Short-term Benefit Advance

You may be able to get help if you made a new claim to benefit other than Universal Credit and are having money problems.

Short-term benefit advance

You may be able to get an advance benefit payment to help you out over the short term.

Eligibility

To be eligible for a short-term benefit advance you must:

have made a new or repeat claim for a benefit other than Universal Credit (and be likely to be eligible for that benefit), or have reported a change in circumstances that increases the rate of benefit you currently receive
not have access to any other funds or support
be in urgent financial need that could put your or your family’s health, safety or well-being at immediate risk
be able to repay the advance within 12 weeks

You may be able to get a short term benefit advance of any of the following benefits

Bereavement Benefit
Carer’s Allowance
Employment and Support Allowance
Incapacity Benefit
Income Support
Job Seekers Allowance
Maternity Allowance
Pension Credit
State Pension
Widows Benefit

You cannot get a short term benefit advance of any of the following benefits

Disability Living Allowance
Personal Independence Payment Attendance Allowance
Universal Credit
Bereavement Support Payment

How to apply for a Short-term Benefit Advance

You will need to give the following information:

your National Insurance Number
details of your benefit
your account details

Apply to the Finance Support Service.

How the advance is paid

The advance will be paid into the account you use for your benefit.

If you are unhappy with a decision

You cannot appeal against a decision about a Short-term Benefit Advance, but you can ask for it to be reconsidered. You must ask for this on the day the decision was made by contacting the Finance Support Service

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Short-term Benefit Advance