123RF

What is a budgeting loan/advance?

Certain essentials

A budgeting loan is extra money on top of your benefits to help pay for certain essentials. You must pay back a budgeting loan.

A budgeting advance is an extra amount of Universal Credit to help you pay for certain expenses. You must pay back a budgeting advance.

A budgeting loan or advance can help you to pay for:

• furniture and household equipment, clothing and footwear

• rent in advance and/or removal expenses to new accommodation

• the costs of improvement, maintenance and security of your home

• essential travelling expenses and expenses due to you getting or starting a job

• maternity or funeral expenses

Check

Before you apply for a budgeting loan or advance, check whether you can get these payments which you do not have to pay back:

• funeral payment

• local welfare assistance

• Sure Start Maternity Grant or Best Start Grant

• flexible support scheme funding

• charitable grants

Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Age rules: No specific age rules

Taxable: No

Administered by: DWP