Why is this important?

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Social Fund loans

This information applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland

About Social Fund loans

If you get certain benefits, you may be entitled to help from the Social Fund for one-off expenses. You have to pay back what you borrow but you don't have to pay any interest.

The help you can apply for includes:

  • Crisis loans to help with an emergency or disaster
  • Budgeting loans to help with certain costs, for example, furniture, clothing, advance rent or removal expenses for a new home, travelling expenses, maternity and funeral expenses, getting and starting a job
  • Funeral Payments to help pay for a funeral you're arranging. You might have to repay some or all of it from the estate of the person who died.

In certain circumstances you may also be able to get a grant from the Social Fund, for example, a maternity grant or community care grant.

For more information about the Social Fund, see Help for people on a low income - the Social Fund.

For more information on what you may be entitled to, see What benefits can I get?

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Further help and information

On Adviceguide

For more information about the Social Fund, see Help for people on a low income - the Social Fund.

You may also find the following Adviceguide information helpful:

The Money Advice Service

The Money Advice Service is a free, independent service. Their website (www.moneyadviceservice.org.uk) has lots of useful information about borrowing and managing your money.

Go to their website for more information about:

Directgov

www.direct.gov.uk.

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