Budgeting Loan/Advance - What is a Budgeting Loan/Advance?

A Budgeting Loan is extra money on top of your benefits to help pay for certain essentials.You have to pay back a Budgeting Loan.

A Budgeting Advance is an extra amount of Universal Credit to help you pay for certain expenses.You have to pay back a Budgeting Advance.

A Budgeting Loan or Advance can help you to pay for:

• Furniture and household equipment, clothing and footwear

• Rent in advance and/or removal expenses to new accommodation

• The costs of improvement, maintenance and security of your home

• Essential travelling expenses and expenses due to you getting or starting a job

• Maternity or funeral expenses.

Before you apply for a Budgeting Loan or Advance, check whether you can get these payments which you do not have to pay back:

• Funeral Payment 
• Local Welfare Assistance
• Sure Start Maternity Grant (England, Wales, Northern Ireland) or Best Start Grant (Scotland).
• Flexible support scheme funding
• Charitable grants

Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Age rules: No specific age rules

Taxable: No

Administered by: Department for Work and Pensions (DWP)