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Crisis Loans
A Crisis Loan is an interest-free loan from the Social Fund, which is intended to help people with their immediate short-term need in an emergency or disaster. You do not have to be claiming benefits to be awarded a loan, but you will need to repay the loan over a specific period of time.
In order to get a Crisis Loan, you must be aged 16 or over, and either you are unable to pay for basic living costs, which could result in being a serious risk to the health and safety of your family, or unable to pay for something else that could result in being a serious health risk to you or your family.
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Do I qualify?
You will qualify for a Crisis Loan if:
- You are aged 16 or over
- You have insufficient funds to pay for the immediate short-term needs for you or your family
How much will I receive?
There is no standard amount that you can apply for. However, the loan cannot exceed £1,000.
The amount that you are given will depend on your particular circumstances. Any savings that you may have and whether or not you have previously borrowed money from the Social Fund will affect the amount that you are likely to receive.
How do I claim?
You will need to complete the Crisis Loan claim form (SF401) in order to make your claim.
You can obtain the Crisis Loan claim form from the Department for Work and Pensions website by logging on to www.dwp.gov.uk, or by clicking your mouse on the following link:
Please click here to download the Crisis Loan claim form (SF401).
Is there anything else I should know?
Before you get any money, you will have to agree how you will pay the loan back. If you have problems paying back your loan, you will need to contact the Social Security office and inform them of any problems, as they may be able to offer some help.
It is important that you can prove your identity when you make your claim. You may be asked about your background and asked to take any official documents that you have to prove your identity before any claim is paid.
A Crisis Loan will not be awarded if you have applied for a Crisis Loan or Community Care Grant during the previous 26 weeks (irrespective of whether or not a payment has been made) unless there has been a relevant change in your circumstances, or you declined or did not respond to an offer
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