The Social Fund is a Government Scheme aimed at helping the disadvantaged or those that are in immediate Crisis, to obtain grants or no interest loans to help in the event of unforeseen circumstances or disaster.
For people on limited income it may sometimes be very difficult to budget effectively for emergency expenses like funeral costs, the costs of a new baby or one-off payments for large items, fridgefreezers, beds, removal costs or furnishing a new home.
People who have just ended employment may also find themselves in a position where they have no income coming in at all. For those that need money in there banks within the next 15 minutes try Payday Loans Reviews
The Government have made sure that there is help to be had when you find yourself in a Crisis situation, through the Department of Work and Pensions ( DWP) and Job centre Plus ( JCP) There is money available for these situations, although it is limited.
This is known as the Social Fund. The Social Fund includes funeral payments, maternity grants, crisis loans, budgeting loans, community care grants and cold weather payments. Added to that Winter fuel payments are also a type of Social Fund payment, however these are restricted to those that are 60 or over.
If you are on a low income, you may also be able to get benefit to help with your living costs, your rent or other housing costs and your Council Tax.
Loading ...
{ 86 comments… read them below or add one }
I hearby claim this section mine….
I just want the telephone number of the social fund loan. I got nothing
Please explain? do you mean that you applied and were turned down? if so you are able to ask for a review of the decision in the first instance, and if you dont win that you can go to the IRS who will look at the decision independently- dont give up on your social fund loan!
The number I dialled was 0845 604 3719. It wasn’t the right one but if you give them your postcode they’ll tell you the correct number for your area. Worked for me! Good luck!
I tried this and they gave me the number. It is 08456036967. Thank you. Hope this will also be of use to others. x
can i hav the phone number to the social fund plz
Hi Mark (and anyone else)
After several days searching and calling I have finally come up with a definitive social fund number
08456036967
Deals only with social fund enquiries so no complicated automated menus that make you want to throw the phone
cheers
thanks a lot for putting that number on here.I’v been searching for ages for right one.Got form sent out to me straight away
I just need advice my daughter is 33 weeks pregnant we have had the sure start grant the money we had we could not afford everything we still need to get a cot can i claim a grant
hello could i havwe the number to call budgettin loan and find out wen loan will be paid into my account thamku
i appiled for a months rent paid in advance when will i hear back from them as its the money for a house
It takes roughly 10 days, however they should be able to give you an answer over the phone after 5 working days- so you know where you are.
Can i please have the phone number to call to request a budgeting loan???? there aint a number anywhere!!!
i have applied for a budgeting loan and got a reply saying i need to accept it, i accepted, how long does it take to come onto my account?
5-10 working days is the target.
does a budgeting loan paid into a post office account go through the same bacs system the banks use? sent back my acceptance letter on wed 25th and was wondering how long it might take? thx in advance
As a general rule YES -most payments are iss’d using the BACS system ( you can get an immediate 15minutes credit to your account, but in exceptional circumstances) it shoudl take a maximum of 10 days from getting your acceptance letter to the payment being with you.
i applied for a budgeting loan 2 weeks ago and still havent heard anything. how long does it normally take to get a reply to an application ?
it takes around 10 days, but can take longer.
Hi I was wondering when I would get a payment ! which I have been accepted for ! I know it has been difficult to process forms with xmas and new year please could you let me know when it will be paid thank you .
For Crisis Loans and Community Care Grants, phone 08000327950.
social fund number is 08456036967 cheers xxx
how do i apply for the social fund
2/3 years ago from asking for a form for a budget loan to it being paid into your account took about 10 days i sent a form in 2weeks ago and still have”nt heard anything onringing up to enquire about my application i was told i was ringing scotland and everything is now centralised there and would take around five weeks to prcess so much for emergency help fast.
Hi
Hullo.
Hello, I applied for a budgeting loan few weeks ago. I sent letter back and was told acceptance letter was received today when will the money be in my account. (Monday 25th July)
The whole process generally takes 10 days from the date the letter is rec’d
whats number for social fund from lincoln please ?
Crisis loans use a national number, however CCG’s and BL’s are dealt with by specific benefit centres- call the national social fund number and ask them to check beaded on your post code- they will then give you the correct number
All of my questions settled-thkans!
Crisis loans use a national number, however CCG’s and BL’s are dealt with by specific benefit centres- call the national social fund number and ask them to check beaded on your post code- they will then give you the correct number
hello I need to know asap if the crisis loan wil pay for agent fees as i am homeless and have found a place nbut cant afford admin fees?????????????
No the social fund will not pay admin charges.
hi i was wondering if you could please give me the number to apply for a budgeting loan? i have searched many websites and none of the numbers are in use an more! thanks
am i able to apply for a social fund loan to cover travel expenses
i applied for a sure start maternity grant an was refused as i had 3 other children all my children are in care an all there stuff was taken with them i am now pregnant again an have a chance to keep my baby i applied for a ssmg an was told no as my daughter was on my esa claim even though esa dont pay for children so i was told to apply again i have sent proof from my social worker to say none of my kids live with me an i have been refused again this is my last chance at keeping my child an due to this stupid decision i am very likely to loose my unborn baby when he is born as i dont have everything he needs i am in hospital as i have pre eclampsia and theres to much fluid round the baby an he has a 1 in 120 chance of being born with downs and still cant get help i have no where else to turn but if i was a drug user or an alcoholic they wud throw money at me would any1 have any advice on what to do next i am eing induced tomoz so my baby will be here by sunday the latest an im petrified i dont deserve to loose my child as i have changed my whole life an have done everything expected of me and now because of this i could risk loosing the only child i have a chance with plz HHHHEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPP me
Hi, im currently 38 weeks pregnant and applied for a community care grant to get carpet, a cooker, a fridge freezer, a washine mashine and a bed as i recently moved into a property with no furniture and no money to buy furniture and its causing me alot of stress which is making me very ill. I had the Islington benefits team help me fill in the form and send it off, i got a reply a few days later saying im not entittled to it. Why not???
I applied for a Social Fund payment in September 2010 to help towards my wife’s funeral. I received a payment which only covered a fraction of the cost minus a payment made by DLA. I took this to a tribunal as I felt you had taken too much. You freely admitted that you had take over £146 too much which the tribunal endorsed. That was in March 2011, I am still waiting to receive the money. Why????
I Have recently found a job and have had quite a few crisis loans how do i pay them back? and would i still be able to pay in installements as i am not earning very much?
how do you have to pay it back
Hi, I need to know which social fund will be most appropriate to apply for, I want to apply for household stuff to enable me to adapt my flat so I can use my wheelchair and remain living here, Im confused as to weather to apply for a CCG or budgeting loan?
thanks
is anyone able to comment on this query please?
i applied for budgeting loan on 10th august have not recieved a reply is there a contact number to call thanks
the number for social fund is 08456036967
0845 603 6967 That’s the number for the social fund, no matter where you live.
how do i get in contact regards a budgeting loan? i have already applied and been accepted for one i sent the acceptance letter last saturday (9 days ago) i just want to make sure that dwp received my acceptance letter and the money will be in my account shortly as i need it within the next week to pay for my first months rent and bond upfront. i cannot find the number ANYWHERE its driving me mad all that seems to be on here is giving you the crisis loan number which i dont need then the general jobcentre plus number only gives you 5 options now and none of them are to do with budgeting loans. help!!
Hi. I have found rented accomodation and need to pay the 1st months rent (300) and deposit (300) before moving in. I dont have the money though and was wondering if i would be eligible? My husband works part time (£150 every fortnight) but was off work for 6 weeks recently and our housing benefit has been suspended and we have fallen behind with our current rent. We are moving because our landlord wants to renevote and have work done on this house asap. I have a 2 year old son. Also, once we move i will need to partly furnish the house, would i get any help towards this? Thanks
i have applyed for a community care grant a month ago and not heard anything i have tryed ringing but its always engaged
hya my 15 year old brother has moved in with me,i work 16 hours a week but need some money to buy him a bed and clothes will i qualify for any help?
If you are wanting to get money from the social fund for a funeral and you are the next of kin and claiming some sort of benefits you should get the cost of the grave or cremation fee paid for and £700 towards the cost of the funeral.
Hi I have been on incapacity benefit for the past 8 -9 years and have never been able to get a loan except for crisis loan’s , can i get a different one, for help with buying clothes etc? , other people i know get the same amount of money, and benefit but get income support too and can get other loans and even grant’s, why am i not aloud too?? seems unfair, plz help , thankyou
hi,i have applied for a budgeting loan,can you tell me how long it is taking to hear back from the day it ws posted.
Generally it takes 10 days for an answer
I sent my form back on the 17th october,when should i expect to hear back thanks
Just been searching high and low eventually got through to my local office and was told I have to ring this number now for social fund, 08456036967 hope that helps.
hi the fone no i got was 08456 036 967, the social fund phone no!! hope this helps u all, complete nitemare of a system/webpage they have! u will have to choose option 2 and then option 2 again!!!
x
I’m currently getting contribution based ESA, i’ve tried looking everywhere to see if i can get some sort of loan from the social fund but it appears that i’ve shot it for any help, unless im burying someone or recieving income based ESA. In which case i can only apply for a crisis loan anyway, is that right?
Hi Dawn,
In theory if you ONLY qualify for Contribution based benefit then you either 1) have savings/ investments 2) have a partner working 3) claimed the wrong benefit.
scenarios 1&2 would make a crisis loan unlikely- however 3, should mean that you could get help as you MAY have an underlying entitlement it income based ESA.
EVEN though your on fonts based you can apply for a crisis loan ( a BL/CCG would require means tested benefit- but not a C/L)
give them a call…
weres my comment gone?
why is it that it’s just taken 20 minutes to get through to speak to a human being whatever happened to the days when you could go to your local benefits office and see a person behind a desk and you call this progress its ok for those that live near a job centre that can get to their jc easily but my nearest one is 15 to 20 miles away also your national call centers system is as far as i’m concerned a complete cockup for the system for 1 thing the length of time your kept hanging on the phone not to mention the cost of the calls i mean come on 20 mins is rediculous if your going to insist on call centers at least make the numbers 0800 numbers better still bring back face to face contact. cause we aint got pots of goldwhen your on benefits every penny has to count
Hi, i was just wondering if i would be eligible for any grants or loads and if so how much?. im pregnant and will be moving into a house soon but i would need help with furniture throughout and a nursery
Thanks
Apply for a maternity grant, or a community care grant
I applied for a budgeting loan 3 weeks ago,was sent a amount and had to send declaration back,which i did the same day,now been waiting over a week for a letter or money be put in my account. Today i decided to phone them and see whats going on,only to find they have lost my forms. They are sending new ones and i have to do the process all over again. Dont see why i have to do it again as clearly they have had forms to know how much i can get.
The reason that they need your reply is that they need to have your signature accepting the terms of the loan ( much like any other lender) otherwise you could come back in two weeks and say that you didnt agree to deductions, therefore wont pay it back.
hi,i applied for a budgeting loan & got a reply for an offer within 4 days,i have sent my declaration,accepting it,back and i wondered how you will know the payment is in your account,without going to p.o everyday,and also how long it will take to recieve a payment,thanks,x
Dave- the payment should be in your account after 10 workings days.
i applied for a budgeting loan 3 weeks ago. got a acceptance letter 1 week ago and sent it back the same day. i called up today and they say they dont have my declaration and they will have to send another one. how long will i be waiting till i get the money
It is a busy time of year…. However work on 10 days each way..
hi again,ive phoned bugeting loans to see if they had recieved my declaration and they said they had,however they said i had signed the part that said i was sending additional papers with my declaration and not the bit that said i will accept the loan! Im sure there was only one place to sign on the declaration and i definatly remember ticking the amount that was offered! What a nightmare! They have now said their gonna send it back to re-sign? Is there two places to sign on the declaration form? Please could you advise me on this,i know,”wot a plonker” but if i ticked the amount and signed an dated the same a4 piece of paper,does it really matter if it was the wrong place? Thank you very much for your last reply,x
Hi
I need to apply for a new budgeting loan, but i’m still currently paying one off, last one was used to secure somewhere to live fast me and my daughter where in a studio, so after buying her cot and paying rent in advance it was all gone. We have now been lucky to find a 2 bed with a very understanding landlord who has set up a payment plan to pay my deposit.
I have no bed (slept on the floor for a year)
have no sofa I could use as a bed,
we have no chairs of any kind so we sit on cushions when in the livingroom or eating meals.
I also have no where to store clothing (dont think this is covered by budgeting loan tho??)
I was wondering if i can indeed apply for another one when still paying off one? and also what I need to do, as in do i need to specifiy what we need seeing as i had one before and just ticked the box’s?
any help would be appreciated, even if its just a phone number to someone who can explain more to me.
You can apply for two loans at once- however it is unlikely that they will pay you again for items that they have already paid for- so if you applied for a bed a few weeks ago, they will turn you down for another one. so basically if you have spent the money on things other than what you asked for it for, you won’t get money to buy those items again.
If you have paid your rent in advance, you should be able to get this back as housing benefit should have paid up to date by now?
Hi I sent off for a budgeting loan 10th December how long does it take before I’ll have an answer x
Im guessing after xmas now- as you need to get an offer, after the application is processed, THEN send it back and wait for payment… the department close next week, not opening again until the 29th..
What the payment team r closed that not what they told me today said i get paid my loan in 3working days!
i sent mine of beginning of october and still havent heard anything at all off them!
Hi how long take get paid in post office for budget loan, i heard it can be withen 3hours ????
Hi
I got accepted for a budgeting loan I sent off the declaration form a week yesterday am I likely to get the payment before Xmas.
Thanks
Robert
i had a reply to my social fund loan saying i was accepted i had i choice of 3 amounts and i chose the one which was the closest to the amount i needed, so i sent of the reply today, my question is as its nearly Christmas how long will it take for them to receive the form? also how long will it take for the money to be issued into my account. thank you
Please please somebody help…..
I applied for JSA on 13th December (and housing benefit a couple of weeks later) and have been attending my signing interviews etc. i am told my claim is live but thy have not started paying it yet.
i now find myself 546 odd pounds behind with my rent -i called and try to aply for a crisis/budgeting loan and was told im not applicable as i havent been on jsa for 26 weeks and also they do not pay rent arrears. is there anything i can do as my landlord although he has been very patient has mortgage payments due out tomorrow and is asking when i will be able to pay. Thanks
Have you asked your council about backdating your housing benefit? – as this seems to be the route cause of the issue, and the most logical place to start.
if you were on means tested benefits, then you should automatically qualify for housing benefit as they are passported.
I applied for a budgeting loan the begining of october and still havent heard anything back from them, any idea how long this is actually going to take?
can i check on web site to see if my social fund has been approved
Hi I applied for social fund on mon 2 jan 2012
How long will it take for a response ?
Me and my partner will be moving into our
First home in the next couple of weeks and need
Things like fridge ,freezer ,sofa and bed ..
Shall I call them ?
Please comment back
Hi emily- yes call them
i am claiming ESA …..I HAVE FOUND A FLAT COZ MY AUNT WANTS ME TO GET MY OWN PLACE,,BUT I NEED A MONTHS RENT AND A BOND UP FRONT ..CAN I GET ANY HELP…THANKS