Additional funding for social fund loans was announced in the Chancellor’s Budget report on 22 April 2009, to ensure that support can continue to be provided during the economic downturn. As a result, the previous gross loans budget for Great Britain for 2009-10 was increased. The current discretionary social fund budgets for Great Britain are given in the table.
£ million Gross loans 650 Community care grants 141 Contingency reserve 1
The regulated social fund is demand led, so there are no fixed budgets. All the funds necessary to pay claimants entitled to an award will be made available.