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Emergency money help · UK guide

In a financial emergency? There’s a grant for that.

Last verified 21 Jun 2026 · Source mygov.scot + GOV.WALES + nidirect + Citizens Advice

If you can’t afford essentials after an emergency, your nation runs a scheme that can give you a grant you don’t pay back: the Scottish Welfare Fund in Scotland, the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales, Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland, and the council-run Crisis and Resilience Fund in England — the fund that replaced the Household Support Fund on 1 April 2026. Here’s who can apply, how, and how fast you’ll hear.

GrantUsually no repayment
FreeNever pay to apply
~2 daysScottish crisis grant
All 4 nationsEach has a scheme
Find your scheme → Food help today

Your nation’s scheme

Where you liveThe scheme & what it gives
ScotlandScottish Welfare Fund — a Crisis Grant (emergency/disaster, can’t afford essentials) and a Community Care Grant (to set up or stay in a settled home). Apply to your local council.
WalesDiscretionary Assistance Fund (DAF) — Emergency Assistance Payments for essential costs and Individual Assistance Payments to live independently. Apply via the Welsh Government (gov.wales).
Northern IrelandDiscretionary Support — a grant or interest-free loan in a crisis. Apply via nidirect / the Finance Support service.
EnglandThe council-run Crisis and Resilience Fund, which replaced the Household Support Fund on 1 April 2026 (councils may still label it crisis, hardship or local welfare support). See our Crisis and Resilience Fund guide.

All are discretionary — they depend on your situation and the local budget, so you might not get one even if eligible. But they’re free to apply for and, where awarded, usually don’t have to be repaid.

Scotland — the Scottish Welfare Fund

Two grants, both applied for through your local council (not the Scottish Government):

  • Crisis Grant — if you’ve had an emergency or disaster (e.g. lost money, fled harm, a fire) and can’t afford essentials like food or heating. Decision usually within 2 working days.
  • Community Care Grant — to help you set up or maintain a settled home (e.g. leaving care or hospital, escaping abuse, after homelessness), for things like a cooker, bed or flooring. Decision usually within 15 working days.
  • You don’t have to be on benefits, though a low income helps. If you get a grant, you don’t repay it.
  • Refused? You can ask for a first-tier review, then an independent review by the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman.

Wales & Northern Ireland

Wales — Discretionary Assistance Fund (DAF)

Apply through the Welsh Government. There are two payment types: Emergency Assistance Payments (help with essential costs after an emergency) and Individual Assistance Payments (to help you live independently — e.g. white goods or furniture). It’s free and discretionary; check the current eligibility and how to apply on gov.wales.

Northern Ireland — Discretionary Support

Apply via nidirect / the Finance Support service. Discretionary Support can provide a grant or an interest-free loan in a crisis or emergency (and there’s also a Discretionary Support self-isolation/short-term living-expenses element at times). Check the latest rules and how to apply on nidirect.

We point you to the official route

Wales’ DAF and NI’s Discretionary Support are run by the devolved governments and the exact eligibility and amounts change — so always apply through the official gov.wales / nidirect pages rather than any third-party site, and never pay a company to apply.

Applying — and what else to grab

  1. Apply through the official route for your nation (council for Scotland; gov.wales for Wales; nidirect for NI; your council for England).
  2. Be clear about the emergency and exactly what you need (food, gas/electricity top-up, essential white goods).
  3. Stack other help while you wait: food banks, energy and water help, and a full benefits check — these aren’t either/or.
  4. Get free advice from Citizens Advice if you’re unsure or refused.
Do this now
  1. Find your scheme — Scotland (apply on mygov.scot) · Wales (gov.wales DAF) · NI (nidirect Discretionary Support) · England (find your council’s scheme on GOV.UK · our guide).
  2. Apply free today and say what the emergency is and what you need.
  3. Also line up a food bank, energy help and a benefits check.

Free help: Citizens Advice 0800 144 8848 (Scotland 0800 028 1456) · your council · gov.wales · nidirect. This is general information, not legal advice.

Source verification Primary sources: mygov.scot and Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Welfare Fund — crisis & community care grants), GOV.WALES (Discretionary Assistance Fund) and nidirect (Discretionary Support). England: GOV.UK — Crisis and Resilience Fund: guidance for local authorities in England (1 April 2026 to 31 March 2029), which replaced the Household Support Fund. Last verified 13 July 2026. Confidence: High on Scotland — two grants applied for via the local council, discretionary, non-repayable, with ~2 working days (crisis) / 15 working days (community care) decisions and a review route. Wales (DAF: Emergency Assistance + Individual Assistance Payments) and Northern Ireland (Discretionary Support: grant or interest-free loan) are described at scheme level and routed to the official gov.wales / nidirect pages, as exact eligibility and amounts are set by the devolved governments and change. England’s council crisis/household support funds are covered in our separate guide. SortedUK is independent — not a government service — and this is general information. Applying is free; never pay a company.

Crisis grants — common questions

Do I have to be on benefits to get a crisis grant?

Usually not — these schemes are for people in a financial emergency or on a low income, and you don’t always need to be claiming benefits. They’re discretionary and depend on your situation and the budget, so apply and explain your circumstances.

How quickly will I get a decision?

In Scotland, usually about 2 working days for a Crisis Grant and 15 working days for a Community Care Grant. Wales and NI aim to deal with emergencies quickly too — say clearly if it’s urgent (e.g. no food or no heating).

Do I pay it back?

Scottish Welfare Fund grants and Wales DAF payments are usually grants you don’t repay. NI Discretionary Support can be a grant or an interest-free loan depending on your case. None is a high-cost loan — and applying is always free.

I was refused — can I challenge it?

Yes. In Scotland you can ask for a review (and then an independent review). Wales and NI also have review/appeal routes. Get free help from Citizens Advice to put your case again with any extra evidence.

An emergency doesn’t mean you’re on your own.

Find your nation’s scheme, apply free today, and stack food, energy and benefits help alongside it. Want help working out what you can get right now?

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