Applying for a Crisis Loan

A Crisis Loan may be paid by Jobcentre Plus to assist if you have no other way of getting money.

A claim is made on form SF401 - this is normally completed by an officer at Jobcentre Plus but if you prefer, you can take it away and get help from your local social work office. It may help if you write out your reasons for claiming in advance and give this to the appropriate officer. Any payment has to be repaid in instalments. You do not need to receive Income Support to get a Crisis Loan, but if you receive any other benefits or wages they will be taken into account.

A loan will be paid if being without money will cause a risk to the health and safety of your family. For example, if you are in crisis due to having:

• lost all your money
• taken compulsory unpaid holidays
• a disaster (for example, fire or flood)
• to find emergency travel expenses

There is no automatic right to a Crisis Loan. Jobcentre Plus has restricted budgets and priorities which may affect your claim. However, this should not deter you from applying. You should note, however, that you might be refused a Crisis Loan if you claim too often.

How can Social Work Services help?

Social work may be able to assist in a small number of cases by providing you with a limited payment for immediate needs. This payment can be in cash or kind such as fuel cards, food or nappies.

We will need to know why you have no money. We will check whether you have been to a social work office before and whether you currently have a social worker. We will also check whether there have been previous requests and what these payments were for.

In the first instance we will expect that you have been to Jobcentre Plus and have requested, but been refused, a Crisis Loan. We will require proof that a claim has been made.  If you do not have proof of the decision, the person you speak to at your local social work office will phone Jobcentre Plus to confirm the decision.

We will then consider your particular circumstances. For example:

• do you have any dependant children?
• are you young, vulnerable and pregnant?
• are you vulnerable and have recently moved out of social work care?
• are you vulnerable with mental health problems?

If you are not in any of the above  categories but still feel that you need assistance, you may be able to access a payment. This would only be in “exceptional circumstances”, such as leaving a violent relationship or if there has been a fire in your home or it has been flooded. If you are unsure whether we can help you should contact your local social work office for advice.

If you cannot get to your local office, another social work office may be able to make a payment to you.  They will only do this, after contact has been made with your local office.

What happens next?

If you have been refused a Crisis Loan and social work decide to give you assistance this will normally be enough to last for one day. We will ask you to approach Jobcentre Plus to review the Crisis Loan decision. You should ask for a decision within 24 hours. If Jobcentre Plus still refuse to give a Crisis Loan we may be able to give more assistance until your next benefit payment or wage is due.

Your local social work office is open:

Monday to Thursday 8.45am to 4.45pm
Friday 8.45am to 3.55pm

If you need assistance out of hours contact our emergency service on:

Freephone 0800 811 505 

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