Need advice on budgeting loans please

nufc123

Hi I was wondering if anyone could tell me if i would be eligible for a budgeting loan. Ive only ever had one before in Oct 2011 that was my first one and i was on income support then, it was for about £350.

In May 2012 i got charged £1355 overpayment of IS because i was living in a BNB at the time when i was 16 and when i left there they didnt put it on there systems and im now re-paying that. Im now on JSA and have been for 24 weeks.

Does anyone know if the money i owe for the overpayment effect weather or not i will be able to get a budgeting loan.
Thank you

nufc123

anyone help mee

WantToBeSE

I think that social fund loans have been scrapped by the government already, although I would ask at the job centre.

dreamylittledream

Well the easiest and only definative way to find out is to apply - its not as it its the most arduous form in the world.

The Social Fund reforms don't take effect until April and even then Budgeting Loans are remaining for now - they won't be replaced until Universal Credit if fully rolled out.

Basic qualifying criteria for a BL is to have been on an income based benefit for over 26 weeks (different benefits count but claims need to be concurrent), not to be applying for a proscribed reason and to owe less than the current max BL debt for whatever category you fall into (single person, couple, family).

The overpayment of another benefit will have little impact unless you have very high deductions from your JSA to repay this currently.

From what you've posted you will have to wait a fortnight to qualify unless you were claiming a different benefit before claiming JSA with no gaps (not even a day) and if you haven't paid back the previous loan £348 is the max loan to a single person so they will only lend you the difference between that and the debt that is outstanding unless you now have children or are a member of a couple.

nufc123

Thanks for the Replys, I have been on JSA for 26 weeks i just counted from my first payment.

Ive been to the job centre for a fourm and sent it off. I think the maximum for a single person is about £350 and i owe more than that from the overpayment.
Ive been paying back the first loan for quite a while now,
and if they dont take out the money i owe for overpayment that will be good for me.
thanks