If you’re in financial difficulties, you can get help and advice from the government, local councils and other organisations.

Advance and hardship payments

If you do not have enough to live on while you wait for your first payment you can ask for an advance payment after you’ve made a claim.

You can also ask for a hardship payment if you cannot pay for rent, heating, food or hygiene needs because you got a sanction.

You need to pay it back through your Universal Credit payments - they’ll be lower until you pay it back.

Alternative Payment Arrangements

If you’re having financial difficulties or you’re behind on your rent, you or your landlord may be able to apply for an Alternative Payment Arrangement ( APA ).

Depending on your circumstances, you could get an APA to:

get your rent paid directly to your landlord

get paid more frequently than once a month

receive split payments, if you’re part of a couple

Speak to your work coach to apply for an APA .

Budgeting Advance

You might be able to get a Budgeting Advance to help with:

emergency household costs such as replacing a broken cooker

getting a job or staying in work

funeral costs

You’ll repay it through your regular Universal Credit payments - these will be lower until you pay it back. If you stop getting Universal Credit, you’ll have to repay the money in another way.

How much you can borrow

The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to:

£348 if you’re single

£464 if you’re part of a couple

£812 if you have children

What you get depends on whether you have savings of over £1,000 and can pay the loan back.

Eligibility

To get a Budgeting Advance, all of the following must apply:

you’ve been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more, unless you need the money to help you start a new job or stay in work

you’ve earned less than £2,600 (£3,600 together for couples) in the past 6 months

you’ve paid off any previous Budgeting Advance loans

How to apply

Contact your local Jobcentre Plus work coach to apply.

Other benefits you can claim

If you want to claim a benefit without your savings, your partner’s savings or their income being taken into account, you can apply for either:

Use a benefits calculator to find out what other benefits you could get, for example Personal Independence Payment if you’re disabled.

Other financial support you might get

If you receive Universal Credit you may be able to get other payments too.

The support you could get might be different in Scotland or Wales.

Help with housing costs and bills

You might be able to get:

You can get advice on reducing your energy bills from:

Help if you’re pregnant or have a child

You might be able to get:

Help with legal costs

You might be able to get:

Help with other costs

You might be able to get:

Advice on money and debt

You can get help and advice from: