Check if you're eligible

To get a Budgeting Loan you must have been getting one or more of these benefits for the past 6 months:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credit

If you moved from Universal Credit to Pension Credit, any time spent claiming Universal Credit will count towards the 6 months.

There鈥檚 a different way to get a .

When you cannot apply

If you currently get Universal Credit, you cannot get a Budgeting Loan. Apply for a Budgeting Advance instead.

You also cannot get a Budgeting Loan if:

  • you get New Style Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance or New Style Employment and Support Allowance
  • you鈥檙e involved in industrial action (for example a strike, walkout or lockout)
  • you owe more than 拢1,500 in total for Crisis Loans and Budgeting Loans