Emergency Help If You Have No Money Or Food. StepChange (2024)

Can I get any financial support from the government?

Check you are getting all the benefits you can

People in the UK miss out on billions of pounds in benefits and tax credits.

This includes a range of discounts and support.

Check what you can get by using our free benefits calculator.

Budgeting loans

The government no longer offers crisis loans.

You can apply for a budgeting loan instead.

You may be able to get this if you have an unexpected expense.

You must have been on one of these benefits for at least 26 weeks:

  • Income Support
  • Income-based Jobseeker's Allowance
  • Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
  • Pension Credits

You can use budgeting loans to help pay for things like:

  • Furniture
  • Appliances
  • Moving costs
  • Maternity expenses
  • Travel costs

The amount you can apply for depends on your situation.

Repayments are taken off your benefits.

Hardship payments

Hardship payments are for people who:

  • Have had benefits sanctions
  • Cannot pay their essential bills

Hardship payments apply to these benefits:

  • Universal Credit (UC)
  • Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

Read our guide about hardship payments and how to apply.

Short-term benefit advances

You may be able to apply for a short-term benefit advance.

This is when the benefit is paid early.

Repayments are:

  • Deducted from future benefits
  • Over about 12 weeks

You can get a short-term benefit advance if:

  • You need money before your first benefits payment is made
  • You need money now before your benefits go up
  • Your benefits will not be paid on its due date

You can apply for most benefits through your local Jobcentre Plus.

Read our guide to claiming benefits.

Can I stop my creditors chasing me for money?

Ask for a payment holiday

You can apply for a payment holiday from your:

  • Mortgage
  • Credit card
  • Loan
  • Hire purchase agreement

You do have to make up the payments missed during a payment holiday. These get treated as arrears.

Interest and charges may continue to be added to your debt.

Use one of our template letters to contact your creditors.

You can also contact us for free help with your debts.

Breathing Space to deal with your money worries

Also called the Debt Respite Scheme.

Breathing Space stops your creditors from contacting you while you deal with your debts.

If eligible, you can get up to 60 days' break from interest, fees and court action.

  • Breathing Space is available in England and Wales
  • In Scotland, the moratorium is a similar scheme, available for up to six months

Read our guide to Breathing Space and find out if you can apply.

Priority bills

Some bills are priorities because the impact of not paying them are greater.

You should pay certain bills and arrears first. Like your:

  • Council tax
  • Rates
  • Rent
  • Mortgage

Learn more about which debts to pay first

I cannot pay my utility bills, what can I do?

Energy arrears

If you are struggling with payments, contact your supplier to let them know. They will discuss your options to help you repay the arrears.

Energy arrears are priority debts. We can work with you on a plan to:

  • Make the repayments
  • Avoid being disconnected

Energy companies have lower tariffs available.

These are usually called ‘social tariffs’. They offer services for people who need further help like:

  • Hardship funds
  • Priority services registers

If you have a pre-payment meter, some food banks can also help by giving you a small top-up if you are out of credit.

We have made a guide to dealing with energy bills, covering:

  • If you owe the supplier money
  • Being treated fairly

The Energy Saving Trust has useful tips for:

  • Saving money on energy bills
  • Applying for financial support

Water bills

Water suppliers have support for people on low incomes and benefits.

Help varies between suppliers - find out more about support from water companies.

Can I get help with my mortgage?

Speak to your mortgage provider as soon as you can.

They can help you set up a plan to pay back missed payments.

They may also be able to offer you:

  • A payment holiday
  • An interest only mortgage
  • A longer mortgage term
  • An assisted voluntary sale scheme

Help from the government may be available if you receive benefits.

Find out more about mortgage arrears

Emergency Help If You Have No Money Or Food. StepChange (2024)

FAQs

How do I get money urgently? ›

An unsecured personal loan can act as an emergency loan, which can fund unexpected situations. They are typically swift, with deposits arriving within a day or two of loan approval. Some lenders fund emergency personal loans the same day you apply.

What to do when you have no money at all? ›

Whatever your situation, here are 13 fun things to do that don't cost money with friends and family:
  1. Go on a picnic. ...
  2. Go to no-cost museum and zoo days. ...
  3. Give geocaching a try. ...
  4. Leverage your chamber of commerce. ...
  5. Take a historical city tour. ...
  6. Visit a farmers market. ...
  7. Go camping. ...
  8. Do a photography challenge.
Feb 14, 2024

How to get an emergency fund? ›

7 easy steps to get your emergency fund started
  1. Make a budget and see where you can start saving more money. ...
  2. Determine your emergency fund goal. ...
  3. Set up a direct deposit. ...
  4. Gradually increase your savings. ...
  5. Save unexpected income. ...
  6. Keep saving after reaching your goal. ...
  7. Use a bank account bonus to jumpstart your savings.
Feb 29, 2024

What to do when you're broke and need money? ›

Once those subside, you'll find there are ways to get your hands on quick cash, without falling prey to scams.
  1. Sell spare electronics. ...
  2. Sell your gift cards. ...
  3. Pawn something. ...
  4. Work today for fast cash today. ...
  5. Seek community loans and assistance. ...
  6. Ask for forbearance on bills. ...
  7. Request a payroll advance.

How to get money in case of emergency? ›

8 Simple Ways to Get Emergency Money
  1. Personal Loan.
  2. Emergency Fund.
  3. Borrow from Family or Friends.
  4. Sell Unnecessary Items.
  5. EPF Advance.
  6. Loan Against Property.
  7. Cash Advance on Credit Card.
  8. Short-Term Loan.
Dec 6, 2023

How can I get real money ASAP? ›

25+ Ways to Make Quick Money in One Day
  1. Become a rideshare driver. ...
  2. Focus on freelancing. ...
  3. Sell unused gift cards. ...
  4. Carsharing or parking spot rentals. ...
  5. Send app referrals. ...
  6. Find unclaimed money. ...
  7. Deliver groceries or take out. ...
  8. Sell your clothes online.

How to get money when you have none? ›

96 Ways To Earn Money If You're Unemployed
  1. Take Online Surveys. Taking online surveys is one of the easiest ways to earn extra money. ...
  2. Test Websites. ...
  3. Open a High-Yield Savings Account. ...
  4. Participate In Mock Trials. ...
  5. Get Rewards for Searching. ...
  6. Become a Beta. ...
  7. Participate In Clinical Trials. ...
  8. Enter Contests.
May 8, 2023

Is there a way to get money for free? ›

There's no such thing as completely free money. If you're borrowing it from a bank, you'll have to pay interest. If you're selling a product, you'll first have to obtain the product or create it. That being said, there are a few ways to make a couple of bucks on the side with a minimal amount of effort.

What to do when you have no food or money? ›

Foodbank. It may not be something you've heard of, or you may have never thought of using one, but you can use a food bank. A food bank is a charitable organisation that distributes food to people in need. Anyone is able to use a food bank, regardless of whether you receive benefits, work part-time or work full time.

What if I don't have an emergency fund? ›

If you don't have any sort of emergency fund, you might end up having to rack up a large balance on a credit card to cover an unplanned expense. That could leave you owing lots of money in interest. Now ideally, you should aim to have enough money in emergency savings to cover three months of essential expenses.

What is a beginner emergency fund? ›

The short answer: If you're starting out, try to set aside an amount that would cover an important bill, say $500. But keep working your way up. You'll want to max out at about half a year's worth of expenses.

What is a fully funded emergency fund? ›

Tried-and-true advice tells us that a “safe” amount to have for a fully funded account should be three to six months' worth of expenses. This, of course, will depend on how much money you spend each month — so a fully funded emergency account will look a little different for everyone.

What to do when you are desperate for money? ›

20 ideas to make more money when you are thinking I desperately need money now
  • Shift to a smaller house. ...
  • Work overtime. ...
  • Ask for an advance. ...
  • Sell what you don't need. ...
  • Use your car to earn money. ...
  • Ask your friends and family for help. ...
  • Cut down your spending. ...
  • Get financial assistance from the government.
Nov 10, 2023

How to get money fast? ›

How to make money fast
  1. Become a rideshare driver. ...
  2. 2. Make deliveries. ...
  3. Help others with simple, everyday tasks. ...
  4. Pet sit. ...
  5. Sell clothes and accessories online. ...
  6. Sell unused gift cards. ...
  7. Earn a bank bonus. ...
  8. Take surveys.

How can I get some cash immediately? ›

9 ways to get fast cash
  1. Personal loans. A personal loan can give you cash fast. ...
  2. Lines of credit. Taking out a line of credit can help you get cash when needed without taking out more than you need. ...
  3. Payroll advance loans. ...
  4. Credit card cash advance. ...
  5. Retirement account loans. ...
  6. Life insurance loans. ...
  7. Community loans. ...
  8. Title loans.
Dec 8, 2023

What app can I use to get money immediately? ›

Best Cash Advance Apps
Cash Advance AppAdvance AmountsApp Store Rating
1. EarnInUp to $100 per day or $750 per pay period4.7
2. DaveUp to $500 per pay period4.8
3. Brigit$50 to $2504.8
4. Chime$20 to $2004.8
1 more row
Mar 28, 2024

How can I borrow money in an emergency? ›

Each has its pros and cons, and some may be a better fit for your situation and finances than others. If you need money sooner than later to fund your emergency bills, personal loans, payday loans, credit card cash advances and title loans may be the fastest path to the urgent cash you need.

How to get money within an hour? ›

Here are a few ways you can potentially earn extra cash in just one hour.
  1. Sell the old stuff. You know that old stuff you've got lying around, collecting dust? ...
  2. Share your opinion. ...
  3. Quick freelance tasks. ...
  4. Write away. ...
  5. Be a virtual assistant. ...
  6. Social media promotion. ...
  7. Food delivery. ...
  8. Package delivery.
Feb 23, 2024

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