Flexible Support
Fund
Background
The Flexible Support Fund (FSF) is a locally managed budget to
supplement existing services and tailor support to the needs of
individuals in the local area. The local budget is the responsibility of the
Service Leader.
FSF awards are discretionary, aimed at improving a claimant’s job
prospects and are subject to eligibility.
Eligibility
Universal Credit claimants are eligible for FSF from and including the
first assessment period if they have:
provided ID verification (including the Habitual Residence Test where
relevant)
attended their First Commitments Meeting
accepted their Claimant Commitment.
Labour Market regimes A claimant can be considered for a FSF payment if they are allocated to
any of the following Labour Market regimes:
Intensive Work Search
Work Preparation
Work Focused Interview only
No Work Related Requirements
Claimants in the Light Touch and Working Enough regimes are not
currently eligible for FSF. However, subject to eligibility, lead carers in
these regimes may have access to FSF. See In work emergency
payment (ignoring references to LMS).
Flexible Support Fund
award types
This interim guidance for FSF in Universal Credit provides information
on the most commonly used awards:
training and education
barriers to work
travel expenses
A full list of circumstances relevant to the award of FSF is available in
the general DWP Flexible Support Fund guidance.
When Flexible Support
Fund must be awarded
There are circumstances when payment of travel, childcare or
replacement care to attend training or education must be made to
eligible individuals. For further information, see:
Payment of travel expenses
Childcare costs
Replacement care
FSF for Childcare costs may be awarded for training and education or
for the period between commencing work and the receipt of first wages
(upfront childcare costs).
There are no minimum hours required for Universal Credit claimants
only accessing FSF for upfront childcare costs. If wages are paid
weekly, discretion should be used to consider payment of FSF beyond
the first wage.
The award of FSF must be recorded on the 'Claimant history' to ensure
childcare costs are not awarded from Universal Credit for the same
period.
Note: ignore references to LMS in the Childcare Costs guide.
When Flexible Support
Fund does not apply
FSF must not be awarded if
the activity conflicts with DWP policy objectives
it duplicates any provision which would normally be funded by
government, partners or commercial providers
it is to pay benefit-related travel costs
it directly replaces any benefit lost as part of a sanction
it is for top up wages once in work
it is to pay fines or similar penalties
it is to pay loans or debts
it is to pay a subsidy to an employer to provide an incentive to employ a
particular person or group of people.
it covers the cost of living - such as paying bills, household costs or
buying food
it helps claimants who have a job or employment contract but are
returning to work after a career break or maternity leave.
it supports applications for immigration documentation - including
biometric resident permits
it is to provide any medical-related certificates or forms
As a minimum, a claimant in the Intensive Work Search regime is
expected to attend fortnightly Work Search Reviews. The claimant must
fund the travel costs themselves. However, to support claimants to
attend additional appointments, travelling expenses can be refunded.
This includes refunding travel expenses for every alternate weekly Work
Search Review during the first 13 weeks of being allocated into the
Intensive Work Search regime.
Recording awards from
Flexible Support Fund
The award of FSF
must be recorded on the 'Claimant history'. You must
generate an ad-hoc to-do for the claimant, asking them to provide
receipts or proof of purchase (if appropriate) within 14 days.
Update the 'Claimant history' with details of:
Details
Examples
barrier
travel
The type of FSF award.
childcare
training
clothing (for interview)
travel to attend interview
What the award is for.
childcare (attending work trial)
LVP (name of course)
The cost.
The supplier or provider.
IPF1JP (Matalan, Arco or
Alexandra)
bus or rail ticket seen
What proof or receipt there is to FSF2 or FSF3 completed
support the award.
LVP1 completed
What the record may look like in the 'Claimant history':
FSF travel award – additional attendance (date)
Authorised amount: £4.40 bus fares retrospective
Proof/receipts – bus tickets seen
FSF childcare award: provider ****nursery, ESOL training
Authorised amount: £70 (date) to (date) retrospective payment
Proof/receipt: FSF2 or FSF3 completed
Training and education
Before considering any award, check the 'Claimant history' to see if any
previous FSF awards contradict or affect the reason for the current
request.
Before agreeing to the referral of any claimant to education or training
funded by FSF (or agreeing to purchase it), the following questions must
be considered:
Question
Notes
Will the activity enable the
claimant to enter
employment, or give
relevant skills and
The primary focus is to help individuals into
experience for jobs
work as quickly as possible. However, for
available in the local
some claimants, training or education may
labour market?
be necessary to move them closer to work.
Has the individual
sufficient time to complete Will they become eligible to attend other
the activity they require?
training or provision?
Will the activity impact on Claimants must comply with appropriate
any claim to or award of
benefit conditionality to ensure their
benefit?
payments will continue.
Does the claimant require FSF can be used for travel expenses and
funding for travel,
childcare costs where it has been agreed
childcare or replacement
the claimant can attend education or
care costs?
approved non-contracted provision.
Does the claimant have
access to other funding
that would cover the cost
of the activity?
FSF must not be used.
DWP guidance also sets out a number of other training considerations,
including:-
training that should not be funded
training requiring further consideration
training at NVQ, SNVQ level 3 and 4 (or equivalent)
DWP guidance sets out the funding process to follow.
Paying childcare costs for attending training or
education
FSF
must be awarded:
when a parent is attending mandatory provision where such costs are
not met by the provider
where it has been agreed that a parent can attend approved non-
contracted provision - for example, there is a formal agreement in place
where it has been agreed that a parent can participate in a Work Trial,
work experience or sector-based work academy programme.
FSF must not be awarded in the following circumstances:
for attending training courses, provision or an activity where no formal
agreement is in place
for attending provision where the provider is contracted to, or has
agreed to pay the participant’s childcare costs
Mandatory considerations – Flexible Support
Fund childcare costs for attending training or
education Some considerations must always apply when a FSF award is ma de for
childcare costs. Local flexibilities do not apply. These are:
the parent must identify the childcare provider - any contract for
childcare is between the parent and the childcare provider and must not
involve Jobcentre Plus
the childcare must be registered - Tax Credits description of registered
childcare should be applied (please see the HMRC site Registered or
approved childcare for tax credits (link is external))
ensure any agreement to meet childcare costs on behalf of the parent
does not exceed the maximum permitted amounts
ensure the amount being charged for childcare is reasonable - taking
into account average charges in the local area
ensure the parent is made aware of the maximum childcare payments
available where relevant
ensure the parent is eligible to receive FSF childcare costs throughout
the relevant period
all payments must be made directly to the childcare provider into their
nominated bank or building society account via SOP
all payments must be paid in arrears unless costs are required in
advance
The award of FSF must be recorded on the 'Claimant history' to ensure
childcare costs are not awarded from Universal Credit for the same
period.
Forms and letters
The generic DWP guidance outlines the relevant forms and letters for
FSF awards
Barriers to work
Before considering any award, check the 'Claimant history' to see if any
previous FSF awards contradict or affect the reason for the current
request.
FSF should be considered to remove barriers that are:
preventing claimants from moving closer to the job market
hindering a claimant’s search for work
preventing a claimant from accepting a firm job offer or moving into self -
employment
Examples are:
smart clothing for interviews or to start work
essential work wear (but not safety wear as the employer has a duty to
provide this)
essential tools and equipment - for example, chef’s knives
travel costs
A barrier award must not be made where it is the employer’s
responsibility (under Health & Safety legislation) to provide the item.
Flexible Support Fund barrier awards DWP guidance sets out the funding processes to support payment of a
barriers award from FSF. The relevant processes for Universal
Credit are:
sourcing the goods
forms and letters
payment methods
follow up action
For barrier payments, it is strongly recommended that the most
appropriate payment method is used. The order of preference is:
Retail Trade Framework or local supplier arrangement invoice payments
retrospective payment
advance payment
Forms and letters The generic DWP guidance outlines the relevant forms and letters for
FSF awards
Travel expenses
Before considering any award, check the claimant history to see if any
previous FSF awards contradict or impact the reason for the current
request.
Please refer to the following DWP guidance for more detailed
information:
Travel to interview for disabled people
Travel expenses for job interviews
Travel expenses for Work Trials
Mandatory awards for travel
An award for travel expenses must be made when a claimant:
attends additional appointments other than the fortnightly Work Search
Reviews when they are allocated to the Intensive Work Search regime,
this includes:
alternate weekly Work Search Review during the first 13 weeks of
being allocated into the Intensive Work Search regime
attends mandatory provision where such costs are not met by the
provider
attends approved non-contracted provision where this is previously
agreed with DWP staff
participates in:
Work Trial
work experience
sector-based work academy programme
When an award must not be made
FSF awards for travel expenses must not be made in the following
circumstances:
claimants attending their Initial Evidence Interview or First Commitments
Meeting
claimants attending training courses, provision or an activity where no
formal agreement is in place
claimants attending provision where the provider is contracted to pay (or
has agreed to pay) the participant’s travel costs
claimants attending overseas training courses.
Other circumstances Aside from the circumstances when an award must be made, the FSF
award for travel payments is discretionary and subject to local guidelines
and budgets.
FSF travel payments can be made in advance if it removes the barrier of
getting to and sustaining employment.
The funding of overseas travel (other than for job interviews or to attend
training courses, which are
not permitted) is only allowed with Service
Leader agreement.
How much to award
If it is not possible for claimants to use local or other concessionary
public transport passes, the award must be based on the cost of public
transport by the most reasonable and economical route. If using private
transport, the award is 25 pence per mile by the most direct route.
Paying travel expenses
DWP guidance sets out the processes to follow when making a
payment of FSF for an award of travel expenses.
Forms and letters
The generic DWP guidance outlines the relevant Forms and letters for
FSF awards.