UNISON members on a low income can apply for a £30 voucher per qualifying person in their household towards the cost of food. They can apply for a voucher for themselves, their partner and their dependent children.
We want to make this fund go as far as possible and help as many members as we can.
This fund will open at 12 noon on Tuesday 30 September 2025 for 24 hours, applications before or after this timeframe will not be accepted.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Be a UNISON member and have paid at least four weeks’ subscriptions as of 30 September 2025. Subscriptions must be up to date.
- Not have received a grant from UNISON Welfare since 30 March 2025, excluding Step into Spring Grant
- Be in receipt of Child Benefit.
And EITHER:
Be on a low income, meaning a net household income* of no more than £28,205/year (£2,350.42/month).
OR:
Be in receipt of means-tested benefits. This includes:
- Universal Credit
- Housing Benefit
- Child and/or Working Tax Credits
- Pension Credit
- Means-tested Jobseekers Allowance
- Means-tested Employment Support Allowance
- Income Support
* Net household income includes your monthly take-home pay from work (plus your partner’s, if you have one), any income from child maintenance payments, any income from student finance loans or bursaries, pensions (excluding Pension Credit) and any income from people living with you (e.g. adult children or lodgers).
** Where members either have no recourse to public funds and their household income is above £28,205/year an assessment will be undertaken to see whether they would be eligible for benefits if they did have recourse to public funds so that they are not disadvantaged.