The York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) provides help to York residents who are having financial difficulties due to exceptional circumstances.

We offer 2 types of assistance, targeted at those most in need:

  • Emergency Assistance: to help with a disaster or crisis
  • Community Assistance: to help ease exceptional pressures and financial difficulties faced by residents

YFAS provides goods, services, fuel top-ups and supermarket vouchers. We can only make cash available in exceptional circumstances, where the assistance cannot be provided directly.

Items are awarded on the basis of need; for example an award for a carpet will only be made if there is a specific need, such as you have a baby or toddler who is crawling.

Before making a YFAS application

Before applying for YFAS support, you should check whether you are eligible for emergency support from the Department for Work and Pensions.

If you’re waiting for your first benefit payment or there has been a delay in your benefit payment you can apply for assistance from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).

You may be able to apply for an advance on your first benefit payment (GOV.UK) or a Universal Credit Advance payment:

If you are already claiming benefits you may be able to apply for a budgeting loan (GOV.UK) to help pay for essential items.

See more information about Benefits on GOV.UK.

Making a YFAS application

If you need to make a YFAS application, you may wish to download the YFAS factsheet and YFAS criteria for more information.

The Citizens Advice budget sheet or Citizens Advice bugdeting tool can help you list all your income and expenses. This is useful when making your YFAS application as we'll ask you to provide these details.

You can upload a completed budget sheet (as a PDF) to support your application. If you prefer you can send the budget sheet separately to YFAS via our Benefits Section (not Citizen's Advice), or by email to yfas@york.gov.uk.

complete an online YFAS form

Alternatively, telephone: 0808 168 5238 (free from a landline).

The YFAS online application process has recently been updated. If you have any feedback about our new form, please use the "comment on this page" button on this page.

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