In a recent reply to a FOIA response submitted 26/02/2021 you outlined the local authority's policy on the provision of financial support to families with No Recourse to Public Funds (“NRPF”) seeking access to support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989.

1. Please confirm whether the local authority, for a family eligible for support under Section 17 of the Children's Act 1989, who have no other source of income:

a) has guidance on the minimum or median rate of support provided per family member?
No.

b) if so, what is the minimum or median rate received per week (or fortnight if subsistence is paid fortnightly rather than weekly)?
Not applicable.

c) whether the local authority provides additional funds for children aged 1-3?
We don’t specifically do this but assess each family’s needs on an individual basis.

d) whether the local authority provides additional funds for children aged 0-1?
We don’t specifically do this but assess each family’s needs on an individual basis.

e) whether the local authority provides additional funds for pregnant mothers?
We don’t specifically do this but assess each family’s needs on an individual basis.

f) whether the local authority provided any additional subsistence payments during the Covid-19 pandemic to help with additional costs?
No.

g) if the answer to any of questions c)-f) is yes, then please outline what additional funds are received per week (or fortnight if subsistence is paid fortnightly rather than weekly)?
Not applicable.

h) whether the local authority provides a maternity grant following the birth of a child?
No.

i) and if so, how much is this grant and is it provided for every child or only for the first child born to the mother?
Not applicable.

j) whether the local authority provides discretionary payments for additional expenditure, eg. winter clothes, school uniforms, travel costs?
Yes; we would do so based on family need.

k) and if so, is there any guidance on the maximum amount payable or the frequency of payments?
We don’t have guidance. It is based on individual need.