Recoverable Hardship Payment - What is a Recoverable Hardship Payment?
Recoverable Hardship Payments are reduced-rate payments of Universal Credit (UC) that are made in limited circumstances, including if you have been sanctioned.
- Last reviewed 17 January 2025
You may be able to get a Recoverable Hardship Payment of Universal Credit (UC) if your UC is being paid at a reduced (or nil) rate because of a benefit sanction or because you have committed a benefit offence.
You or your partner or children must be experiencing hardship and in most cases you must show that you or your family will suffer hardship unless benefit is paid.
Important: Recoverable Hardship Payments are loans that you have to pay back.
Some people visit this page looking for information on:
- Help replacing white goods (like cookers, washing machines)
- Help covering an unexpected cost
- Help with costs for food
- Help with debt
- Help with funeral costs
- Budgeting loans and advances
Applies to: England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
Age rules: You must be 18 or over. Some 16 and 17 year olds can get Hardship Payments in certain circumstances.
Type of benefit: Eligibility depends on the amount of income and capital you have. See full definition
Taxable: No
Administered by: Jobcentre Plus
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