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Benefits, money and essentials

I have no money for food or essentials

Help that can arrive in days rather than weeks, and how to ask for it.

What this means

Emergency help exists separately from your benefit claim. You can usually ask for it even while a claim is being sorted out.

What it is called depends on where you live: the Household Support Fund or local welfare assistance in England, the Scottish Welfare Fund in Scotland, the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales, and Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland.

Asking for a food parcel is not a failure. Food banks are used by working people, parents and people in recovery every day.

Your options

  • Apply to your nation's crisis fund

    These funds can help with food, gas and electricity, and sometimes essential items. Applications are usually online or by phone and do not have to be repaid in England, Scotland and Wales.

  • Get a food bank referral

    Most food banks need a referral from a council, GP, support worker or advice service. Some take self-referrals. Tell them if you have no way to cook or store food.

  • Ask for a Universal Credit advance

    If you are waiting for a first payment you can ask for an advance. It is repaid from later payments, so take advice first if you can — but going without food is worse.

  • Check for grants you do not repay

    Turn2us lists charitable grants, including ones for people leaving treatment, single parents and people setting up a home.

Things you could do today

Small steps only. Add any of them to your plan — or none of them. Nothing is expected of you.

  1. Search your council's name plus 'crisis support' or 'household support fund' and start the application.
  2. Contact an advice service or your support worker for a food bank referral.
  3. Check your prepayment meter for emergency credit, and ask your supplier about their hardship fund.
  4. Run a benefits calculator to see whether you are missing anything ongoing.

Information it helps to have ready

  • Your address and the names and ages of anyone living with you
  • What money is coming in, and when your next payment is due
  • What you specifically need — food, electricity, gas, a bed, clothes
  • Whether you can cook and store food where you are staying
  • Your National Insurance number if you have it to hand

If you do not have some of these, ask anyway — not having everything is not a reason to be turned away.

Words you could borrow

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Message asking for a food bank referral

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What happens next

Crisis fund decisions are often made within a few working days; some are same-day.

A food bank parcel is usually a few days of food, and they can often refer you on for advice at the same time.

If you are refused, ask why and whether the decision can be reviewed — and tell an adviser.

More help

Where this information comes from