Local Welfare Support

Although the UK has a centralised social security system, there are some elements of welfare support operated by local authorities. Some support is provided at the discretion of local councils (e.g. local welfare assistance schemes), whilst other support is statutory with an element of discretion as to how schemes operate and the value of support provided (e.g. council tax support). This means that the nature of local welfare support differs from one local authority to the next. This is as true in Greater Manchester as it is across England as a whole.

The table below provides links through to the four main areas of local welfare support provided by councils in Greater Manchester: Local Welfare Assistance Schemes (help for people facing financial hardship), Council Tax Support (reductions in council tax payments for people in receipt of qualifying benefits), Welfare Rights/Benefits Advice (advice on claiming benefits and appealing benefit decisions) and Discretionary Housing Payments (support with housing costs). Please click on the type of support you are interested in for the area in which you live to find out more.

Local Authority	Local Welfare Assistance Scheme	Council Tax Support Schemes	Welfare Rights and Benefits Advice	Discretionary Housing Payments
Bolton	Bolton local welfare provision scheme	More information	More information	More information
Bury	Bury Support Fund	More information	More information	More information
Manchester	Manchester welfare provision scheme	More information	More information	More information
Oldham	Oldham local welfare provision	More information	More information	More information
Rochdale	Rochdale Discretionary Crisis Fund	More information	More information	More information
Salford	Salford Assist	More information	More information	More information
Stockport	Stockport financial support in a crisis	More information	More information	More information
Tameside	Tameside resettlement scheme	More information	More information	More information
Trafford	Trafford Assist	More information	More information	More information
Wigan	Wigan welfare support	More information	More information	More information

There are sometimes other types of local welfare support available to residents. One example is help with school uniform costs. However, this isn’t always in place and is sometimes provided by schools rather than local authorities. You can find out more information here.