The Social Fund - current role and future direction

This report considers the role of the discretionary Social Fund in combating poverty and possible reforms to the scheme. It is mainly based upon secondary analysis of the Family Resources Survey and the Expenditure and Food Survey and qualitative research with benefit recipients: both discretionary Social Fund applicants and nonapplicants, and people from a range of socio-economic backgrounds. Participants in the qualitative research discussed times of particular financial hardship, experiences of the Social Fund and possible reforms to the Social Fund.