What is a Universal Credit budgeting advance and how much could I get?

STRUGGLING Universal Credit claimants can apply for a budgeting advance to help them get by – we explain how much you could claim.

The cash can be used to pay for emergency households costs such as buying a new cooker, funeral expenses or for help getting a job or staying in work.

AlamyUniversal Credit claimants can get a budgeting advance of up to £812 to help them get by[/caption]

The budgeting advance is a loan so it’ll need to be repaid, but it could come in handy if you have sudden expenses and you’re strapped for cash.

It’s different to an advance payment, which is a loan to help you through the five-week wait for your first Universal Credit payment.

With Christmas round the corner, getting a budgeting advance could help those struggling to make ends meet get through one of the most expensive times of the year.

Here’s how much you could get for a budgeting advance, who is eligible and how to apply.

How much can I get?

The maximum you can get for a budgeting advance is £348 if you’re single with no children or £464 if you are a couple with no children.

If you do have children, you can get up to £812 as a loan.

The lowest amount you can get for a budgeting advance is £100.

Who’s eligible for a budgeting advance and what can I use it for?

To get a budgeting advance, you must have:

Been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for six months or more, unless you need the money to help you start a new job or keep an existing jobEarned less than £2,600 (£3,600 jointly for couples) in the past six monthsPaid off any previous budgeting advances

How much you can get depends on whether you can pay the loan back and whether you have any savings over £1,000.

Your first £1,000 of savings will be ignored, but the loan amount you are offered will be reduced by £1 for every £1 you have over that first £1,000.

You can apply for a budgeting advance to cover things like:

A one-off item – for example, replacing a broken fridgeWork-related expenses – for example, buying uniform or toolsUnexpected expensesRepairs to your homeTravel expensesMaternity expensesFuneral expensesMoving costs or rent depositEssential items, like clothes

When do you pay it back?

Claimants who have taken out a budgeting advance loan have to pay it back within the first 12 months of getting it.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) deduct an amount from your Universal Credit payment every month, starting with your first one.

You can work out how much will be deducted from your payment every month by dividing the full cost of the loan by 12.

For example, if you borrowed £812 you will see roughly £68 taken off your Universal Credit payment every month.

If you stop getting Universal Credit, you’ll have to agree another way to repay the loan.

How to apply for a budgeting advance

You can apply for a budgeting advance by calling the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644, or 0800 012 1888 if you’d like to speak in Welsh.

An advisor will then look at whether you can pay the loan back – they’ll see if you have any debts and how much you owe to help work this out.

The phone lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, and you’ll normally get a decision on the same day.

Alternatively, you can apply through your online account or speak to your Jobcentre Plus work coach.

What other options do I have?

If your application is rejected, you can’t appeal but you can ask for the decision to be looked at again.

It will help if you can give new evidence or show that your circumstances have changed since your first request.

If you’re still rejected, you may be able to apply for help from the Flexible Support Fund.

The money can be used to help cover the costs of things such as childcare, uniforms, or work tools as long as they help you get a job.

This is only supposed to be issued if all other help has been exhausted – but that’s not to say that you’re not entitled to it.

Alternatively, it might also be worth seeing if you can get a grant to buy any white goods that have broken.

In August, there were 8,000 charities and organisations in the UK that offered cash to help struggling families.

Turn2Us has a free grants search tool so you can find out what help is available to you.

You’ll need to search for what’s available specifically in your area by entering your postcode.

Find out more about what Universal Credit is and whether you might be eligible for a claim.

It comes as the harsh taper rate has been slashed which means households can keep more of the cash they earn.

This was a victory for The Sun’s campaign as the £1,000 boost hit claimants’ bank accounts last week.