It replaces two discretionary elements of the Social Fund - crisis loans and community care grants.
According to Citizens Advice literature ELFs are "designed to ease exceptional pressure on people and their families".
[3] However, these benefits are not in the form of currency and are distributed using indirect methods such as: Use of food vouchers or supermarket vouchers, use of AllPay cards, provision of recycled furniture from reputable charity, and provision of white goods from a reputable local dealer.
[4] These indirect methods reduce the control participating individuals have over what they buy.
The scheme can cover fields such as: If you are awarded the grant you will not be paid in cash or into a bank account.