Emergency financial help in the UK

Running out of money before your next Universal Credit payment, wage or pension is one of the most stressful things that can happen to a household on a tight budget. In the UK, there is more emergency help than most people realise, but it is spread across the Department for Work and Pensions, local councils, the devolved governments, energy suppliers and charities. Knowing where to go first can save days.

This page is about grants, advances and free advice when you need help now. If you are thinking about borrowing, read our separate guide to low-cost loans in the UK once you have checked the options below.

Help from your benefits: advances and hardship payments

If you are waiting for your first Universal Credit payment, you can ask for an advance through your online journal, by phone or at the Jobcentre. It is repaid from later payments with no interest. People already on Universal Credit for a while may be able to get a Budgeting Advance for one-off costs such as a cooker, rent in advance or costs linked to starting work.

If your Universal Credit has been reduced because of a sanction, you can ask for a hardship payment if you cannot cover rent, heating, food or hygiene. Like advances, it is usually recovered later, so ask how much will be deducted and request a lower rate if you cannot manage.

Also check that you are not missing anything. Many people on low incomes are not claiming Pension Credit, Council Tax Reduction or help with health costs. A free benefits check from an adviser often finds money that solves the problem without borrowing.

Crisis support from your council or devolved government

Local welfare schemes give grants or vouchers for food, energy, essential furniture and white goods. The names differ across the UK:

• England: your county or unitary council runs local crisis and household support schemes. Search your council's website for "crisis support" or "local welfare assistance".
• Scotland: the Scottish Welfare Fund offers Crisis Grants for emergencies and Community Care Grants to help people set up or stay in a home.
• Wales: the Discretionary Assistance Fund offers Emergency Assistance Payments and Individual Assistance Payments.
• Northern Ireland: Discretionary Support provides grants and interest-free loans in an extreme, exceptional or crisis situation.

These schemes do not have to be repaid when given as grants. Funds are limited and rules vary, so apply quickly and explain clearly what you need.

Help with rent and keeping your home

If your housing benefit or the housing element of Universal Credit does not cover your rent, ask your council for a Discretionary Housing Payment. It can help with a shortfall, a deposit or rent in advance when moving. If you have received an eviction notice, contact the council's housing options team straight away; they have duties to help people threatened with homelessness. Our page on overdue rent goes into more detail.

Food, energy and other essentials

Food banks, including the Trussell network and many independent ones, provide emergency food parcels, usually through a referral from Citizens Advice, a GP, a school or a support worker. Community pantries and social supermarkets offer low-cost food for a small membership fee.

For energy, contact your supplier before you fall behind. Suppliers must consider your ability to pay and can agree affordable plans. Several run hardship funds or charitable trusts that clear arrears. Ask whether you qualify for the Warm Home Discount and whether you should be on the Priority Services Register. Water companies run social tariffs for low-income customers.

If you have a prepayment meter and cannot top up, ask your supplier for emergency or temporary credit, and ask the council about energy vouchers.

Free debt advice and Breathing Space

If debt is behind the crisis, free, regulated advice is available from Citizens Advice, StepChange, National Debtline and local advice centres. MoneyHelper, the government-backed guidance service, can help you find one. An adviser can check your priority debts, write to creditors and suggest solutions such as a debt management plan or a Debt Relief Order.

In England and Wales, a debt adviser can apply for Breathing Space, which pauses most enforcement action, interest and charges for 60 days while you get advice. Scotland has its own separate moratorium on creditor action, which an adviser can explain. For more on dealing with arrears, see our guide to debt hardship support.

Charities and grants for specific groups

Hundreds of charitable trusts give small grants to people in need. Some focus on a profession or former employer, others on illness, disability, carers, veterans, widows or children. Grant-search tools from charities like Turn2us let you search by your circumstances. Applications usually need a supporting letter from a social worker, health visitor or adviser.

Families with children can also ask their school about free school meals, uniform grants and holiday activity programmes.

What to do today: a checklist

• Write down exactly what you need and by when: food, gas, electricity, rent.
• Check your Universal Credit journal for an advance or Budgeting Advance.
• Apply to your council or devolved crisis fund the same day.
• Call your energy and water suppliers about hardship support.
• Ask Citizens Advice or another adviser for a food bank referral and a benefits check.
• Contact a free debt adviser if bills are piling up.

Scams and unsafe "help"

Real grants never ask you to pay an upfront fee. Be wary of social media posts offering "cost of living payments" if you share your bank details, and of texts claiming to be from the DWP or HMRC asking you to click a link. Avoid illegal money lenders who offer cash with no paperwork and later make threats. Creditpauvre.com does not give grants or loans and does not pass on your details. For wider ideas, see our general page on hardship grants.