Budgeting Loans

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1. How they work

A Budgeting Loan can help pay for:

  • furniture or household items (for example, washing machines or other 바카라 사이트榳hite goods바카라 사이트�)
  • clothes or footwear
  • rent in advance
  • costs linked to moving house
  • maintenance, improvements or security for your home
  • travelling costs within the UK
  • costs linked to getting a new job
  • maternity costs
  • funeral costs
  • repaying hire purchase loans
  • repaying loans taken for the above items

Crisis Loans are not available any more.

You may be eligible for a Budgeting Loan if you바카라 사이트檝e been on certain benefits for 6 months.

You only have to pay back the amount you borrow, and repayments are taken automatically from your benefits.

This guide is also available in Welsh (Cymraeg) and Easy Read format.

2. Check if you're eligible

To get a Budgeting Loan you must have been getting one or more of these benefits for the past 6 months:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit

If you moved from Universal Credit to Pension Credit, any time spent claiming Universal Credit will count towards the 6 months.

There바카라 사이트檚 a different way to get a .

When you cannot apply

If you currently get Universal Credit, you cannot get a Budgeting Loan. Apply for a Budgeting Advance instead.

You also cannot get a Budgeting Loan if:

  • you get New Style Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance
  • you바카라 사이트檙e involved in industrial action (for example a strike, walkout or lockout)
  • you owe more than 拢1,500 in total for Crisis Loans and Budgeting Loans

3. What you could get

The lowest amount you can borrow is 拢100. You could get up to:

  • 拢348 if you바카라 사이트檙e single
  • 拢464 if you have a partner
  • 拢812 if you or your partner claim Child Benefit

How much you could get depends on whether you:

  • can pay the loan back
  • have savings of more than 拢1,000 (拢2,000 if you or your partner are 63 or over)
  • are paying back an existing Budgeting Loan or Crisis Loan

How you바카라 사이트檒l be paid

Budgeting loans are paid into the same account as your benefit. If you want to be paid into a different account, either:

4. Paying back the loan

A Budgeting Loan is interest free so you only pay back what you borrow.

The repayments will be taken automatically from your benefits. The amount you repay is based on your income - including any benefits you receive - and what you can afford.

After you apply for a Budgeting Loan, you바카라 사이트檒l get an email, text or letter telling you if you바카라 사이트檝e been offered a loan. This explains how much your weekly repayments will be if you accept the loan.

You normally have to repay the loan within 2 years (104 weeks).

If you stop getting benefits

You바카라 사이트檒l get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage benefit money you owe. You can pay back the loan in full or set up regular monthly payments.

5. Apply

Check you바카라 사이트檙e eligible before you apply for a Budgeting Loan.

You can apply online or using a paper form. It바카라 사이트檚 quicker to apply online.

Do not apply if you get Universal Credit, New Style Jobseeker바카라 사이트檚 Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance. Apply for a Budgeting Advance instead if you get Universal Credit.

There바카라 사이트檚 a different way to .

Apply online

When you apply online, you can choose to get a decision on your loan by either:

  • email
  • text message
  • letter

It바카라 사이트檚 quicker to get the decision by email or text message and accept it online.

If you바카라 사이트檝e already applied and you바카라 사이트檙e waiting to get a decision, do not apply again. If you need to change details on your application, contact the Social Fund Enquiry Line.

Apply using the paper form

You will need to fill in form SF500. You can:

  • download and print the form
  • phone the Social Fund Enquiry Line and ask for a form to be posted to you - allow 7 days for the form to arrive

Return your completed form by post.

Contact the Social Fund Enquiry Line

The line can:

  • make changes to your application after you바카라 사이트檝e submitted it

  • post an application form to you

Social Fund Enquiry Line
Telephone: 0800 169 0140
Welsh language: 0800 169 0240
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm

Textphone: 0800 169 286
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0140
British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to
Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
Find out about call charges

6. After you apply

After you apply you바카라 사이트檒l be given a decision on your application. You need to accept the decision before you get your money.

If you apply online, you바카라 사이트檒l find out if you바카라 사이트檝e been offered a loan within:

  • 7 days if you get the decision by text or email
  • 21 days if you get the decision by letter

If you apply by post, you바카라 사이트檒l get a letter telling you if you바카라 사이트檝e been offered a loan within 21 days.

Accepting the loan

How you accept the loan depends on how you applied.

Accept online

You can by following the instructions in the text or email.

Accept by post

You can accept by signing page 4 of the acceptance letter and returning it in the pre-paid envelope provided. Make sure the reply slip is folded so that the return address is fully visible in the envelope window.

Return it to the address on the letter. Do not send it to your local Jobcentre Plus office as this may delay getting your loan.

Getting your money

You바카라 사이트檒l get your money within:

  • 7 days of accepting the loan offer online
  • 21 days of your loan offer acceptance being received by post

If you applied online, the money will be paid into the same bank, building society or credit union account that your benefit is paid into.

If you applied by post, the money will be paid into the account you put on the form.

You바카라 사이트檒l get a text message confirming this has been done.

Questions about your application

Call the Social Fund Enquiry Line if you have a question about the progress of your application.

You should wait:

  • 14 days before phoning if you applied online
  • 21 days before phoning if you applied by post

Your application may not have been processed before then.

Social Fund Enquiry Line
Telephone: 0800 169 0140
Textphone: 0800 169 286
(if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 169 0140
British Sign Language (BSL) if you바카라 사이트檙e on a computer - find out how to
Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm
Welsh language: 0800 169 0240
Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm
Find out about call charges

If you disagree with a decision

You can ask for a Budgeting Loan decision to be looked at again if:

  • your application was unsuccessful, and you think that바카라 사이트檚 wrong
  • you바카라 사이트檝e been granted a Budgeting Loan, but you disagree with the amount

Write to the address at the top of your decision letter. If you do not have your decision letter, contact the Social Fund Enquiry Line for details.

You should include:

  • your full name
  • your National Insurance number
  • your address and phone number
  • the reasons why you disagree with the decision

Your request must arrive within 28 days of the date on your decision letter.

What happens next

You바카라 사이트檒l get a letter telling you whether the decision has changed or not, and explaining the reasons why.

If you바카라 사이트檙e unhappy with the response you can ask the office of the Independent Case Examiner for a review.

Your request must arrive within 28 days of the date on your second decision letter.

7. Other help you can get

You may be able to get other kinds of support, including: