If you need help in an emergency, or you're experiencing hardship because of the rising cost of living, you may be able to get help from the government or your local council. The help you can get depends on your circumstances and where you live.

England

Scotland

Wales

England

Ask your local council if they have a Local Welfare Assistance Scheme. These provide help with unexpected or emergency expenses to people on a low income.

Schemes vary from area to area and not all councils run them. Some councils use the money allocated for this to support local projects, such as food banks, credit unions and homelessness prevention schemes.

In some areas, you may be able to apply directly to the council for help, which is usually in the form of:

• vouchers
• food parcels
• pre-payment cards
• furniture
• white goods.

You can’t usually get cash, but may be given a gift card to cash in at certain shops.

You’re not automatically entitled to help. Contact your local council to find out what’s available and whether you qualify.

Your council should be able to tell you what other local help is available, such as:

• food banks
• community hubs that provide hot food
• community fridges
• vouchers for fuel
• places to get second-hand furniture or recycled clothes.

Household Support Fund

The government has provided extra money to local councils until September 2024, to help with the cost of living. In England, this is called the Household Support Fund. It’s meant for people who are struggling to pay for food, energy or water bills, for example.

You do not have to be getting benefits to apply and your benefits will not be affected if you get support through this fund.

Your local council decides how to spend the money. Contact your council to find out what support is available.

Scotland

In Scotland, contact your local council if you need urgent help with food, money or fuel costs, for example. You may qualify for a Crisis Grant or a Community Care Grant. For more information, visit mygov.scot/scottish-welfare-fund.

Crisis Grant

You may be able to get a Crisis Grant to cover the costs of an emergency or an unexpected crisis – for example, if:

• you need help to get food or to pay for heating
• you have a fire or flood at home
• you've lost money.

To qualify, you need to be on a low income, but you do not have to be getting benefits.

Community Care Grant

A Community Care Grant is to help you or someone you care for to live independently in the community. It can help with expenses, such as:

• cookers and fridges
• furniture
• travel costs
• removal costs if you need to move to a more suitable place to live
• minor alterations to your home.

You need to be on a low income, but you do not have to be getting benefits. You may not qualify if you have savings of over £700, or £1,200 if you get a pension, but check with your council.

Wales

In Wales, you can apply to the Discretionary Assistance Fund if you need support. This provides two types of grant:

Individual Assistance Payment

This is a grant to help you or someone you care for to live independently. You can use it to pay for:

• white goods, such as a fridge, cooker or washing machine
• furniture, such as beds, sofas and chairs.

You must be getting certain benefits, such as Guarantee Pension Credit or Universal Credit, to qualify.

Emergency Assistance Payment

You may be able to get a one-off payment if you don’t have any other way of paying for essential costs, such as food, gas, electricity, clothing or emergency travel.

To qualify, you must be in extreme financial hardship and in a crisis. For example, if you’ve applied for benefits and you’re waiting for your first payment or you have no money to pay for food, gas and electricity.

Contact the Discretionary Assistance Fund to find out more and to apply.

If you’re waiting to receive your first benefit payment and you’re in financial difficulty, you may be able to apply for a short-term advance. If you qualify, you’ll usually receive the advance the same day or the next working day. How much you get will depend on your circumstances.

You’ll have to repay the advance. Some money will usually be taken from your benefit each week until you’ve paid it back. 

Depending on the benefit you’ve applied for, contact:

• Pension Credit or State Pension – 0800 731 0469 (0800 731 0453 for Welsh language)
• Carer’s Allowance – 0800 731 0297
• Employment and Support Allowance or Jobseeker’s Allowance – 0800 169 0310 (0800 169 0207 for Welsh language)
• Universal Credit – you can apply through your online account or by contacting your work coach or Jobcentre Plus. If you need help to apply, call the helpline on 0800 328 5644 (0800 328 1744 for Welsh language).

If you have a hearing or speech impairment and would rather communicate in another way – for example, by using RelayUK or British Sign Language – visit the link for the relevant benefit in the above link. 

If you need help with essential one-off expenses and you’re getting certain benefits, you might be able to apply for a Budgeting Loan or Budgeting Advance. These are available for things like:

• household equipment, such as a cooker or washing machine
• clothes and footwear
• rent in advance
• moving costs
• essential travel expenses within the UK
• home improvements, maintenance or security
• funeral costs.

You can apply for a Budgeting Loan if you or your partner have been getting one or more of these benefits for the past six months:

• Pension Credit
• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance.

If you receive Universal Credit, you’ll have to apply for a Budgeting Advance. You can apply through your online account, call the helpline on 0800 328 5644 or contact your nearest Jobcentre Plus.

The amount you receive will depend on your circumstances – the minimum you can apply for is £100.

You don’t have to pay interest on Budgeting Loans or Budgeting Advances, but you will have to repay them. The repayments will be taken from your benefits.