Financial hardship help for low-income households

When money runs out before the end of the month, a loan is often the first idea and rarely the best one. Benefits, local welfare schemes, food banks, charitable grants and free debt advice can cover many urgent needs without adding a repayment to a budget that is already stretched. The guides in this section explain what each type of help covers, who can apply and how to ask for it.

Start with what you are entitled to

Many households on low incomes miss out on support they could claim. A benefits check, carried out with an online calculator or an adviser, can show whether you should be receiving Universal Credit, Pension Credit, disability benefits, Council Tax Reduction or a social tariff for water, energy or broadband. A change in hours, rent, health or household members can also change what you receive, so it is worth checking again after any big change.

Crisis help from councils and charities

Local welfare assistance schemes, run by councils in England and by devolved governments elsewhere in the UK, can help with food, energy, essential appliances and other urgent needs, often as goods or vouchers rather than cash. Food banks usually need a referral from an agency such as Citizens Advice, a GP or a school. Charitable grants, many linked to an occupation, illness or local area, can be found through grant search tools. Our guide to emergency financial assistance sets out where to begin on the day you need help, and emergency food aid explains how food banks and community pantries work.

Help with specific costs

Some support is tied to a particular expense: rent arrears, energy disconnections, medicines, glasses, dental care, school costs or moving home. The pages listed below take each situation in turn, starting with grants and protections before mentioning any credit. If you are behind with housing costs, read help with overdue rent as early as possible, because acting quickly gives you more options.

Free advice when debts build up

Free, confidential debt advice can stop creditor pressure, set up affordable payment plans and, where appropriate, arrange formal solutions. It never costs anything to use a charity or government-backed adviser, so avoid companies that charge for the same service. See support for people in debt hardship for the main options.

When credit is still needed

If grants and advice do not cover the gap, compare the safer forms of borrowing first, such as credit unions and interest-free schemes, and always check the APR and the total cost. Our section on types of loans for low incomes explains each option and its risks. Whatever you do, never pay a fee upfront to someone promising a loan or grant.

Choose the guide that matches your situation from the list below.