Record numbers benefit from social fund

A record number of people have benefited from more than £59 million paid out by the Social Fund over the last year, Social Development Minister, John Spellar has said.

The Minister welcomed the publication of the DSD Social Fund Annual Report for 2002-2003 which included cold weather and winter fuel payments, maternity and funeral costs, interest-free budgeting and crisis loans and non-repayable community care grants.

"The Discretionary Social Fund helped a record number of people with more than 194,000 awards being made," the Minister said. "The Social Fund as a whole made payments worth more than £59 million.

"In addition, Winter Fuel Payments totalling £42.7 million were paid to more than 272,000 pensioners."

Mr Spellar said today's figures reflect his Department’s commitment to helping the most vulnerable members of society. "The Fund gives extra help with essential costs that people on low incomes find hard to pay for out of their regular budget," he added.

The Minister also announced the publication of the Social Fund Commissioner's Annual Report for 2002-2003 on Social Fund Inspectors’ decisions and welcomed the continuing commitment of the Office of the Social Fund Commissioner to meeting the customers’ needs through an efficient service.

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