Refused budgeting loan for genuine reason I’m scared to appeal or reapply

gloryninja

Hello

I’ll try to keep it short but really hope I can get good advice on what I can do next .

I have recently paid off my first budgeting advance totalling £100 which makes me eligible to ask for another one but I know that it is not guaranteed.

After paying it off , I contacted them three weeks later to request another budgeting advance for two reasons which were , repairs for our boiler at home which hasn’t been working for past month *along with other household costs* (all within acceptable reasons for eligibility) , I also mentioned that I have got two job interviews and needed some money to travel there (my first budgeting loan of £100 was accepted and given so I can buy a new suit and travel money for an interview).

I asked if I can request around £250 but was told I’m not eligible for an advance for the reasons I provided . I was confused as I would assume repairs for our boiler is an acceptable reason but the lady on the phone stated that since I am asking for travel money it was declined as I have to go job centre and ask for flexible funds . I do understand that however I was accepted initially for my first loan for that reason and they couldn’t get me an appointment before my interview so I won’t even be able to request flexible funds . After debating with her for five minutes she became quite aggressive and stated “I have declined your request at my own discretion” and then she just hang up on me.

I was not rude to her and only asked once if she could reconsider and that triggered her . I called again and spoke to a guy who was even more aggressive and just stated we won’t give you a budgeting advance because we don’t want to it’s our own discretion.

Now I’m afraid to ask again and we have been living on cold water and no heating for a month now and can not afford repairs. There are other household costs that I am responsible for and can not afford . £100 of my benefits goes to a fine so I don’t get enough every month. I have been looking for work even though I was accepted to have limited capabilities to work .

I want to ask them if I can reapply but since it will show that I was refused a second loan , I’m worried they will just automatically refuse me for a genuine reason.

What can I do in this regard ? I need urgent assistance as it is winter and we can’t live like this . What can I do and can I ask again or do I need to wait a certain time?

elsien

What benefit are you on?
Your title says budgeting loan, but the main text says budgeting advance. Which one did you have previously and what were you asking for this time?
Are you living in your own home? I'm presuming there's no landlord if you're paying for repairs yourself.

TELLIT01

If the person you were speaking to felt the conversation was going round in circles and you were unwilling to accept what she was saying, she would be right to hang up, although she should have stated that she was ending the conversation.
If you reapply it would seem sensible to request it on the basis of boiler repair only as the reason given for refusing this time was that the money was to be used in part for travel purposes.

pmlindyloo

please confirm what you are asking for.

Have you had an advance of your Universal Credit payment or have you had a Budgeting Advance?

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-supporthttps://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support

Plus, please tell us your housing situation. You say 'our boiler'. Do you rent/live at home/house share?

gloryninja

pmlindyloo wrote: »

please confirm what you are asking for.

Have you had an advance of your Universal Credit payment or have you had a Budgeting Advance?

https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-supporthttps://www.gov.uk/universal-credit/other-financial-support

Plus, please tell us your housing situation. You say 'our boiler'. Do you rent/live at home/house share?

I was speaking about budgeting loan (I’m assuming it’s the same as a budgeting advance? I received the amount on the same day I asked for it ) . I was accepted for one before for £100 and have already paid it off .

I contacted them again to ask for a budgeting loan for household costs that are perfectly acceptable reasons but again was refused. The issue is I am in a genuine need of extra funds and I Don’t want to seem like I am entitled and must be accepted which is not what I am trying to portray ... I just felt that my reasons for a budgeting loan was legit reason and was downright refused with no good reason other then “descretion” .

I don’t know what to do.

[Deleted User]

Budgeting loan and budgeting advance are two different things.

Sounds like a budgeting advance because you received it the same day.

Have you spoke to your work coach?

gloryninja

MarkN88 wrote: »

Budgeting loan and budgeting advance are two different things.

Sounds like a budgeting advance because you received it the same day.

Have you spoke to your work coach?

They said my work coach will call me back as they could not get me an appointment before my interview however , when my work coach called me there was no way I would be able to receive flexible support funds before my interview and that fund is not available for house expenses .

What else can I do ? How can I get them to reconsider? Is there any advice you can give to me that can help me be accepted for additional funds . I do not want to lie to them and give them false information to get support as I have genuine reasons but was refused and I feel there must be something I can do to get them to reconsider

tomtom256

Nip in to your local jobcentre and see if they can a do a budgeting advance, if the system allows it, they will issue you one, but minimum they can do in a jobcentre is £100, but as you want more it should be fine.

We normally only do them for people starting work, but personally if people ask and the system says yes, I issue them.

Hopefully someone in your local office will help.

elsien

So is it your own home or rented?

[Deleted User]

Speak with your town council or if there is a message board outside the office see what help there might be available to you, when I walked past ours recently you were able to make an application for help if on a low/income with applicants finding out on the 19th December if they have been awarded.