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Original poster

Crisis Loans

14 replies

nutcracker · 03/03/2006 08:46

If you go the social security office to apply for one, do they give you the money there and then ?

My Income support still hasn't come through and neither have my tax credits and I am down to about £50 and need do do a food shop.

Was really hoping I could manage until my IS came through but I don't think it's possible now.

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 03/03/2006 09:00

bump

OP posts:
Filyjonk · 03/03/2006 09:04

Hi. I'm pretty confident about this but have been on ML for the last 6 months so am a bit rusty.

Now:-You should be able to just go in and apply, or you can apply online (DWP website, I think). Or phone. It does depend on local DWP policy.

You might have problems if you're applying if your IS has just run out? Or is there something up with your tc too? If so, the social fund may argue that you need to ask for a counter payment of one or both benefits.

If you can show that there has been some sort of emergency (and sadly the DWP does not tend to see its own or the IR incompetance as an emergency) and you cannot meet your immediate short term needs/those of your family as a result, you should get a loan.

If you have no money (incl savings etc) or are literally about to run out then they should process the application and give you money the same day.

Take it the money is not for anything specific so you can't apply for a Community Care Grant?

Sorry if a bit garbled. Good luck. Get help from a CAB/advicecentre if you need to.

If you post a bit more about your situation I'll try to help.

Original poster
nutcracker · 03/03/2006 09:08

Have split up with my partner and have applied for IS about 3 weeks ago now but it hasn't come through yet.
Rang tax credits to update circumstances and they have stopped all money until I re apply. Only sent the form off yesterday as it took them a week to send it.

So basically I have 3 kids an no money coming in at all for food bills or anything.

OP posts:
Filyjonk · 03/03/2006 09:09

So you're waiting for a decision on IS/TC then?

Original poster
nutcracker · 03/03/2006 09:10

Yep

OP posts:
Loobie · 03/03/2006 09:18

In a word nutty YES!! You can call up your local jobcentre and ask for a crisis loan,they may give you another number to call and have it all processed on the phone.Then you will need to go to the jobcentre and collect a giro to cash at the post office for your money.Thats how its done here anyway.You can also apply online and by post but that wont be done the same day.
Tell them you have no food and are on prepayment meters for your fuel and they only have a few pence on them so are not going to last the weekend.
The crisis loan will need repaid once you get your benefits sorted out but this shouldhelp in the meantime.

Original poster
nutcracker · 03/03/2006 09:19

If i go and they do it there and then that will be ok, but if I have to wait a few dyas I will be stuffed.

Still cannot believe they are allowed to leave people in this position.

OP posts:
Original poster
nutcracker · 03/03/2006 09:21

Ah thanks Loobie, actually I am down to the last pence on my meters too LOL.

Will get on to it straight away.

OP posts:
Filyjonk · 03/03/2006 09:21

In that case you should have no problems getting a crisis loan. If you have no (or very little) money they should process it the same day.

but you could altenatively ask for an interim payment of your IS while waiting for a decision.

TC will just take their own sweet time, IME. They are awful.

Just seen you have £50. Probably means you won't get a crisis loan if you declare this (yes stupid I know, they are aimed at people with literally nothing). Maybe do the food shop first?

Also they will ask about contributions from your exp.

Original poster
nutcracker · 03/03/2006 09:22

Wasn't planning on telling them I have £50 tbh.

I mean if i have to pay it back when my money is sorted out what difference does it make to them what I need it for and how much.

God they make me mad.

OP posts:
Filyjonk · 03/03/2006 09:29

Yes they always make me grumpy too.

If you were my client, I would not advise you to conceal the £50, but I would stress that it'll be pretty hard for them to find out about it. And they don't really care unless you're being bloody obvious about defrauding them, eg working while claiming or something.

Best of luck. Just what you need right now, I expect?

Go see the cab or similar if you're turned down.

Loobie · 03/03/2006 13:09

Nutty how did you get on??
Hope they offered you something and you are away out to get it sorted and get in some shopping for you and the kids!!
They will only provide emergancy funds for food and fuel,i know this becuase a friend of mine went for her shopping and her purse was stolen from the top of her dd pramAngry she phoned up for a crisis loan and even though it was the day after she got her benefits(so she still had another 6 days to go before she got anything else)they refused her a crisiloan on the basis she hd food in so what did she need the money for Shock i told her she should have said to them that she had paid bills with some of the money and had the rest in her purse for food shopping etc,but as she had done it the other way round they refused to give her anything.
As you say you are paying the money back anyway so not really a huge thing compared to some !!

Loobie · 03/03/2006 13:10

Nutty how did you get on??
Hope they offered you something and you are away out to get it sorted and get in some shopping for you and the kids!!
They will only provide emergancy funds for food and fuel,i know this becuase a friend of mine went for her shopping and her purse was stolen from the top of her dd pramAngry she phoned up for a crisis loan and even though it was the day after she got her benefits(so she still had another 6 days to go before she got anything else)they refused her a crisiloan on the basis she hd food in so what did she need the money for Shock i told her she should have said to them that she had paid bills with some of the money and had the rest in her purse for food shopping etc,but as she had done it the other way round they refused to give her anything.
As you say you are paying the money back anyway so not really a huge thing compared to some !!

Filyjonk · 03/03/2006 16:05

Oh FFS really Loobie? They are just idiotic jobsworths really sometimes.

Not trying to push advicecentres Grin but honestly, this is why they're there, in that situation go to see them, any half decent benefits advisor should be able to sort something out if you've just had your purse nicked and have a baby, ffs. Its wrong but the DWP often listen to them, and they know the law.

Oh and if food ever gets to be a real problem, there are often local charitable organisations who can get you a food parcel. Just throwing it in, not saying it'll come to that.

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