The public service union has set up a special coronavirus response fund via its welfare charity ‘There For You’ – which aims to help members who are struggling financially and emotionally due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
UNISON has launched a new fund for its members to help those facing “financial and emotional difficulty” due to the coronavirus crisis.
The union’s charity arm, There For You, was set up to help members in difficulty and has now established the special fund to respond to calls for help from those affected by the pandemic. UNISON’s charity has set aside £250,000 to help its members through these difficult times.
The fund has been established to help UNISON members in immediate financial difficulty due to coronavirus. The union can provide a one-off grant of £250 to help with essential expenses such as food and bills, as well as other financial assistance for those experiencing unexpected hardship.
To be eligible for a COVID-19 grant from the fund, you must:
- Be a UNISON member with at least four weeks membership and have paid your subscriptions
- Have savings of less than £800
- Apply for any statutory help you might be entitled to
The following must also apply:
- You or your partner have suffered a reduction in earnings as a result of the coronavirus crisis which has put you in financial difficulty; OR
- You or your partner are a key worker with increased work-related costs as a result of the crisis, e.g. transport, care, or laundry costs.
To apply to the fund, or to find out more, visit this link: https://www.unison.org.uk/covid-19-response-fund/
Times are tough, but UNISON is there for you. 💜If you’re a member whose finances have been affected by #COVID19, check whether you’re eligible for a £250 grant to help with food and bills 👉https://t.co/s6oSoajXH6 pic.twitter.com/Xdg8PwL6Yc
— UNISON – UK’s largest union (@unisontheunion) May 6, 2020
Other financial assistance from UNISON / There For You
As well as the COVID-19 response fund, UNISON’s charity also has other forms of financial assistance available to its members.
This could be applicable for members who have financial difficulties for all sorts of reasons, such as:
- Loss of income
- Relationship breakdown
- Bereavement
- Suffering from a long illness
- Needing to buy equipment because of a disability
- Caring for someone with special needs or an illness
There For You supports thousands of UNISON members and their families each year with grants totalling more than half a million pounds – helping them with general living costs, household appliances and urgent repairs, disability equipment and home adaptations, utility bills and funeral costs.
To be eligible for financial support from There For You you must have been a member of UNISON for at least four weeks and up-to-date with your subscriptions. Also, the financial difficulties that led you to apply occurred after you joined. Partners or dependents can also apply.
To find out more and to download an application form, visit: https://www.unison.org.uk/get-help/services-support/there-for-you/financial-assistance/
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