People on certain benefits may be able to get a budgeting loan to pay for essential products or services if they are struggling with their finances.
Those who have been claiming Income Support, Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance, Income-related Employment and Support Allowance or Pension Credit for at least six months may be eligible for the loan, which is repaid through deductions from their benefits. These loans are not available to those claiming Universal Credit, however, they may be eligible for a Budgeting Allowance.
If someone has moved from Universal Credit to Pension Credit, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) will add the time they were getting Universal Credit to the six months. New online guidance, which could potentially help more people access the service, has been published and simplifies the process including eligibility, what it can be used for and how it is paid back to the DWP, reports the Daily Record.
