Emergency guide
I just lost my job
Losing a job starts several deadlines at once. This page lists what to do today, the deadlines that may have started, who to call and words you can use.
General information, not legal advice. Rules depend on where you live. If you have a letter, notice or form with a date on it, get advice before that date passes.
Checked 7 October 2026 · re-check due 9 February 2027 · To keep a copy, use your browser’s print or share menu.
First: are you safe?
If losing the job has you thinking about ending your life, call or text 988 in the US, or call Samaritans on 116 123 in the UK, at any hour. If anyone is in danger now, call 911 in the US or 999 in the UK. If there is no food in the house tonight, call 211 in the US; in the UK, a food bank needs a voucher first: Trussell, below, says how to get one.
Today
- Do not sign anything your employer gives you today, even if you are told it is routine. Take it home and read it tomorrow; check the date it must be returned by.
- Write down your last day of work and, if you had health cover through the job, the day it ends. Most of the clocks below count from those dates.
- Start your claim today. In the US: unemployment benefits. In the UK: New Style Jobseeker's Allowance and Universal Credit. UK readers: read the next step before you claim Universal Credit.
- Before you claim Universal Credit: if you or your partner get Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, claiming Universal Credit ends them for good. Check first with Help to Claim (free help with the claim, run by Citizens Advice; Advice NI in Northern Ireland) or a benefits calculator. PIP and Carer's Allowance carry on.
- Keep every letter, email and payslip from the job in one place.
- Tell one person what happened.
The clocks that have started
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one. The details of each are on the page online; its address is at the bottom.
Deadlines that can start when this happens, soonest first. Tap one to see when it starts and what happens if you miss it. Your own letters give your dates; when two dates could apply, count from the earlier one.
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
File for unemployment benefits as soon as you are out of workTreat your first days out of work as the deadline.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Treat your first days out of work as the deadline. Your state sets the dates
- Starts
- the day you stop working. There is no single national filing deadline: each state runs its own program and sets its own rules, so count from your last day of work, not from the day you feel ready
- If missed
- Your state's rules decide what a late claim loses. Do not wait to find out.
- It lets you
- claim weekly payments if your state finds you eligible. The US Department of Labor says it generally takes two to three weeks after you file to get a first payment, and CareerOneStop says most states have an unpaid waiting week. You then keep filing each week you are out of work, even if payments have not started
Where this differs: File in the state where you worked; if you now live elsewhere, your home state's office can tell you how. Most self-employed people are not covered. Filing is free: anyone asking for money to file is a scam.
Checked 7 October 2026 at US Department of Labor
Apply for food help (SNAP): benefits count from the day you applyApply today, and ask if you can get expedited (faster) service.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- Apply today, and ask if you can get expedited (faster) service. In most cases your state sends a decision within 30 days. You may be able to get benefits within 7 days of your application date if you meet extra requirements
- Starts
- the day you submit your application to your state. Federal rules let you file it the same day you contact the SNAP office with only your name, address and signature; the interview and proof come after. You apply in the state where you live; each state has its own form and process
- If missed
- benefits are based on the date you submitted your application, so a later application means a later start
- It lets you
- get monthly help buying groceries on an EBT card (a card that works like a debit card). If you are found eligible, benefits are based on the date you submitted your application. During the 30 days you complete an interview, usually by phone or in person, and give proof of what you put on the application. Expedited service is for households in immediate need: federal rules give it to households with less than $150 in monthly income and no more than $100 in cash and bank accounts, to some migrant or seasonal farmworker households, and to households whose income and cash together are less than their monthly rent or mortgage and utilities. Your state is meant to check for this when you apply, so tell them what money you have and what your rent and utilities cost. If your state put some proof off to speed things up, your notice says so: send it when asked
Where this differs: States run SNAP and set the form, the office and the phone line. USDA's page says it is being updated for the 2025 federal law, which changes some work and non-citizen rules, so check with your state before assuming you do or do not qualify. Ask your state about expedited service
Checked 10 October 2026 at USDA Food and Nutrition Administration
Not paid on payday, or no last paycheck? Your state decides the deadline: ask your state labor departmentWatch the regular payday for your last pay period: if it has passed and you have not been paid, act.United States (set by each state)
- How long
- Watch the regular payday for your last pay period: if it has passed and you have not been paid, act. Your state decides the deadline
- Starts
- your last day of work. There is no federal deadline for a last paycheck; your state may require it sooner, even on your last day.
- If missed
- Your state may have a deadline for a wage claim. Contact your state labor department soon after the regular payday passes.
- It lets you
- contact your state labor department first (the Department of Labor lists every state's office at dol.gov/agencies/whd/state/contacts): some states have laws for usual pay, final pay and vacation pay. The Department of Labor's Wage and Hour Division, on 1-866-487-9243, takes unpaid federal minimum wage and overtime; the Department says it generally cannot help recover vacation pay, and the federal law has no collection procedure for usual pay above the minimum
Where this differs: Final-pay rules differ by state. Keep your last pay stub and any message about when you will be paid
Checked 10 October 2026 at US Department of Labor
Age 40 or over and handed severance papers that give up an age-discrimination claim: you have time before you signThe date written in the agreement, and the law says you must be given at least 21 days to decide (45 in a group layoff).United States (federal rule)
- How long
- The date written in the agreement, and the law says you must be given at least 21 days to decide (45 in a group layoff). After you sign, you have 7 days to take it back.
- Starts
- the day your employer gives you the final version of the agreement. If they change the offer in a way that matters, the count starts over. To be safe, count from the first copy you were handed
- If missed
- If the written deadline passes unsigned, the offer may lapse. If you sign and do not take it back within 7 days, you have usually given up the right to sue over age discrimination. You can still file a charge with the EEOC, though you may not be able to recover money yourself.
- It lets you
- at least 21 days to decide (45 in a group layoff); if you are given less, ask in writing for the time the law requires before the written date passes. Have a lawyer read it, and ask in writing for more time if you are rushed. You may sign early only if it is your free choice. In a group layoff you must also be told in writing the job titles and ages of the people in your group who were and were not chosen.
Where this differs: This is the rule for giving up age-discrimination claims when you are 40 or older. A waiver of other claims, such as race, sex or disability, is judged by a different test. State law can add its own requirements on top, so an employment lawyer or your state labor department is worth asking
Checked 7 October 2026 at US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
Health cover: ask to join a work health plan through your own job, or a spouse's or parent's jobAsk the plan within 30 days of losing your cover.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- Ask the plan within 30 days of losing your cover. A plan may allow longer, but count 30 to be safe
- Starts
- the day your job-based health cover ends, whether it came through your own job or through a family member's job and ended because they died. Not sure of the date? Count from your last day of work or from the day of the death.
- If missed
- ask the plan whether its window is longer than 30 days; if not, you usually wait for its next open enrolment. The COBRA and Marketplace clocks are separate and may still be open
- It lets you
- join another group health plan you can get, such as one at your own job or a spouse's or parent's job, outside its usual sign-up time. This is sooner than either 60-day window, so check it first
Checked 8 October 2026 at US Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
Choose whether to keep a job-based health plan (COBRA)60 days to chooseUnited States (federal rule)
- Starts
- the later of two dates: the day the job-based cover ends (after a job loss, or after the death of the family member whose job it came through) or the day the COBRA election notice is given or mailed to you. Count from the earlier one to act in time. Do not wait for the letter: the plan has 44 days to send it, and it can be late or lost.
- If missed
- The right is gone once 60 days have passed since BOTH dates. If the notice came late or never came, your window may still be open: call the Department of Labor on (866) 444-3272. The Marketplace window is a separate clock that does not wait for this one.
- It lets you
- keep the same plan, back-dated to the day your cover ended, usually at the full premium plus 2 percent: up to 18 months after a job loss, and up to 36 months for a spouse or child after the employee's death. You have 45 days after electing to make the first payment, which may cover more than one month. If you said no, you can still change your mind within the 60 days, but cover may then start only from that day.
Where this differs: If you are 65 or older or can get Medicare, ask about Medicare before choosing COBRA: COBRA without Medicare can leave you with bills. If the company closed and there is no health plan, there is usually no COBRA. COBRA covers private employers with 20 or more employees, and state and local governments; it does not cover federal-government plans or church plans. If you worked for the federal government, ask your HR office for Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) on your last day: you generally have 60 days after you leave or after the TCC notice, whichever is later, to enrol. To be safe, count from the day you leave. Many states have a 'mini-COBRA' law that can reach smaller employers, with its own dates: ask your state insurance commissioner's office. Some employers agree to pay part or all of the cost in a severance package, but that is not required
Checked 7 October 2026 at US Department of Labor, Employee Benefits Security Administration
Pick a health plan on HealthCare.gov after losing cover60 days to pick a plan (90 days if you lost Medicaid or CHIP)United States (federal rule)
- Starts
- the day your health cover ends, which can be later than your last day of work or the day of the death. Not sure? Count from your last day of work, or from the day of the death. You can pick a plan up to 60 days before cover ends.
- If missed
- you can enrol only in Open Enrollment (it starts November 1 each year) or after another life event. Medicaid and CHIP stay open all year. COBRA running out opens a new 60-day window; dropping COBRA or stopping payment does not.
- It lets you
- sign up outside Open Enrollment if you lost job-based cover (even if you quit or were fired), cover through a family member, or your Marketplace plan because someone on it died. Pick before your old cover ends and there is no gap; after it ends, cover starts the first of the month after you pick. If asked for proof of lost cover, send it within 30 days of picking. Cover starts only when you pay the insurer the first premium.
Where this differs: Some states run their own Marketplace instead of HealthCare.gov. Use the state picker on HealthCare.gov, and check your state's site for its own dates, which may differ
Checked 7 October 2026 at HealthCare.gov (Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services)
File a discrimination charge with the EEOC if you think you were fired for who you are180 calendar days.United States (federal rule)
- How long
- 180 calendar days. It is 300 days where a state or local agency enforces a similar law (for age, only a state law and agency count). Not sure? Use 180
- Starts
- the day of the discrimination; for a firing, count from the day you were told. Each separate act has its own clock
- If missed
- A late charge is usually too late, and a grievance or mediation does not pause it. If you are unsure how much time is left, call the EEOC now on 1-800-669-4000 (TTY 1-800-669-6820), or start a charge on the EEOC Public Portal
- It lets you
- ask the EEOC to look into it. Filing a charge is usually the step that must come before a lawsuit under the federal discrimination laws
Where this differs: Federal employees and job applicants: contact your agency's EEO Counselor within 45 days
Checked 7 October 2026 at US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
In the United Kingdom
Claim Universal Credit: it counts from the day you send the claimIf you are claiming, send the claim today: there is no set deadline, but the claim starts on the day you send it.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- If you are claiming, send the claim today: there is no set deadline, but the claim starts on the day you send it. It can be backdated by up to one month, only in certain circumstances
- Starts
- the day you submit your claim in your Universal Credit account, not the day you create the account. After you create the account you have 28 days to finish the claim, or you have to start again. If you cannot claim online, call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644 (Welsh: 0800 328 1744), Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- If missed
- days before your claim date are not covered unless the claim is backdated. Backdating is for a delay that was not your fault, for example a disability, health problems that stopped you claiming, the online service not working, being on a different benefit and not told it was ending, or a partner who started a joint claim and did not finish it. You may be asked for evidence
- It lets you
- have Universal Credit worked out from the day you claim: your first assessment period starts the day you make a claim, and the first payment usually comes around 5 weeks later. If you need money while you wait, you can apply for an advance. It is a loan: you usually pay it back out of your payments over 24 months. Free help with the claim is available through Help to Claim, run by Citizens Advice
Where this differs: If you already get Housing Benefit, income-related ESA or Pension Credit, they stop when you claim Universal Credit, even if the claim fails: check you will be better off first. Northern Ireland has its own Universal Credit pages on nidirect. In Scotland you can choose to be paid twice a month. Ask your council for Council Tax Reduction too: it is a separate claim. Northern Ireland has a different scheme.
Checked 7 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Department for Work and Pensions)
Claim New Style Jobseeker's AllowanceThere is no set deadline to claim.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- There is no set deadline to claim. A late claim can be backdated by up to 3 months, only in certain circumstances
- Starts
- the day you apply. GOV.UK says you may wait up to 7 days after applying for your JSA to start, and up to 2 weeks after that for the first payment. The Department for Work and Pensions will contact you within 14 days of applying. If you cannot apply online, call Jobcentre Plus on 0800 055 6688, Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm; in Northern Ireland, call the Jobseeker's Allowance Processing Centre
- If missed
- GOV.UK says a claim can be backdated up to 3 months only in certain circumstances, so claim now, and if you are late, ask for backdating and give your reason.
- It lets you
- a payment every 2 weeks for up to 182 days, if you paid enough Class 1 National Insurance as an employee, usually in the last 2 to 3 years. Savings do not count. You can get it with or instead of Universal Credit; if you get both, it reduces your Universal Credit.
Where this differs: GOV.UK covers Great Britain. Northern Ireland has different eligibility rules and its own pages on nidirect: they also say a claim can be backdated by up to three months if you could not claim sooner and have a good reason, and that you can get New Style JSA for up to 182 days. Anyone with an illness or disability that stops them working should look at Employment and Support Allowance or Universal Credit instead
Checked 7 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Department for Work and Pensions)
Tell Acas (the free workplace advice service) before the time limit if you may take your employer to a tribunalNot sure how long you have? Tell Acas within 3 months minus 1 day of the day the problem happened.England, Scotland and Wales
- How long
- Not sure how long you have? Tell Acas within 3 months minus 1 day of the day the problem happened. The limit is 6 months minus 1 day for most problems that happened from 1 October 2026, and 3 months minus 1 day for most problems before then.
- Starts
- the day the problem happened. For dismissal, count from your last day of work, even if you were paid for notice you did not work. For pay, the day you were not paid correctly; for discrimination, the latest date you include. A grievance or appeal does not pause the clock.
- If missed
- you can still make a claim, but it is up to the judge whether to accept it, and in most cases the limits are strictly enforced. Notifying Acas only pauses the limit if you notify within it
- It lets you
- notify Acas first, within your time limit. That pauses the limit while early conciliation runs, for up to 12 weeks. If there is no agreement Acas gives you a certificate with a number on it, which you need for the tribunal claim form (ET1), and you have at least 1 month from the day you receive it to make the claim
Where this differs: England, Scotland and Wales. In Northern Ireland, notify the Labour Relations Agency instead; an unfair dismissal claim has three months. Breach of contract in Scotland has 3 months minus 1 day if it happened before 9 November 2026, and interim relief has only 7 days.
Checked 7 October 2026 at Acas
Claim statutory redundancy pay if you were made redundant and it has not been paid6 months minus 1 day to claim itEngland, Scotland and Wales
- Starts
- the day your job ends. Not sure? Count from your last day of work
- If missed
- you may lose the right to the payment. A grievance or appeal does not pause the time limit
- It lets you
- get statutory redundancy pay if you were an employee and had worked for your employer for 2 years or more. Check your final payslip for it. If it is missing, ask your employer for it in writing. If they still do not pay, notify Acas before the time limit runs out
Where this differs: If your employer is insolvent, apply to the government's Redundancy Payments Service instead (Insolvency Service, 0330 331 0020). Agency workers, casual workers and people on zero-hours contracts are not likely to count as employees for redundancy pay: ask Acas which rights you have. In Northern Ireland the claim also has six months, through the Industrial Tribunal, and the amounts differ
Checked 7 October 2026 at GOV.UK
Who to call
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
finds your state's unemployment office and how to file there
Call 1-877-872-5627 · Website any time; help line in business hours
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state where you worked, since you file with that state
- addresses and dates of your former employment, which your state will ask for when you file
- your zip code, if you want to find the nearest American Job Center
They can
- point you to your state's unemployment website or phone number so you can file
- help you find your nearest American Job Center, which offers job search help and training
- answer questions about employment or training programs on the 1-877-US2-JOBS helpline
They cannot
- take your unemployment claim: each state runs its own program, and you file with that state
- charge you anything: neither CareerOneStop nor any state or federal unemployment program charges a fee to file, so a message asking for money is a scam
if your health cover came through the job
Call 1-800-318-2596 · 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (except holidays)
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the date your health cover ended or will end, for example job-based cover after a job loss or a death, or a Marketplace plan the person who died was on
- papers showing you lost cover and the date it ended: if you are asked for them, send them within 30 days of picking a plan
- your best estimate of your household's income for the year you want cover, counting everyone in the household and including unemployment benefits
They may ask
- about your household and your estimated income for the year, which decide any savings and whether you may qualify for Medicaid or CHIP
They can
- help you fill out an application, review your choices and enroll, free, with help in other languages
- help you find people in your community trained to help you enroll
- take calls from TTY users on 1-855-889-4325
They cannot
- take questions or documents by email: upload documents on the site or mail photocopies
- start your coverage for you: you pay the first premium to the insurance company, not the Marketplace, and cover does not start until you do
SNAP (Food Stamps) — How to Apply
food help, counted from the day you apply
fna.usda.gov · Varies by state office
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state where you now live, since you apply there
- who lives with you: everyone who lives together and buys and prepares food together is one household
- proof of what you put on the application, which your state will ask for
They may ask
- an eligibility interview, usually by phone or in person
- proof (verification) of the information you provided
They can
- tell you how to apply: by visiting the local SNAP office, going to the state agency's website, or calling the state's toll-free SNAP hotline
- send you a decision, in most cases within 30 days of your application
- possibly give you benefits within 7 days of applying if you meet extra requirements: ask your state
- let someone else apply and be interviewed for you if you cannot go in, phone or get online, if you name them in writing
They cannot
- answer questions about your own case: USDA does not process applications, so contact your state office
- accept an application from another state: you apply in the state where you currently live
say what is happening, for example: I lost my job and the rent is due
Call 211 · 24/7 in most areas
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- a few facts about your current living situation
- any income you have
- the children or other dependents who live with you
They may ask
- about your current living situation
- about any income you have
- about any children or other dependents who live with you
They can
- connect you to local help with rent, mortgage, utilities, food and health care
- talk to you by phone; some local 211s also offer text and web chat, so check yours
- use 180 languages on request
- give you other ideas if you do not qualify for one program: you can call again
They cannot
- give you money themselves: 211 is the number for information and referrals to services
- help in a life-threatening emergency: call 911 first if you or someone you love is in one or may be a danger to someone else
free legal help in your state, if you are asked to sign away a claim or think you were fired unfairly
lawhelp.org · Online
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the state or territory where you live: the site starts by asking you to choose it
They can
- send you to legal aid and other low-cost legal help near you
- give you legal help guides, including one on court fees and getting them paid
- help you create legal documents for free in areas such as housing, with LawHelp Interactive
They cannot
- give legal advice or take your case itself: it sends you to legal aid and other help in your state
US, if you are not a US citizen: finds free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal help near you, by state or ZIP code. It lists only nonprofits, not private lawyers or notarios. Some charge a small fee, so ask first
immigrationlawhelp.org · Website, any time
National Foundation for Credit Counseling
a nonprofit counselor to plan bills and debts with you; most member agencies are free but some charge, so ask about fees first
Call 1-800-388-2227 · Call for current hours; online help any time
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- some intake questions, to work out which credit counseling services fit you best
- what you want a review for, such as credit card debt, household budgeting, or foreclosure prevention, plus your name, zip code, email, phone and preferred language (English or Spanish), if you use the online form
They can
- connect you with an NFCC-certified credit counselor for a confidential consultation
- review your financial goals and budget with you one on one and create a personalized financial action plan
- work with you and your creditors on a debt management plan, which can potentially stop collection calls and legal action if you keep your part of the agreement
- help you find an NFCC member agency in your area, through the Agency Finder or on 800-388-2227
- make you an appointment with a counselor in person, online or by phone, and tell you how to prepare, which may mean gathering certain financial documents first
They cannot
- promise it is free: most NFCC-member agencies offer free credit counseling, but some charge for specific services and fees vary by agency and state law
- contact your creditors unless you set up a debt management plan or other payment plan
- keep your online form between you and NFCC: by sending it you agree they may share it with member agencies and other third parties, who may call, text or email you
- promise the calls and legal action will stop: their page says they can potentially stop, and calls are likely to stop if you keep your part of the agreement
In the United Kingdom
Universal Credit helpline (GOV.UK)
claim Universal Credit by phone if you cannot claim online. In Northern Ireland, Universal Credit is claimed through nidirect
Call 0800 328 5644 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your bank, building society or credit union account details
- identity documents, for example a driving licence, passport, debit or credit card, or payslip or P60
- information about your housing, such as how much rent you pay, and your earnings, such as payslips
- your National Insurance number, if you have one
- details of other benefits you get, any disability or health condition that affects your work, childcare costs if you want help with them, and your savings and investments
They can
- take a Universal Credit claim by phone if you cannot claim online
- give you help with your claim: the page says you can call the helpline or use the Help to Claim service
- take calls in Welsh on 0800 328 1744 and Relay UK calls on 18001 then 0800 328 5644
They cannot
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- take a claim if you live in Northern Ireland: GOV.UK sends you to Universal Credit in Northern Ireland
- let one partner claim alone if you live together: you will both need to create accounts and link them
- keep a claim open without limit: you must complete your claim within 28 days of creating your account or you will have to start again
checks which means-tested benefits you may get, and searches for grants
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- about 10 minutes: the Grants Search says it takes that long
They can
- check which means-tested benefits you may be able to claim, free and confidential, with the Benefits Calculator
- search for charitable grants, which is money that does not have to be paid back, with the Grants Search
- help you find an adviser near you with the Find an adviser tool
- walk you through each stage of a Personal Independence Payment application with the PIP Helper
They cannot
- give personal one-to-one support: Turn2us no longer offers it
- take a grant application from you: the Grants Search points you to other organisations that give grants
- give you a phone number of their own: if you cannot use the online tools, their site points to Help through Hardship, which gives free confidential phone advice in England and Wales but does not offer direct payments, grants or loans
Help with the cost of living from your local council (GOV.UK, England)
England: if there is no money for food or bills before your first payment, ask your council for crisis help. This page explains it and sends you to your council. You do not have to be getting benefits
gov.uk · Website, any time
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode: the page's 'Check with your local council' link goes to the GOV.UK council finder
They can
- tell you what the Crisis and Resilience Fund is, and that you do not have to be getting benefits to get help from your local council
- send you to the GOV.UK finder for your local council, which decides how its scheme runs
They cannot
- take your application or pay you: you apply to your own council, which decides eligibility, whether and how you apply, and who the money goes to
- tell you what your council offers: the page says to check with your local council
Scottish Welfare Fund: Crisis Grants (mygov.scot)
Scotland: apply to your council for a Crisis Grant, which you do not pay back: mygov.scot names a gap in income after a redundancy as one reason. The page lists each council's page to apply
mygov.scot · Website, any time. You apply to your local council.
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- send you to your own council's page to apply: the page lists every council
- tell you that your council may also take applications by paper form, email or phone, and can help if you cannot apply online
- explain that a Crisis Grant can cover food or heating costs, a fire or flood, or a gap in income after a redundancy or a change at work, and that you do not pay it back
They cannot
- take your application: you cannot apply through the Scottish Government, only through your local council
- give regular income: Crisis Grants are one-off payments
- give more than 3 Crisis Grants in a 12 month period, unless exceptional circumstances apply
Discretionary Assistance Fund (Wales)
Wales: apply for an Emergency Assistance Payment for food, gas and electricity, which you do not pay back. Apply online or by phone; on a Friday, apply before noon if you can
Call 0800 859 5924 · Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm. Closed on bank holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the eligibility criteria: the page says to check them before you start your application
They can
- take an online application for an Emergency Assistance Payment, or an application by post or phone
- send a PayPoint voucher or a BACS payment for food, gas, electricity and emergency travel if you are approved
- point you to an approved partner who can help you apply
- take your call or letter in Welsh
They cannot
- process applications on bank holidays: you can still apply online, but it waits until the office reopens
- contact you until Monday if you apply after 12 pm on a Friday
- give a grant if you have had one in the last 7 days, or 3 in the last 12 months
- pay for ongoing bills that you cannot afford to pay
- take a complaint about a decision: if you do not agree with the outcome, use the decision review
Finance Support Service (Northern Ireland)
Northern Ireland: if you are waiting for a first Universal Credit payment, apply online for a Universal Credit New Claims Grant, which you do not repay; or for Discretionary Support, which can be a loan or a grant. You do not need to ring: someone will contact you
Call 0800 587 2750 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your National Insurance number
- information on your rent or mortgage
- details of your income and of your savings
- your account details
They may ask
- you may be asked to visit your local Jobs & Benefits office if more information is needed
They can
- take your online application for Discretionary Support, a Short Term Benefit Advance or a Universal Credit New Claims Grant
- contact you after you apply: you do not need to ring
- take calls on textphone 0800 587 2751, and use a video relay service in British or Irish Sign Language (Northern Ireland residents only)
- offer an appointment-based face to face service in a Jobs & Benefits office if you find it hard to use the telephone
They cannot
- answer the phone outside Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm
- give you a Discretionary Support loan if you and your partner have total government debt of £1,500 or more (the page lists a Discretionary Support grant for living expenses for someone who could not repay a loan, or whose combined government debt is more than £1,500)
free debt advice and a plan for what you owe
Call 0800 138 1111 · Phone: Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 2pm. Online advice any time.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- details of all the money you owe: if you are not sure, your credit file lists your missed payments
- a budget showing what you can and cannot afford: StepChange says to share one with the people you owe
They can
- give free debt advice online at any time of day or night, and let you stop and begin again later
- tell you your options for dealing with what you owe, including debt management plans
- help you ask the people you owe to pause action or agree new payment terms
if there is no food in the house: find your nearest food bank. You need a food voucher first, from a local organisation; the page says how to get one
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- how many adults and children the parcel is for, and the ages of any children: volunteers check these from your voucher
- any dietary requirements: say so when you get your voucher so the food bank can prepare
They may ask
- the community organisation that gives you a voucher asks about your individual needs, so it can help you find the right support
They can
- help you find your nearest food bank
- give an emergency food parcel with at least three days of meals once you have a food voucher from a local community organisation
- sometimes provide pet food and essentials such as toiletries and period products, where they can
- sometimes offer extra support, such as debt advice or a trained Citizens Advice adviser
- sometimes deliver food parcels: ask when you get your voucher, or contact the food bank
They cannot
- give you a parcel without a food voucher: you need a referral first
- usually give you a voucher online: you will usually need to contact a community organisation by phone or in person, and in some cases the food bank directly
free advice on your rights: notice, holiday and redundancy pay, and the tribunal time limit
Call 0300 123 1100 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the questions you need help with, written out
- what is in your employment contract or relevant workplace policies
They can
- talk through most work-related problems or questions you have
- explain what the law says and how it relates to you
- discuss your options for what to do next, including the risks and benefits
- give you an interpreter straight away if you ask, take Relay UK calls (18001 0300 123 1100) and take British Sign Language calls through the InterpretersLive! video relay service
They cannot
- take sides, tell you what choice to make, give a legal opinion or act on your behalf
- give advice on P45s or P60s
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
- promise a free call: the advice is free but you may be charged for the call
LawWorks free legal advice clinics (England and Wales)
England and Wales, if you cannot get legal aid and cannot afford a lawyer: find a free legal advice clinic near you, for problems such as employment. A clinic usually gives a short first appointment and basic advice on what to do next; some have waiting lists, so do not wait on one if a date is close
lawworks.org.uk · Online finder. Each clinic sets its own opening times.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode, city or town, and the area of law your problem is in, to search the finder
- documents about your problem: LawWorks has a guide, arranged by area of law, to the documents that are useful to bring
They may ask
- you to meet that clinic's own eligibility rules, which its page on the LawWorks site sets out
They can
- show you free legal advice clinics near you, which you can search by area of law
- give you, at a clinic, 30 minutes to an hour to explain your problem and basic advice on next steps
- offer advice face to face, by phone, by email or online, depending on the clinic
They cannot
- give you legal advice or representation itself: independent clinics give the advice, not LawWorks
- help if you can get legal aid or can afford a lawyer: the clinics are for people who cannot get legal aid and cannot afford to pay
- take on your case at every clinic: clinics are often only able to give initial advice
- promise you a place: some clinics have waiting lists or close to new enquiries, and are frequently unable to take people facing an urgent legal deadline
Labour Relations Agency (Northern Ireland)
the same help in Northern Ireland, and where you start a tribunal claim
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give you information about your employment rights and responsibilities, for your specific circumstances, on the Workplace Information Service 03300 555 300
- arrange an interpreter if needed
- take your details by phone for an Early Conciliation notification, if you cannot do it online
They cannot
- take a call about a conciliation, mediation, independent appeal or arbitration case on the Workplace Information line: for those their page says to call the switchboard on 03300 552 220
- let you go to tribunal without considering Early Conciliation: you must notify the agency first, though nidirect lists some exceptions
Law Centre NI (benefits, work and immigration advice)
Northern Ireland: free legal advice on work problems, and representation at a tribunal in cases it takes on. It says it does not advise where other help is available, such as for trade union members and higher earners, and it cannot take every case. A callback can take weeks: do not wait for it before you contact the Labour Relations Agency, because the tribunal time limit keeps running
Call 028 9024 4401 · One advice line, with different hours by subject. Benefits (social security): Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30am to 1pm. Work (employment): Monday to Friday, 9:30am to 11am. Immigration: Monday and Wednesday, 10am to 12 noon.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- which of the three subjects your problem is about (benefits, work or immigration), so you ring in that subject's hours
They may ask
- your consent to record your name and your postcode, if you are seeking one-off advice
They can
- give free, independent and confidential legal advice on benefits (social security), work (employment) and immigration
- represent you at tribunals and courts, in cases it takes on
- arrange an interpreter for the immigration advice line
- try to point you to other sources of support if it cannot help
They cannot
- help with any other area of law than benefits, work and immigration, or with people who do not live or work in Northern Ireland
- take every enquiry: it is a charity with limited resources, its service depends on capacity, and on work problems it focuses on people in greatest need and is selective about the cases it represents
- on a work advice call, tell you whether a tribunal claim is worth bringing, or read all the papers in your case; if you have not used your workplace grievance procedure, it is likely to ask you to do that first
- advise on a work problem where other advice is available, which it says includes trade union members and higher earners; a discrimination-only case it refers to the Equality Commission
- answer outside the line's hours for each subject, or on a drop-in basis: the general office cannot discuss your case or give advice
- advise on every kind of immigration case: its focus is forced migration, such as asylum claims, refugee family reunion and modern slavery and trafficking, and it does not normally help with tourism or visiting family and friends, work, business or academic visits, study, transit, coming to Northern Ireland for medical treatment, or joining a partner or family (unless you or they are a refugee)
- advise on immigration where another immigration solicitor is already involved, or on Irish immigration law
Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
free help with the claim, money, and what your employer owes you (England)
Call 0800 144 8848 · Usually 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. Not available on public holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode if you call from a mobile: if you do not have one, say one nearby such as a GP surgery, takeaway shop or taxi company
They may ask
- your postcode, from a mobile, to find your local Citizens Advice
They can
- connect you to your local Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
- talk to you by online chat: Universal Credit claims 8am to 6pm Monday to Friday, debt 9am to 8pm Monday to Friday and 9:30am to 1pm Saturday
- help with a new Universal Credit claim through Help to Claim, free and confidential, from the application to the first payment
- take Relay UK calls (18001 then 0800 144 8848)
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Adviceline is not available then
- cover all of the UK on this number: it is for England, Wales has a separate Advicelink line, and there are a few parts of England not yet covered
- help everywhere: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the start of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later. Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
Citizens Advice Cymru (Advicelink Wales)
the same help in Wales
Call 0800 702 2020 · Monday to Friday 8am to 7pm. Saturday 9am to 1pm.
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- connect you to an adviser through Advicelink (Wales) on 0800 702 2020, free from mobiles and landlines
- talk to you by online chat about any other kind of problem, usually 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday
- take Relay UK calls: 18001 then 0800 702 2020
- point you to the Citizens Advice consumer service for problems with energy, water or post
They cannot
- answer on public holidays: Advicelink is not available then
- help you in person if you live outside your local office's area: most local Citizens Advice can only help if you live or work in their area
Usually busiest at the beginning and end of the day. At busy times you might wait up to an hour, and a call not answered within an hour is disconnected, so try again later.
Citizens Advice Scotland (Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline)
the same help in Scotland
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your postcode: the page finds your local Citizens Advice Bureau by postcode
They can
- put you through to an adviser at your local bureau by phone on 0800 028 1456, the Scottish Citizens Advice Helpline
- give free, confidential and impartial advice, and help you work out next steps
- raise a complaint with an energy supplier for you through its Extra Help Unit, if you may be considered vulnerable or at risk of disconnection
- give advice online, on its advice pages
Scottish Legal Aid Board (find a legal aid solicitor)
Scotland: find a legal aid solicitor who may be able to advise you, and in some cases represent you at an employment tribunal. The Board itself gives no legal advice, and each solicitor decides whether to take your case, so you may need to try more than one
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the list of what to bring, from your solicitor: ask them before the appointment
- your most recent bank statements showing your income, savings and any household payments you make
- recent wage slips, or accounts if you are self-employed
- current benefit award letters or notifications
- pension payment advice from a former employer, or your pension or benefit book
- details of all your savings and accounts: bank, building society or post office statements or passbooks
- any documents to do with your case
- the same money details for your partner, unless you are separated or they are the person you have the legal problem with
They may ask
- what kind of help you need (civil, criminal or children's hearings) and your location in Scotland, in the finder
- about your savings and income over the past 7 days, on the form your solicitor gives you
They can
- show you registered legal aid solicitors near you
- explain whether legal aid is available in principle, how to apply, and what your solicitor needs to give them
- agree for your solicitor to start work straight away in an urgent case, before your application is assessed. Legal aid does not cover work done before the Board agrees, so check with your solicitor that it has
- take calls from British Sign Language users through Contact Scotland BSL
They cannot
- give you legal advice: it only gives information on applying for legal aid
- tell you by phone whether legal aid will be granted for your case
- take an application from you directly: you can only apply through a solicitor
- make a solicitor take your case: each solicitor decides, even if registered for legal aid, so you may need to try more than one
the same help in Northern Ireland
Before you call: what to have ready
They can
- give advice on benefits, personal debt and managing bills, through the freephone helpline on 0800 915 4604
- answer by email at advice@adviceni.net
- point you to an Advice NI member near you if you need face-to-face advice
They cannot
- see you in person themselves: for face-to-face advice you contact a local advice centre run by an Advice NI member
Say it this way
Change anything to your own words.
Hi, I wanted to let you know early: I lost my job this week. I am applying for help now and I want to keep paying. Could we talk this week about a plan for this month's rent?
I've just lost my job and I want to stay on top of this account. What hardship options do you have, such as a lower payment or a short pause, and can you put what we agree in writing?
Please send me in writing: my last day of employment; my final pay, holiday pay and any redundancy pay, with how each was worked out; the date my health cover ends; my leaving papers (in the UK my P45; in the US the COBRA notice); and a copy of anything you have asked me to sign. Thank you.
Not for you if…
This guide is for someone who has just lost a job: laid off, let go or fired. If you are still employed and worried about losing your job, or you are thinking about quitting, the answer pages in the library fit better. If you are self-employed, the unemployment and health-cover rules here may not apply to you. If you worked for the US federal government, or you live in Northern Ireland, some of the rules here are different; each clock says how. If you think you were dismissed unfairly or because of your age, race, sex, disability or another protected reason, or you are being asked to sign away a claim, talk to a lawyer, a legal aid office, Acas or Citizens Advice before you sign. In the UK, a settlement agreement only counts if an independent adviser named in it has advised you; ask your employer to pay for that advice. If your visa or permission to stay depends on this job, the time you have may be short: talk to an immigration lawyer or adviser this week. In the US, if you are not a US citizen and may apply for a green card from inside the US (not through a US consulate abroad): unemployment benefits are not counted in the 'public charge' test, because they are earned, and help your US-citizen children, husband or wife get is not counted as yours, though an officer still looks at your own income. From September 18, 2026, SNAP, Medicaid or other government help based on your income that you apply for or get yourself can be weighed. It is one thing among many, and not enough on its own to refuse you. Before you apply for that help for yourself, ask a free immigration legal service: Immigration Law Help, below, finds one. Do not wait for that advice to apply for your US-citizen children. If your green card application was sent before September 18, 2026 and is still waiting, the older rules are used for it, and they did not count SNAP or most Medicaid. If illness or disability now stops you working, the benefit clocks here may not fit: in the UK, look at Employment and Support Allowance; in the US, ask Social Security about disability benefits. If your employer still owes you pay, see 'I haven't been paid my wages'. If your health cover is ending, 'My health insurance or Medicaid is ending' has the Medicaid and Medicare steps. If there is no money for food, see 'I have no money for food'.
A different emergency? Account frozen or closed · Behind on mortgage · Benefits stopped · A car accident · Car repossessed or towed · Bullied at school · Suspended or excluded from school · Help at school · Council tax or rates · Debt collector or court papers · Deposit not returned · Sent home from hospital · Eviction notice · Flood, fire or storm · Health cover ending · Unsafe home · Hurt at work · Paid a scammer · Lost wallet or phone · A medical bill · No money for food · Nowhere to sleep · Parking or traffic fine · Shutoff notice · Someone died · Stalking, harassment or shared pictures · Someone is missing · Identity theft · Stranded away from home · A tax bill · Told to leave home · Pay being taken · Wages not paid
From the library
I just lost my job — what do I do this week?