Budgeting Loans


Budgeting Loans can help pay for furniture, white goods, clothing and shoes, advance rent, the costs associated with moving house, home maintenance, improvements or security, travelling costs, costs associated with getting a new job, maternity costs, funeral costs, and repaying HP loans or repaying loans taken for the above items.


You may be able to get a Budgeting Loan if, for the past six months, you have been getting IS; income-based JSA; income-related ESA; Pension Credit; or UC (if you are claiming Pension Credit when you apply for the loan).


You cannot get a Budgeting Loan if you are involved in industrial action or you owe more than £1,500 in total for Crisis Loans and Budgeting Loans. There are different rules in Northern Ireland. 


Budgeting Loans will continue to be available until UC is fully rolled out. As people migrate across to UC they will have access to Budgeting Advances.


The lowest amount you can borrow for a Budgeting Loan is £100. The maximum amounts are:


• £348 if you are single;


• £464 if you have a partner; or


• £812 if you or your partner claim Child Benefit.


The amount depends on whether you can pay the loan back, have savings of more than £1,000 (£2,000 if you or your partner are 63 or over), or are paying back an existing Budgeting Loan or Crisis Loan. The loans are interest free and must normally be paid back through benefits over two years.