Financial assistance for LGBT+ people facing hate crime
This information sheet explained the financial assistance available if you experience anti LGBT+ hate or abuse. Hate crime can have a significant impact on many different parts of your life, including your finances. You might have to take time off of work, travel to appointments, pay medical bills, replace valuable items or move house.
Help is available, and money worries should never be a barrier to getting support. This information sheet includes sources of financial assistance from the government and charities for people experiencing hate crime.
Help going to court
Assistance is available if you are asked to give evidence in court. You can claim back money spent on travel, childcare and refreshments, and money lost through time off work up to a certain amount.
Find more information on the Government website.
Court-awarded compensation
If someone is found guilty of a crime against you, the court can sometimes order them to pay you compensation. If you want the court to consider doing this, tell the police when you give your report, including details of any injuries or loss resulting from the crime. More information can be found at Victim Support.
Criminal injuries compensation
This is a Government scheme that can enable you to receive compensation if you suffer serious physical or psychological injury due to a violent crime. Details about applying are on the Criminal Injuries Compensation Authority website.
The rules about whether you are entitled to a financial award from this scheme are complicated, but applying is relatively simple. Some solicitors can help you apply in exchange for a portion of any payment you get. Charities such as Victim Support and Galop can help you for free.
You also need to have reported the crime to the police as soon as reasonably possible, but you don’t need anyone to have been convicted. People with certain unspent criminal convictions cannot receive an award. To work out if a conviction is unspent you can visit the Unlock website.
Hardship fund
There is a Government fund for people in low paid work who need time off because they’ve experienced a violent crime. It is available if you have had to take at least seven days off work because of the crime and cannot get sick pay. To apply, you normally need to have reported the crime to police within 48 hours. You then need to apply for financial help within eight weeks of the crime happening. People with unspent convictions cannot usually get an award. You can apply through Victim Support.
Help in Wales
The Discretionary Assistance Fund can give an Emergency Assistance Payment to help cover the costs of replacing stolen or damaged items or general living costs that you can’t afford after an emergency or disaster. It can also provide an Individual Assistance Payment to help people on certain types of welfare benefit with costs in order to ease exceptional pressures, such as moving home after a period of abuse. For details visit the Welsh Government website.
Help in Scotland
The Scottish Welfare Fund allows councils to offer a Crisis Grant to anyone facing a disaster or emergency situation. It can also offer a Community Care Grant to help people under exceptional pressure with one-off costs, such as getting a cooker or washing machine if they have had to move after a period of abuse. For details visit the Scottish Government website.
Help in England
In England, the type of help available varies according to where you live. Check with your local council to see if there is any assistance they can offer you.
Support from charities
There are hundreds of small charities that give money to people in need. Each has different rules about who it can help, for instance, people who have done a certain job, live in a certain area or have a specific health need. To look for grants you might be eligible for, visit Turn2Us.
Many areas have foodbanks to help people who are struggling financially. You usually need a voucher to go to one. These are given out by GPs, social workers and charities such as Citizens Advice. Most of them are run by the Trussell Trust. You can use their website to find out if there is one near you.
