- The Discretionary Assistance Fund gives 2 types of grant that you do not pay back: an Emergency Assistance Payment (EAP) for food, gas, electricity, heating oil or emergency travel, and an Individual Assistance Payment (IAP) to help you live independently at home.1
- There is no fixed amount. An EAP is paid as a PayPoint voucher or a BACS payment, and an IAP is given as goods, such as a bed, sofa, fridge or washing machine, delivered by a supplier.4
- You must be over 16 and live in Wales. An EAP is for a crisis when you have no other money, such as savings. An IAP also needs Universal Credit, Pension Credit Guarantee Credit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support.2
- You cannot apply within 7 days of your last grant, or if you have had 3 grants in the last rolling 12 months.3 Apply online at daf.service.gov.wales or call 0800 859 5924 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday).35
What the DAF covers and the two payment types
Emergency Assistance Payments (EAP) are for people facing a short-term financial crisis, for example extreme financial hardship, losing your job, or waiting for a first benefit payment. They help pay for essential costs such as food, gas, electricity, heating oil or emergency travel, but not ongoing bills you cannot afford.1 There is no fixed amount — the award is based on your assessed need at the time of application.
Individual Assistance Payments (IAP) help you, or someone you care for, live independently at home. They provide white goods such as a fridge or washing machine, and furniture such as beds, sofas and chairs. You need a qualifying circumstance, for example leaving a care home or institution after at least 3 months, or needing to move quickly after a relationship breakdown or domestic abuse, rather than simply moving house. IAPs are applied for through an approved partner.2
Both EAP and IAP are run by the Welsh Government, not DWP or your local council. The application process is separate from Universal Credit or housing benefit claims.
How much is a DAF payment in Wales 2026?
There is no fixed rate for DAF payments. The amount awarded depends on your assessed needs and what costs you are facing. Emergency Assistance Payments typically cover the cost of the specific essential items identified — for example the cost of a food shop or utility top-up for the period of crisis. There is no guaranteed minimum or maximum, but awards are based on realistic costs of the items needed.
Individual Assistance Payments cover the cost of essential household items as assessed in your application. If you need a bed, bedding and a cooker, the award would be based on reasonable costs for those items. Large or luxury items are not covered.
The Welsh Government publishes guidance on what qualifies, but the award decision is made by a DAF assessor based on your individual circumstances. EAP applications made Monday to Friday take about 24 hours to process; IAP applications take 10 working days.4
Who can apply for the DAF?
For an Emergency Assistance Payment you do not need to be on a particular benefit: you must be over 16, live in Wales, be in a crisis needing immediate financial support, and have no other money such as savings. For an Individual Assistance Payment you must also get Universal Credit, the Guarantee Credit part of Pension Credit, income-related ESA, income-based JSA or Income Support.2
For an IAP you must also have tried other affordable sources of funding, such as a credit union. You cannot get one while you live in a care home or prison, unless you are due to leave within 6 weeks.2
There is no formal income threshold, but your circumstances are assessed as part of the decision. You can apply even if you are working, as long as you genuinely face the crisis or transition need that the fund covers.
How to apply for the Wales DAF
Apply online at daf.service.gov.wales, or by phone on 0800 859 5924 (10am to 4pm, Monday to Friday) or by post to DAF, PO Box 2377, Wrexham LL11 0LG.35 An approved partner, such as an advice agency, can help or apply for you. You will need to describe your situation, the specific items or costs you need help with, and your general financial position. For Individual Assistance Payments, you will also need to explain your qualifying circumstance (for example, discharge from hospital).
EAP applications made Monday to Friday take about 24 hours; one made after 12pm on a Friday will not be looked at until Monday. A successful EAP is paid as a PayPoint voucher or BACS payment. A successful IAP is not paid in cash: furniture comes from The Furnishings Service and white goods from AO, and the supplier contacts you to arrange delivery.4
You cannot apply if you had a grant in the last 7 days, or if you have had 3 grants in the last rolling 12 months.3 If you are refused, the letter explains why, and you can ask for the decision to be reviewed.4
DAF and other Welsh Government support
The DAF sits alongside several other forms of Welsh Government support. Free prescriptions are available to all residents in Wales. Universal free school meals are available to all primary pupils. The Warm Homes scheme provides grants for energy efficiency improvements. Flying Start supports families with young children in designated areas.
DAF payments do not count as income for Universal Credit, Housing Benefit or other DWP benefits. You should not declare them as income on a benefits claim. They also do not affect the UC savings and capital rules.
If you are in Wales and need support beyond what the DAF covers, the benefits system (particularly Universal Credit) and local council schemes (Council Tax Reduction, local welfare assistance) are the main other routes. Citizens Advice Wales can help identify which combination of support applies to your situation.