Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)
The Discretionary Assistance Fund provides two types of grant: Emergency Assistance Payments for people facing a financial crisis, and Individual Assistance Payments to help people live independently in the community, for example after leaving hospital or care.
Emergency Assistance Payments cover essential needs like food, heating, basic toiletries or urgent travel in a crisis. Individual Assistance Payments help with household items like white goods, beds or basic furniture when moving into a home.
Both are grants, not loans. They do not need to be repaid and are not counted as income for benefit purposes. Applications are made online through the Welsh Government website or by phone. You do not need to be on a specific benefit to apply, but your circumstances are assessed.
Free school meals in Wales
All primary school pupils in Wales are entitled to a free school meal regardless of family income. This universal provision means that in Wales there is no income test for primary-age free school meals, unlike England.
For secondary school pupils in Wales, free school meals are means-tested. You qualify if your household receives Universal Credit with net earnings below £7,400 per year, or if you receive certain other means-tested benefits such as Income Support or income-based JSA.
Contact your school or local authority to arrange free school meals for secondary-age children. Primary meals are automatic.
Free prescriptions in Wales
All prescriptions dispensed in Wales are free of charge regardless of age, income or health condition. You do not need to apply or hold an exemption certificate. Simply tell the pharmacist you are in Wales and collect your prescription at no cost.
This applies to NHS prescriptions only. Private prescriptions are still charged at whatever rate the prescriber sets.
Flying Start
Flying Start is a Welsh Government programme for families with children aged 0-4 in targeted areas. It provides free part-time childcare (two and a half hours a day, five days a week for children aged 2-3), health visitor support, parenting support and speech and language therapy.
Flying Start is area-based, not income-tested. It applies in designated Flying Start areas which cover parts of most Welsh local authority areas. Check with your local authority or health visitor whether your address qualifies. It is not available outside the designated areas.
Welsh NHS benefits and additional support
Wales also offers free dental treatment for those under 25 or over 60, or those on qualifying low-income benefits. Eye tests are free for all residents under the NHS in Wales.
The Warm Homes scheme and other Welsh Government energy efficiency programmes provide grants and support for low-income households in Wales. These are separate from UK-wide Cold Weather Payments and Winter Fuel Payments. Contact your local authority or Nest (the Welsh Government's energy efficiency scheme) for details.