Sainsbury’s colleague support fund administered by the Retail Trust
These frequently asked questions have been created to help you with any questions you might have and are split into the following sections:
- The fund
- Application process
- Payment
- Your information
- Help and support
How is this different to the Retail Trust’s existing financial aid scheme?
The Retail Trust is a charity and their existing scheme draws from a charity fund, to support colleagues across the retail industry. The colleague support fund is funded by Sainsbury’s rather than the charity, and is therefore to support Sainsbury’s colleagues only, meaning we can potentially provide a greater level of financial assistance to colleagues.
Can I apply to the Retail Trust for financial aid as well as applying for the colleague support fund?
No. Any applications made directly to the existing Retail Trust financial aid scheme will automatically be transferred into our new Sainsbury’s colleague support fund.
Who decides if I get awarded financial support or not?
Applications are administered confidentially and independently by the Retail Trust, in line with the eligibility criteria.
How long will this scheme be open for?
Currently, this scheme will be open for one year from 1 July 2024 to 30 June 2025.
Application process
Who is eligible to apply?
You must be currently employed by Sainsbury’s in the UK and have been employed for at least six months. To confirm this, you’ll need to provide your last six payslips, with the most recent dated within the last 30 days.
What’s the maximum amount of money I can apply for?
Please state in your application the amount of financial support you need. The Retail Trust will work within a set of guidelines to determine how much to allocate, but please be aware that the intention of the fund is to support with hardship, not to write off a colleague’s debts.
What’s the application process and how do I apply?
Click here for more details.
There is some information required on the application form that I am not sure how to answer?
Please complete all required fields as accurately as possible. As the Retail Trust administer support funds for a range of other retailers their application form is generic, therefore don’t worry if some of the option choices or terminology are not exact matches for you or your role at Sainsbury’s. For example, you will be asked to provide your ‘monthly income’ however as the majority of our colleagues are four-weekly paid, simply include the value stated on your payslip. Your designated Retail Trust case worker will be in touch if they need to clarify the information you have provided as part of your application.
Why do I have to state where in Sainsbury’s I work?
This aggregated, anonymised information is shared with Sainsbury’s to help with managing the fund finances and enable settlement of corporate tax liabilities. Sainsbury’s will never know which colleagues have applied or been awarded the financial assistance.
Why do I have to enter information about previous employment?
This is not a mandatory field and you do not need to enter this detail if you don’t want to, it will have no impact on your application as long as you meet the required six months’ service for Sainsbury’s criteria.
How many times can I apply?
You can apply for the fund twice within a 12-month rolling period.
What are the most common reasons applications get turned down?
The Retail Trust uses approval criteria for fairness. Common reasons why applications get turned down include: gambling debt, evidence of money transfers to other accounts, criminal activity or money laundering, evidence of excessive poor financial management and budgeting, and failure to supply correct documentation when requested.
What happens if my application gets turned down?
The Retail Trust can work with you to explore alternative funding sources. They can also support you with debt management and budgeting tools.
Can I appeal if my application is declined?
No, there is no appeal process for rejected applications, however the Retail Trust will most often only reject an application if it fails to meet the application or eligibility criteria, or the application is not completed fully within the timescales outlined in the application process.
Does the Retail Trust carry out credit and bank checks on my application?
Retail Trust does not carry out credit checks as part of the financial aid application process, therefore your credit rating will not be affected by applying for support. However when processing your application the Retail Trust will review your submitted back statements to identify any non-essential spend, which may result in your application either being rejected or your case worker contacting your for more information.
How does applying for financial support affect my tax or credit rating?
Applications to the colleague support fund will not impact your tax position or credit rating.
Will the financial support appear on my payslip or HR records?
No, it will not appear on your payslip or HR records.
Will receiving financial support affect my benefits or universal credit?
No, because it will not appear on your payslips or HR records and no payment is made directly to you as cash. All payments are made directly to the supplier or creditor (for example to a retailer, utility company or landlord).
Will this scheme cover my credit card bill?
No. Financial aid from the Sainsbury’s colleague support fund does not pay off credit card bills. The Retail Trust may be able to support with day-to-day living expenses (in line with the application criteria) and offer budgeting guidance, including referral to alternative sources of debt management.
Does the financial support get paid directly to me or my bank account?
The financial support is paid directly to the supplier or creditor (for example to a retailer, utility company or landlord). Payments are not paid directly to the colleague, and credit card bills will not be paid by the fund. No cash will be paid directly to you.
Can I apply if it’s to pay off a bill for my partner or someone I live with?
Financial support is only available to Sainsbury’s colleagues currently employed in the UK. If the application is for paying off a partner’s bill, the colleague would need to be named on any bills.
What happens if I have a recurring cost (such as a monthly bill) that I need help paying?
The Retail Trust will work with you to understand the overall cost over a set period of time and seek proof to support any payment.
What if I need money today and can’t wait?
Due to the volume of referrals received, applications can take up to 14 business days to process, therefore financial support cannot be provided immediately. If you need assistance more urgently, you may be able to seek help from our others sources, please see here for more details on how you can access these benefits.
Do I have to pay the financial support back?
No. The financial assistance provided through the colleague support fund is non-repayable.
Do I have to pay the financial support back if I leave my job at Sainsbury’s?
No. All financial assistance made by the colleague support fund is non-repayable.
Who will know that I’ve applied for financial support?
Only the Retail Trust will know if you have applied.
Will my manager know I’ve applied?
No. Line managers will not be informed of any colleague applications. All applications will be reviewed independently by the Retail Trust and will remain confidential.
What happens to the information I share with the Retail Trust?
In line with GDPR, all information shared is stored and maintained in line with the Retail Trust’s data retention policies and adheres to relevant data protection legislation. Click here to view the Retail Trust’s privacy notice.
Help and support
Can the Retail Trust offer me any other help with my finances?
The Retail Trust can work with you to explore a range of options to support your financial management. They can also help you with debt management, budgeting tools and more. Click here for further details.
What else is available to help me save money?
Please explore the relevant reward and benefits pages on Our Sainsbury’s here.
Where else can I get help and support?
It’s Sainsbury’s aim that every colleague will have access to physical, mental and financial wellbeing support through benefits, tools and resources that enable them to make positive and proactive choices to thrive in all aspects of life.
Information about all the wellbeing support available to colleagues across Sainsbury’s can be found here.
Where do I go if I have further questions about the colleague support fund?
Please read through the colleague guide and the information you can find here. You can also contact the Retail Trust directly with any queries on 0808 801 0808.