Help while you wait for, collect or repay a benefit

All three are run by the Department for Communities. Waiting for Universal Credit has its own help, set out in our guide to Universal Credit questions.

Short-term Benefit Advance

You may be able to get an advance if you made a new claim to a benefit other than Universal Credit and are having money problems. 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 that increases your benefit
• not have access to any other funds or support
• be in urgent financial need that could put your own or your family’s health, safety or well-being at immediate risk
• be able to repay the advance within 12 weeks

You can get an advance of Carer’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance, New Style Jobseeker's Allowance, Maternity Allowance, Pension Credit, State Pension, Bereavement Benefit, Incapacity Benefit or Widows Benefit. You cannot get one of Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment, Attendance Allowance, Universal Credit or Bereavement Support Payment.

Apply to the Finance Support Service with your National Insurance number, benefit details and account details. 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.

Waiting for Universal Credit

You will get your first Universal Credit payment about five weeks after you send your claim. If you do not have enough money to live on, you can apply for a Universal Credit New Claims Grant, which you do not have to pay back, or an advance or Budgeting Advance, which you repay from your Universal Credit. See Universal Credit questions and Discretionary Support.

If money is taken from your Universal Credit to repay debts, the most that can be taken from your Universal Credit payments each month is 15 per cent of your Universal Credit Standard Allowance, unless last resort deductions are being taken.

Getting paid without a bank account

The Payment Exception Service allows you to collect benefits or pension payments without a bank, building society or credit union account. The service is only available if you cannot open or manage an account, and only for a short time.

You get a payment card or a voucher code by text or email, and cash it at any Post Office or PayPoint with identification. You have 90 days to collect your payment. Vouchers will be issued up to the value of £100 and the full value of the voucher must be withdrawn.

Asking for an overpayment to be written off

In exceptional circumstances, all or part of an over-payment may be waived. The Department for Communities looks at your whole situation, including your finances, whether repaying is harming your health or your family's, how the overpayment happened, and whether you did not benefit from the money.

You do not need to be currently receiving a benefit for a waiver to be considered. You can ask for a waiver at any time, even before recovery of the over-payment begins. However, only the over-payment balance outstanding at the time of the decision can be waived. Write to Debt Management, giving your reasons and evidence. Advice NI can help you on 0800 915 4604.

If Debt Management cannot agree a repayment plan with you, it can ask your employer to take the debt from your pay. This is called a Direct Earnings Attachment (DEA).

The maximum amount which can be deducted by a DEA at Standard Rate is 20 per cent of the net earnings, and at Higher Rate 40 per cent. At the Standard Rate nothing is taken if you earn £100 or less a week after tax. To arrange repayments without involving your employer, phone Debt Management first.

Common questions

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