Interest free loans from the DWP
A loan from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is interest free.
This means you only pay back what you borrow.
It is a better option than a payday loan or borrowing from a doorstep lender.
But it is still a loan. Your benefits are lower until the money is repaid.
Check if you could get a crisis payment or emergency grant first.
You do not have to pay these types of help back.
Types of DWP loan
Universal credit advances
You could get a universal credit (UC) advance while you wait for your first UC payment.
It takes around 5 weeks to get your first payment when you apply for UC.
You can get up to the full amount of your first payment.
You still get another payment 5 weeks after you claim and every month after that.
Your UC payments are lower while you pay the advance back. You usually repay the advance over 2 years.
Find out more about:
A crisis payment from your council might be a better option.
You do not have to repay a crisis payment.
Refugee integration loans
You could get a refugee integration loan if you get:
refugee status
humanitarian protection
You can use the money for important things like:
food
furniture or bills
rent or a deposit for a private tenancy
a training course or work equipment
You can borrow:
up to £500 if you are single
up to £780 if you apply with your partner
You pay the money back from your benefits or your wages each month.
You can apply for a refugee integration loan on GOV.UK.
Speak to a refugee charity first. You might get other help that you do not have to pay back.
British Red Cross has local support services for refugees and people seeking asylum.
Get advice in other languages: Albanian, Amharic, Arabic, Dari, Farsi, French, Kurdish Sorani, Pashto, Somali, Spanish, Tigrinya, Ukrainian and Urdu.
Budgeting advances and loans
You must be on universal credit (UC) or a low income benefit for at least 6 months to get a budgeting advance or loan.
You could get a budgeting advance or loan if you need to pay for:
rent in advance or the costs of moving home
important things like beds, cookers or fridges
repairs or security improvements to your home
You usually repay the loan over 2 years. You get less UC while you pay the loan back.
Find out more about:
A crisis payment from your council might be a better option.
You do not have to repay a crisis payment.
Hardship payments after a sanction
Your universal credit (UC) might go down if you do not do something in your 'claimant commitment'. For example, if you miss a meeting or do not apply for a job.
This is sometimes called a 'sanction'.
You could get hardship payments while your UC is lower.
Find out more about:
A crisis payment from your council might be a better option.
You do not have to repay a crisis payment.
Last updated: 2 July 2026
