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Guide
■ Crisis loans
Apply if you need financial help with an emergency or disaster. It is
an interest-free loan from the Social Fund. You can apply if you are ag
aged over 16 and do not have enough money to meet your immediate
short-term needs in an emergency or disaster. There is no set
amount of crisis loan, but the amount you can borrow depends
on individual circumstances, whether you have savings and if you
have borrowed from the Social Fund before.
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Apply through your local Jobcentre Plus or by downloading the
form available from the Department for Work and Pensions:
www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/sf401_print.pdf.
■ Budgeting loans
If you are on a low income and need help with certain important costs,
apply for an interest-free budgeting loan from the Social Fund. You
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may claim if you are have been in receipt of income support, income
based Jobseekers Allowance or pension credits for a minimum of 26
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weeks. The loan is available for furniture or household equipment,
clothing or footwear, advance rent or removal expenses, travelling
expenses, things to help you look for or start work, improving or
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securing your home. You can apply to borrow between £100 and
£1,500 interest free and it normally has to be repaid within 104 weeks.
Apply through your local Jobcentre Plus or by downloading the
form available from the Department for Work and Pensions:
www.dwp.gov.uk/advisers/claimforms/sf500_print.pdf.
■ energy efficiency Grants
If on an income related benefit you can apply for a Warm Front grant
to help pay for heating and insulation improvements to the home,
up to £2,700 (or £4,000 if your home needs oil central heating).
It is only available in England, and can be used to provide loft
insulation, draught proofing, cavity wall and hot water tank insulation,
thermostat controlled gas heaters, gas, electric or oil central heating
and solid fuel open fire conversions. Further details, along with an
online application form are available at: www.warmfront.co.uk or
freephone 0800 316 2805. In Wales, the Home Energy Efficiency
Scheme provides a similar grant, for further details see:
www.heeswales.co.uk or freephone 0800 316 2815.
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