Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS)

The Local Welfare Assistance Scheme (LWAS) helps those experiencing financial hardship. There are lots of reasons why you may be in hardship and if you are eligible, we can provide financial help.

To receive help from LWAS you must:

• Be able to demonstrate you are in financial hardship
• Live in Suffolk
• Be 16-years old or over
• Not be subject to immigration control or have no recourse to public funds
• Have a combined household income of £27,500 a year or less?
• Have less than £1,500 available in savings across the household
• Have not made an application in the previous 6 months

We will look at your income and savings. If you have adequate savings to meet your basic living needs, your application will be declined.

The scheme is not intended as emergency support and only one application can be made per household. LWAS is not intended as long-term support. The quickest way to make an application is via the webform, using your smartphone, tablet or computer. If you have all the information required to make an application the webform will take approximately 15 minutes to complete.

For more information about the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme and to make an application please visit the Local Welfare Assistance Scheme webpage.