Crisis loans
Crisis Loans are emergency payments for unforseen or unavoidable circumstances, Crisis Loans can be either applied for over the phone on the latest CRISIS LOAN NUMBER or you can us an application form. The maximum crisis loan ammount available to any one household is £1500, and this limit it non negotiable. If you have hit your limit you can no longer be awarded any further loans until you have paid back some of the debt owed. In these circumstances you can apply for a Community Care Grant
To apply for a Crisis Loan online get the CRISIS LOAN ONLINE APPLICATION
Crisis loans over the Telephone:
In some circumstances Crisis Loan applications can be taken over the telephone in an interview that will take around half an hour, at the end of this time your application will be assessed by the person that you were speaking to whilst you are on hold and if awarded – the amount that can be paid to you will be sent to your local Jobcentre Plus office for collection as a Giro  that you can take to exchange for cash at you nominated Post Office that day.
The crisis loan application process is very simple, initially you will need to call the Social fund telephone number for your area and go through a set of security questions ( you will need your National Insurance number) and once you have done this you will need to explain the circumstances of your crisis.
Depending on the Nature of your crisis you may be offered a face to face interview or continue the application over the phone.
Generally you will be able to apply over the phone for any immediate disaster, or unforeseen loss of income- however may need to provide further information if your application relies on an application for money to secure a property ( Rent in advance) and you may be asked for a valid tenancy agreement
Crisis loans provide help for people who need money quickly because of expenses in an emergency or disaster. They can also help with rent in advance in certain circumstances. Crisis loans have to be paid back to the Social Fund, but they are interest-free. This means you will not have to pay back more than the amount of the loan. Crisis loans are discretionary which means that you will not get one just because you are eligible to apply. The benefit office will decide whether to pay you anything based on how much money is in the district Social Fund budget, and how urgently you need help.
Who can apply for a crisis loan
Anybody over the age of  16 can apply for a Crisis Loan, if they find themselves in a situation where they do not have enough income to provide for their immediate needs in the short term, this can be for single people or for families. A Crisis Loan is assessed based on the situation that you are in, and not for a future event, so  there is no point applying for an upcoming phone bill. To qualify for a Crisis Loan, you do not need to be on Benefits, however you do have to be in a situation where you are unable to obtain resources from another source, Bank loans or wages for example. There are some people that are excluded from being awarded Crisis Loans, this includes people under 16 those in permanent residential  care, and those in Prison.
Who cannot get a crisis loan
People in the following categorise cannot be awarded Crisis Loans:-
- Those  in a care home or in hospital, unless you are going to be discharged within the next two weeks
- Those that are a prisoner being held in prison or on home leave
- Those that are a member of a religious order which meets all your accommodation and living costs
- Those that  are under 19 and in full-time education (unless you are getting Income Support, income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance or income-related Employment and Support Allowance).
Your Immigration status will have an effect on your ability to be awarded a Crisis Loan
If you are unsure if you will qualify or are able to apply, you can speak to your local  Citizens Advice Bureau. to get advice be e-mail you can contact yourÂ
nearest CAB.
What expenses can a crisis loan be made for
A crisis loan can be paid for any specific need unless it is an excluded expense. However, the need must have arisen because of an emergency or disaster, or because you have to pay rent in advance in certain circumstances. An emergency or a disaster could be a fire or flood, or some other event which means you need something very quickly which you cannot afford. The crisis loan must be the only way that you can avoid serious damage or risk to the health or safety of you or a member of your family.
| What is a Crisis Loan? | An interest free loan, which is available to assist people to meet their immediate short-term needs in an emergency or as a consequence of a disaster. Available to people who have no other means of getting help to avoid serious risk to health or safety. |
| Eligibility | Anyone aged 16 or over. Applicant does not have to be getting any kind of Social Security Benefit in order to be considered for a CL.
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| Features | What can a Crisis Loan be used for?
How much can be borrowed?
Repaying the loan.
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| How to apply |
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| More information | Advise that further details of Crisis Loans would be given when they called the Crisis Loan telephone number and /or by accessing the direct.gov site |

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Hi, I have recently moved into a private let property but am £150 short on rent after a unexpectedly high credit card bill. Will I be able to get help to pay my rent? If not do you know of any other way to help? Thanks.
Jade, if you have already moved in then you can’t get a rent in advance crisis loan. you may be able to apply for living expenses ( food/gas elect) though.
i was wondering if anyone could help for the past few years i have been depressed because both my parents have passed away and have no family and have attempted suicide twice in the last two weeks once i ended up in hospital overnight i dont have a cooker and was just wondering could i apply for one on the crisi loan but i think i got one about 2 years ago but had to use the money to pay off my parents funeral expenses i am getting help with councellors now but would they be able to speak to a crisis loan officer on my behalf
Stephen, you can call with your councillor and give them the authority to apply on your behalf- you should have no problem getting a CL, however a BL is done in writing, however your councillor should be able to help with that.
hi i was wondering if i can apply for a crisis loan, i am 17 and currently living in market wells ( sheltered accomodation ) on the wirral in liverpool. I am currently earning no income as income support is messing me about with my money, i applied a month ago and still no money, i called up to ask and they said for me to give a letter to say im no longer living with my parents and they also said it may take a few more weeks. But to be honest i carnt wait another few weeks because a need a freezer, kettle, toaster, cutlery, bowls, plates, pans and food. I have been living off cupboard food for a month now as i only have an icebox in my fridge. I havnt eaten much since ive been living here because i have only soup and noodles, these foods arnt really my taste as i have been living off them for a while now. Help please i am starting to feel very down and depressed and need it, thankyou
Ryan,
apply for a crisis loan, on the basis is of needing “an alignment to benefit” until your I.S is sorted-
I need help no foodand got nothing else
Hi, I’m single mum of one 6 years old girl. I’m temporarily unemployed, waiting for JSA and housing benefit. We renting a 1 bedroom flat now, but I have no more money to pay the rent, and cant move in another place for the same reason… Can I apply for crisis loan?
Thanks
You cash apply for a crisis loan for food, and gas etc.. but the rent should be covered by housing benefits once your JSA is sorted.
hi i am currently off work sick and my ssp1 has ended, which means my working tax credits has stopped. i recieve child tax credit which is around 50 pounds a week. i am waiting to hear regarding esa but havent heard anything yet. the next two weeks i will only have an income of 50 pounds so that will be 25pounds. which does not cover my bills let alone the food costs for me and my daughter. what advice would you give?
Hi Emma,
i would suggest that you apply to the social fund for a crisis loan- ask for one on the grounds of needing an “alignment to benefit”. They will only pay for food, gas and electric ( if your are on top up meters) Crisis loan number
When does the 12month rolling year start again? i had my first loan in june 2011 and last in december. is the rolling year 4th april-4th april?
many thanks
dan
Hi Dan,
A rolling year is individual, in your case your 12 months starts 365 days after you hurts loan ( that was after April 2011) so in July your only application would be the december one.
Hi,
I’m 22 and I have just got off of an apprenticeship with Microsoft and found a job that I start next week. I need money so that I can get to work and pay my monthly car insurance this month, I just don’t have enough money to get me through until I get my first pay check at the end of April. Would I qualify for a crisis loan?
Thanks,
Nathan
You could apply for an alignment to wages- however they would only pay for food and gas/electric- not the motoring costs unfortunately.
my exs cousin was on jsa an got half her car insurance paid for her
and why is that pick up when i write something?!!!!
go on gumtree free stuff loads of people give away there unwanted prams.also put a wanted add up for 1 as someone will get back to you.
Good advice.
However would you trust a used pram?
hiya i am unemployed and have a baby of 5 months her buggy is brocken i rang crisi loan they said they couldn’t help… any ideas on how i can get a new buggy?
Apply for a CCG
Hi,i received a letter yesterday that my esa money had been stopped due to a non attendance of a medical examination. I had legitimate reasons for not attending and informed the necessary people of why i could not attend
They have deemed my reason not viable and have therefore stopped my claim,I have 4 children and am due to move home this friday! i am due to be payed on friday also but this will not happen now,is there any chance i would be able to get a crisis loan as i was to pay removal fees and shopping out of my money,thanks for any help
I was claiming jsa but have had to stop due to mental health problems (anxiety, depression, psychosis – I have been referred to my local mental health care team & had an innitial psychiatrist assesment & am about to start medication) & claim esa instead. I was wondering if there i could get a loan to pay for food. I am currently living with family though they are evicting me soon – don’t know where im going to go. Currently though its just food i need money for as I have ibs and it is aggravated by the food that they eat. The job centre first agreed to pay the last 2 weeks of jsa to me but then decided not to and shut down my claim (didnt tell me til I got help from the CAB to try and chase what happened to the sick note they also took from me!) I realise it could take weeks to hear about my claim for esa & I literally only have £3.67 left. I dont really want to have to eat food that will make me unwell. I also use public transport as I cant drive. Just want to know if there is anything that might be able to help. I have been declared bankrupt in the past so am unable to apply for loans – my bank will only allow me a basic savings account!
I applied for a crisis loan for rent in advance and they told me it takes up to 10 days to process? I tried applying on the phone and they told me to download a form and send it off.
Hi i claimed for income support just over 2 weeks ago with my partner who is 31 weeks pregnant, this claim is still going through as the jobcentre messed up the claims and didnt close down my old claim so we have had no money.
I applied for a crisis loan and got £48 for 5 days for 2 people , Now that ONLY coveres gas and electricity in my property leaving £8 for me and my PREGNANT partner to live on for the 5 days . I can get by on that but not my partner she cant just eat ‘noodles’ for 5 days.
Any advice would be apprechiated.
(i have asked for an emergency payment through income support but that aint happening anytime soon)
hi, i started a rapid reclaim on march the 13th and im not due to sign untill 5th of aprill which is a thursday so it will be the following tuesday before i get paid, will i be elegible for a crisis loan to cover my living costs food ect, thanks craig
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