A checklist for a first Universal Credit claim: eligibility, identity, the details and documents to gather, and what happens in the five-week wait.
Category: Benefits and Support
Universal Credit advances, hardship grants and local help.
Getting Started With Charitable Grants for Essential Costs
How charitable grants work, who offers them, how to find funds you may qualify for and what to try if an application is turned down.
When to Apply for Council Tax Reduction: A Timeline for Claiming Help
A step by step timeline for claiming Council Tax Reduction after your income drops, from notifying the council to what to do if you are refused.
Getting Started With Local Welfare Assistance Schemes
How council-run welfare assistance and hardship schemes work, what they cover, who can apply and how to apply when you cannot cover an essential cost.
Universal Credit Advance Myths That Stop People Applying
Common myths about Universal Credit advances, cleared up: who qualifies, how repayments work and what happens to your credit file if you apply.