will open for 24 hours from 12 noon on Wednesday 11 December. Eligible members will be chosen at random from the applicant pool and contacted to submit supporting documents.
Due to limited funds and in anticipation of high demand, we regret that we will not be able to help all members who apply.
If you are unable to complete the application due to a disability access need, please email: weg@unison.co.uk or call UNISONdirect on 0800 0 857 857.
What if I don’t know my membership number?
We cannot accept applications without a membership number. This can often be found at the bottom of any emails you have received from UNISON.
How will you contact me?
All applicants will receive an automated message confirming your application has been received. If this doesn’t show in your inbox, please check your junk/spam folders.
If I have recently received a grant can I apply?
If you have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 11 June 2024, excluding the School Uniform Grant, you will not be eligible to apply for a Winter Essentials Grant.
Apply for Winter Essentials Grant here
Any questions?
Please contact us via email: weg@unison.co.uk