crisis loan

epsilondraconis

I'm not really that knowledgable when it comes to benefits and so will try to offer some practical advice.

As your brakes are a little dubious at the moment, when you want to slow down in your car, perhaps you could lean out of the window and throw your holiday brochures in front of the wheels to help you reduce your speed.

mummyfleming

I am not trying to put a false claim. just looking for help! I came to this website hoping for help, instead I've been made to look like Im playing the system. I have had a job since I was 14. Thats for the past 8 years! We had a large unexpected bill come in and I needed to pay it. So the holiday went out the window. Thanks but no thanks, think ill just suffer on my own

Golden_Anemone

I looked at this last week for someone else in respect of a landlord deposit and remembered that motoring expenses are generally excluded as well.

I've copied the relevant bit from the Social Fund Guide that states this.

...a crisis loan may not be awarded for any expenses in respect of any of the following items -

(e) garaging, parking, purchase, and running costs of any motor vehicle except where payment is being considered for emergency travelling expenses;

Looks like you'd only be eligible in the event of needing to make an emergency journey and couldn't do it any by other means. An "emergency" is likely to be very narrowly defined too.

OrkneyStar

I hope you get the money together OP, however it does also seem you need to get your priorities sorted. Needing work on your car would not be covered by a crisis loan, as someone already said, also realistically you need to be on means tested benefits to get any money (I am assured non-means benefits applications can be made but unlikely to get anything in practice).

Golden_Anemone

Just to stop you there OrkneyStar - it is NOT a condition that you be on means tested benefits to receive a crisis loan BUT that doesn't mean it is easy to get one.

A lot of people think "It's a loan. So what's the fuss? I'll pay it back!"

The fact is there are very limited funds available and the Social Fund officers have to ensure that money is made available to people who are in the highest need and who have nowhere else to turn to.

In practice this means that crisis loans are only paid to people on means tested benefits and in extremely limited circumstances.

SuziQ

This isn't a facetious post but a genuine suggestion OP-could you pawn something of value if you really need to get the car on the road,or even sell something? I had to do this a couple of years ago and whilst I hated doing it, it got me out of a difficult situation at the time.

OrkneyStar

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

Just to stop you there OrkneyStar - it is NOT a condition that you be on means tested benefits to receive a crisis loan BUT that doesn't mean it is easy to get one.

A lot of people think "It's a loan. So what's the fuss? I'll pay it back!"

The fact is there are very limited funds available and the Social Fund officers have to ensure that money is made available to people who are in the highest need and who have nowhere else to turn to.

In practice this means that crisis loans are only paid to people on means tested benefits and in extremely limited circumstances.

I stand corrected (please blame it on the 'head too busy with DS's birthday organising syndrome'), however can you please also 'stop' the person who said it a few posts back, as that was where I read it was the case!?
Also I did not suggest it was 'just a loan' or 'easy to get', but the way your post is worded against mine sounds like I did ? TBH I think crisis loans should be hard to get, but also immediately payable if there is a clear need (which, for the record, I don't think break pads are in this case).

cfnc wrote: »

Hi,
I was looking into a crisis loan too, but from what I found out is that you have to be on an income based benefit and have been so for at least 26 weeks.
Kirsty

Anyhow, I have re-worded my post now.

Golden_Anemone

OrkneyStar wrote: »

Can you also 'stop' the person who said it a few posts back as that was where I read it was the case!?

To be fair I knew she was talking about a budgeting loan so sorry if I seemed to be picking on you. I only did it to clarify the rules of entitlement and not to make an issue out of your mistake.

Also I did not suggest it was 'just a loan' or 'easy to get', but the way your post is worded against mine sounds like I did ? TBH I think crisis loans should be hard to get, but also immediately payable if there is a clear need (which, for the record, I don't think break pads are in this case).

I think you're being overly sensitive there OrkenyStar. I was replying to the thread - not just your post, and my explanation was designed to explain the very narrow availability of crisis loans and the fact that while they are available to all to claim, in pracice they are only paid in the very rarest of cases to people not in receipt of means tested benefits.
I feel it's important that people know they can claim as there will be the odd case where a crisis loan is the only help available to someone. I did not intend to offend you and apologise if you thought I had.

I have re-worded my post now.

That is of course your prerogative and the added benefit is it makes a nonsense of my reply.

You have edited your post again while I was replying! Let's just leave it that I did not intend to single you out but to clarify the rules!!

OrkneyStar

Golden_Anemone wrote: »

To be fair I knew she was talking about a budgeting loan so sorry if I seemed to be picking on you. I only did it to clarify the rules of entitlement and not to make an issue out of your mistake.
Thanks, I am not being over-sensitive thought, just clarifying my stance on the issue.
The silly thing is I actually knew what I was posting did not sound right (I have done benefits training in the past) but thought 'maybe its changed', as benefit legislation sometimes does! As I said, my head is full of cake making, present wrapping and the like and I should move my bum away from here anyway!

I think you're being overly sensitive there OrkenyStar. I was replying to the thread - not just your post, and my explanation was designed to explain the very narrow availability of crisis loans and the fact that while they are available to all to claim, in pracice they are only paid in the very rarest of cases to people not in receipt of means tested benefits.
I feel it's important that people know they can claim as there will be the odd case where a crisis loan is the only help available to someone. I did not intend to offend you and apologise if you thought I had.


That is of course your prerogative and the added benefit is it makes a nonsense of my reply.

You have edited your post again while I was replying! Let's just leave it that I did not intend to single you out but to clarify the rules!!

Thanks for the reply, I am not being over-sensitive though, just clarifying my stance on the issue.
The silly thing is I actually knew what I was posting did not sound right (I have done benefits training in the past) but thought 'maybe its changed', as benefit legislation sometimes does! As I said, my head is full of cake making, present wrapping and the like and I should move my bum away from here anyway! Oh yes, and editing posts is a bad habit of mine!!!
(PS I am being OTT here but its Orkney not Orkeny :rotfl:).

jennie09

worried09 wrote: »

Are we not all here to offer advice not judge others?

It seems to be a something that happens a lot on here at the moment?!

I dont have any knowledge of crisis loans unfortunatly but hopefully someone who knows their stuff will be able to answer your question.

Unfortunately there are certain people on here who shall remain nameless that simply cannot stop themselves from judging others, i think it makes then feel superior in some sort of sad way