Widows disbarred from Budgeting loans

cleo565

I receive a weekly benefit from the DWP, namely "Widows benefit". I recently attempted to apply for a budgeting loan but was told that my benefit was not one of the qualifying types.

Presumably this is because it is not "means tested" or "income based". How are people in my situation supposed to obtain help in such cases?? Any ideas?

copa_feela

What other income do you have, are you entitled to any means tested benefits?

michael1983l

The social fund is being a bit difficult at the moment, lots of poeople in need, not enough money to go around I'm afraid. Charities might be your next bet, if you have ever served, I recomend the Royal British Legion. Otherwise I am not too sure which to try.

copa_feela

michael1983l wrote: »

The social fund is being a bit difficult at the moment, lots of poeople in need, not enough money to go around I'm afraid. Charities might be your next bet, if you have ever served, I recomend the Royal British Legion. Otherwise I am not too sure which to try.

This is not a recent change - BLs have never been available to those not in receipt of means tested benefits.

michael1983l

copa_feela wrote: »

This is not a recent change - BLs have never been available to those not in receipt of means tested benefits.

A Crisis loan is available to anybody in a crisis I am led to believe. I may be wrong and a crisis loan is different to a budgeting loan is it not?

I realise the OP has said BL but should it not have been an application for a CL?

copa_feela

michael1983l wrote: »

A Crisis loan is available to anybody in a crisis I am led to believe. I may be wrong and a crisis loan is different to a budgeting loan is it not?

I realise the OP has said BL but should it not have been an application for a CL?

Yes, anyone can apply for a Crisis Loan, but the criteria for a CL is far narrower than that of a BL and awards are very low (around £30 for a single person with no income), covering absolutely essential expenses only. Whether the OP applied for the correct funding is impossible to say on the information given.

Mara69

michael1983l wrote: »

I realise the OP has said BL but should it not have been an application for a CL?

The social fund loan she wants rather depends on what she wants it for, surely? A crisis loan is for a crisis i.e. an emergency or disaster. A budgeting loan is for help with clothing/furniture etc.

Therefore, without knowing why the OP wants the loan, how can you possibly say that it should have been an application for a crisis loan?

michael1983l

Yes I may have jumped the gun a bit, I assumed it was for a Crisis. Maybe if the OP would tell us a little more detail would we be able to help her a little better.

sezzlebum

im guessing its widows parent allowance?
my mum got this when my dad passed away as my brother and sister was still only young, (this wont unbold)
this replaced her income support and resulted in her not being able to apply for budgeting loans. It also knocked her off housing benefit too so she had to pay towards rent.
She was better off without it and asked to have it cancelled and they said she had to have it until my brother was 16 or had left college (when child benefit stops getting paid)

Its a crappy benefit imho if your on benefits, luckily my mum packed herself off back to uni and started work as a nurse so now she gets this as an extra to her wages x

[Deleted User]

OP if you join a credit union and save even small amounts with them over a few months they will lend small amounts usually at good rates,ours charges £113 to borrow £100 over 12 months,might be helpful in the longer term if not immediately

cleo565

Thanks for the answers folks. The money isn't needed for a crisis. I planned to replace my cooker before it actually has a chance to "die". If it goes before I can save the money up I'll look into alternatives.

I still think it highly unfair that a benefit that is paid regularly from the same source as income based benefits doesn't qualify for help. Maybe pressure should be brought to bear on the DWP?