Home›Tools›Phone numbers
Which number to call, and for what
Two DWP lines, different hours, and they do not cover for each other. Plus the number that does not exist.
Written by the benefitmoney.co.uk editorial team · Last reviewed 9 September 2026
There are two DWP phone lines that matter for the help on this site, and they do not cover for each other. Which one you call depends on which benefit you are on — not on what you are asking for.
If you are on Universal Credit
Universal Credit helpline
Budgeting Advance · deductions and hardship · anything about your claim
0800 328 5644Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. A British Sign Language video relay service is also available. Calls to 0800 numbers are free from landlines and mobiles.
Before you phone: most things go faster through your online journal, and a journal message is a written record. Use the phone when you need a decision today, or when the journal has gone unanswered.
Source: GOV.UK — Universal Credit: Contact. Checked 9 September 2026.
If you are on Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA or Pension Credit
Social Fund Enquiry Line
Budgeting Loan · form SF500 · changing an application you have already made
0800 169 0140Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. Five hours a day — much shorter than the Universal Credit line. A British Sign Language video relay service is also available.
Source: GOV.UK — Budgeting Loans: How to apply. Checked 9 September 2026.
If you are repaying an old loan and no longer on benefits
When you stop claiming, repayment of a Budgeting Loan, Budgeting Advance or old Crisis Loan moves to DWP Debt Management, which writes to you. Use the contact details on that letter — they are specific to your case and we do not reproduce a general number here.
If you are still on Universal Credit and want a deduction reduced, that is a financial hardship request through your journal, your work coach or the Universal Credit helpline above. How that works.
Help from your council
There is no national number. The Crisis and Resilience Fund in England, the Scottish Welfare Fund, the Discretionary Assistance Fund in Wales and Discretionary Support in Northern Ireland are all reached through the council or nation that runs them.
- Start from GOV.UK’s page Get help with the cost of living from your local council↗ and follow it to your council.
- On the council’s site, search “crisis”, “welfare assistance” or “household support”.
- If there is no form, phone the council’s main switchboard and ask for the local welfare or crisis support team by name.
What the council scheme covers, and why it does not affect your benefits
Before you call any of them
- Your National Insurance number
- The exact thing you are asking for — “a Budgeting Advance of £348 for a cooker”, not “some help”
- For a Budgeting Loan: whether you have been on a qualifying benefit for 6 months, and whether you already owe on a Budgeting Loan or Crisis Loan
- For a Budgeting Advance: whether a previous advance is fully repaid, and roughly what you have earned in the past 6 months
- A pen. Write down the date, the time, the name of the person, and what they said
Frequently asked questions
Is there a Budgeting Advance phone number?
No. There is no dedicated number. You apply through your Universal Credit journal, your work coach, or the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.
Which number do I call for a Budgeting Loan?
The Social Fund Enquiry Line on 0800 169 0140, Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm. Welsh language: 0800 169 0240.
I am on Universal Credit — can I call the Social Fund line?
You can, but they cannot help. Budgeting Loans are not available on Universal Credit. Ask for a Budgeting Advance through your journal or the Universal Credit helpline instead.
Are the calls free?
Yes. 0800 numbers are free from UK landlines and mobiles.
What are the opening hours?
Universal Credit helpline: Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. Social Fund Enquiry Line: Monday to Friday, 10am to 3pm.
Is there a number for the Household Support Fund or Crisis and Resilience Fund?
No national one. Each council runs its own scheme. Start from GOV.UK’s council page and follow it to yours.
Sources
- GOV.UK — Universal Credit: Contact↗ (helpline, Welsh language and Relay UK numbers; hours). Checked 9 September 2026.
- GOV.UK — Budgeting Loans: How to apply↗ (Social Fund Enquiry Line numbers and hours). Checked 9 September 2026.
- GOV.UK — Get help with the cost of living from your local council↗. Checked 9 September 2026.
This page is independent. It is not run by the Department for Work and Pensions or GOV.UK. The numbers above are DWP lines, published on GOV.UK; we are not able to answer questions about your claim.