The social fund

 

advice on getting a crisis loanThe Social Fund is a Government Scheme aimed at helping the disadvantaged or those that are in immediate Crisis, to obtain grants or no interest loans to help in the event of unforeseen circumstances or disaster.crisis loans

For people on limited income it may sometimes be very difficult to budget effectively for emergency expenses like funeral costs, the costs of a new baby or one-off payments for large items, fridgefreezers, beds, removal costs or furnishing a new home.
People who have just ended employment may also find themselves in a position where they have no income coming in at all. 
The Government have made sure that there is help to be had when you find yourself in a Crisis situation, through the Department of Work and Pensions ( DWP) and Job centre Plus ( JCP) There is money available for these situations, although it is limited.

This is known as the Social Fund. The Social Fund includes funeral payments, maternity grants, crisis loans, budgeting loans, community care grants and cold weather payments. Added to that Winter fuel payments are also a type of Social Fund payment, however these are restricted to those that are 60 or over.

If you are on a low income, you may also be able to get benefit to help with your living costs, your rent or other housing costs and your Council Tax.

crisis loans application number

budgeting loans

get community care grants

Rapid Advice

{ 204 comments… read them below or add one }

jimmy May 6, 2013 at 6:47 am

hi there i posted my declaration back on the 30th of march 2013 what date will i receive my budhet loan

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Loans Help May 8, 2013 at 1:58 pm

I would expect your loan to be in the bank this week, have you checked today?

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lorraine March 25, 2013 at 1:15 pm

I was graned a loan on the 16 march and sent accept back on the same day when will it be in my account as there said there aint recive it yet

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donna jackson March 22, 2013 at 4:41 pm

i have been accepted for a social fund of 348 i have sent the forms back to dwp so how long befroe i hear something back from them

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donna jackson March 22, 2013 at 4:39 pm

i have been accepted for a social fund of 348 pounds and i have sent the forms back already so i was wondering when will i hear from dwp stating when i get my money

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paul March 12, 2013 at 3:31 pm

my partner has reacently been diagnosed with cancer, i am looking for a crisis or budgeting loan for clothes for her as she has lost a lot of weight,and none of her clothes fit her anymore,,she has went from a size 12 to a size 6,,

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caroline February 20, 2013 at 4:55 pm

please could u help me as i need a loan as i have a crime number cause i was done out off 7 hundred pound and need furture

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abdul mannan January 7, 2013 at 5:42 pm

i am struggling for money gas&electric&water rate all together£1200 pound i have to pay becuse i brogh some money my rileteve now i have to give them back thank you now i need £1200 pound

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kerri August 12, 2012 at 9:27 pm

hi, i live in G77, Scotland; I’d like to ask how long it should take to receive a budgeting loan if my application is approved- I plan to apply this week, for household essentials and other items.
Thank you

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Gemma forward August 11, 2012 at 8:08 pm

Hi there i ment budgeting loan is what i applied for just send the reply back on thursday how long wil it be in my bank

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Gemma forward August 11, 2012 at 8:05 pm

hi there i got accepted for the money i asked for and i sebd the letter back on thursday wheb will i hear an have the money in my account

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kerry August 7, 2012 at 7:00 pm

If my acceptance letter was ent back wed 1st. August…when will it be in the bank :)

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Jodie July 29, 2012 at 11:07 pm

How long does it take tp find out if ive been accepted for a ccg and do i have to sign to accept if i am awarded it?

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lee July 21, 2012 at 12:31 pm

i applied for a loan of 214.99 thats all i need for a fridge that ive seen in appliance strore as the one i have is leaking and broken i need a fridge asap. i applid for the loan a week ago and have not heard a reply about even gettin the money .i have had a budget loan before last year of £300 and i dont even know if that has been paid off yet would i still b entiteled to £214.99.. thanks for help

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Leanne June 17, 2012 at 4:04 pm

Hi I need help on a lil information I already took a bugget loan out couple months ago but now I got a letter telling me they r goin to evict me an if I go private I have to look for my own deposit but I don’t work so were can I apply for a deposit in help ASAP I got kids an I need to sort it out thank u

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Becca F June 16, 2012 at 7:57 pm

Hiya, I applied for a budgeting loan which has been accepted, but I only sent the ‘reply slip’ [stating agreement of declaration] back and not the declaration slip. Will I still need to send the declaration? Thanks.

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callie June 15, 2012 at 7:00 pm

Hi I have just moved into a new flat and it is unfurnished I have no carpets or curtains (I live with a block of flats adjacent to me so they can see everything) and my clothing was left behinde in my old house and destroyed I have previously applied for a loan but that was last august would I be eligable for a new one now any information will be great

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Jane June 13, 2012 at 4:59 pm

My daughter is on benefits and has been made homeless…the local council have said they have found her a private rental…but she needs to pay the first months rent of £900.00. we have told them she does not have this money and they told her to take a crisis loan. Can they make her take this house and the crisis loan? Will they still house her if she refuses? Is it legal to make her take a loan out whilst on benefits? She cannot afford to pay this loan back. Please advise.

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jim June 9, 2012 at 9:06 am

Ya bunch of bawbags!!!!!

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adele May 3, 2012 at 8:00 am

sent my letter of acceptance off on thurs just wondering what day approx it may be in please thanks

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Social Fund May 4, 2012 at 6:08 pm

10 days for thursday as a guess.

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emma May 1, 2012 at 9:15 pm

Hi I applied for a CCG about 2 months ago and was accepted for some basic items after ex was arrested and moved from property and his family took some items. Since then life has changed dramatically, my ex killed himself, police put alarm in and I was shoved to top of priority list on housing. His family won’t let me take any of the furniture apart from what I bought with the first CCG. I sent off an application for another CCG 2 weeks ago and have heard nothing back. Meant to be moving on friday but have no basic furniture except a cooker and beds. What are chances of it being accepted and how long should it take?

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Social Fund May 4, 2012 at 6:04 pm

It totally depends on the person making the decision, as they may want to see evidence that the other stuff that they paid you for is no longer in your possession.

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sky April 24, 2012 at 5:09 pm

hey, i applied for a community care grnt as i had to leave my house and get rid off everything out of theres as i had to move bk with my mum due to domestic violence, i have an 8 month old baby and had to put in for everything a complete new set up for my new house, i sent it last wednesday and was wondering hw long it usually takes to hear back as i get the keys to my new house in 2 weeks… thanks :)

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Social Fund May 4, 2012 at 5:30 pm

The common thinking is that its taking 22 days at the mo for the whole process

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Kevin robertson April 24, 2012 at 9:35 am

Hi,
I`ve just been refused a budgeting loan for the reason they say i can`t afford to pay it back. Now i`ve just finished paying a budgeting loan back out of my JSA and it`s been 2 years since i had one. I need clothes and the things i can`t afford to buy with my jsa so how can they refuse me. Nothing has changed in my jsa the amount is the same and other crisis loans i`ve had in the past are getting paid so if i appeal what are the chances of succeeding, and is there anything i can put in my letter to make them really think hard because this to me is desperation.
Thnx for your time :)

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Kevin robertson April 24, 2012 at 7:05 pm

Cancel someone please leave a reply for me as i need to send my appeal letter off asap. My question stands… what do they mean i can`t afford to pay it back ( when i`ve already paid last one back ) and also what is the best way to phrase this in a letter to make them really look at my application again. I thought it was an entitlement to get a budgeting loan and i`m annoyed, especially since i worked all my life.

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Social Fund May 4, 2012 at 5:32 pm

Hey Kevin,

Unfortunately its not an entitlement, your appeal would have to show that you can afford to repay the loan, AND NOT LEAVE YOURSELF without enough to survive.

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Social Fund April 24, 2012 at 9:51 pm

Kevin,

What they have done is say that your “affordability” is in question- this means that they have looked at your income, and taken off any overpayment/fine/water/council teax deductions off it THEN taken any crisis loan deductions off it and looked at whats left and found that you can’t afford to have any more debt. basically they want to get any Budgeting loan, or crisis loan back within 104 week- however if your asking for £1000 and only have enough JSA to pay £2 a week it will take far too long and they will turn you down.

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kevin robertson April 25, 2012 at 8:15 am

This is my point, i don`t pay water as it`s included in my rent, i have no fines, i have an overpayment of £3.25 a week and crisis loans of £12 a week. I had alot more than that last time i had a budgeting loan so i don`t understand whats changed.

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Social Fund May 9, 2012 at 7:33 pm

Payability is at the discretion of the decision maker unfortunately…

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