Emergency guide
I have no money for food
When there is no money for food, the first job is to get food today. This page lists what to do tonight, the help that decides quickly, who to call and words you can use. Some help is a loan: the page says which.
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 7 April 2027 · To keep a copy, use your browser’s print or share menu.
First: are you safe?
If anyone is in danger now, or is faint, confused or very unwell, 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, find your nearest food bank through Trussell, below: you need a food voucher first, from a local organisation. If this 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.
Today
- US, tonight: call 211 and say 'I have no food and no money for food'. They can point you to a food pantry (a place that gives out free groceries) near you. Anyone who needs extra help affording food can use one, though some ask that you live in their area.
- UK, today: find your nearest food bank on Trussell's site. You need a food voucher from a local organisation before a food bank can give you a parcel.
- UK: if you do not know who can give you a voucher, contact the food bank itself: Trussell says that in some cases you may need to. In England and Wales, Help through Hardship can also tell you where to get one: 0808 208 2138, free, weekdays 9am to 5pm, closed on public holidays.
- If you feed a baby formula, do not add extra water to make it last: the NHS says too little powder may not give your baby enough nourishment. Tell the food bank that you need formula. In the UK, also tell your health visitor. In the US, also tell WIC or 211.
- If you take insulin or some other diabetes medicines, missing meals can make your blood sugar go too low, the NHS says. Ask your doctor, diabetes team or pharmacist today what to do while food is short.
- US: apply for SNAP (food stamps) today. You can start with only your name, address and signature; benefits count from the day you apply. Ask for 'expedited service', which can mean food benefits within days if you have very little money.
- US: a 2025 federal law narrowed which non-citizens can get SNAP; ask your state.
- 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): food help you got before September 18, 2026 is not counted in the 'public charge' test. If it carries on after that date, that part can be weighed.
- US, if you are not a US citizen and may apply for a green card: applying for your US-citizen children, husband or wife, and the help they get, is not counted as yours in the 'public charge' test, though an officer still looks at your own income and what you live on.
- US citizens are not given the 'public charge' test. Nor are refugees, people granted asylum, or some survivors of trafficking, crime or domestic abuse, getting a green card that way. If you already have a green card, ask a free immigration legal service before you stop any help: this test is for people getting one, and is not usually done again when you come back from a trip abroad.
- US: if your green card application was sent before September 18, 2026 and is still waiting for a decision, the older rules are used for it. They counted cash help and long stays in a nursing home or similar, not food help. Ask a free immigration legal service before you change anything.
- US, if you are not a US citizen: from September 18, 2026, SNAP, WIC or other government help based on your income that you apply for or get yourself can be weighed if you later apply for a green card, even if the help started earlier. It is one thing among many, and not enough on its own to refuse you.
- US, if you are not a US citizen and may apply for a green card: ask a free immigration legal service before you apply for SNAP, WIC or other government help for yourself. Immigration Law Help, below, finds one. Do not wait for that advice to apply for your US-citizen children. Do not go without food while you wait: the 211 and food pantry step at the top is for tonight.
- UK: ask for crisis money in your nation today, and say if your need is urgent. England: your council. Scotland: a Crisis Grant from your council. Wales: an Emergency Assistance Payment. Northern Ireland: Discretionary Support, which can be a loan or a grant, so ask which. Each has a card below.
- If your visa says 'no recourse to public funds', ask an immigration adviser before you apply for benefits or crisis payments: some count as public funds.
- UK, if you are waiting for a first Universal Credit payment: you can ask for an advance, but it is a loan. It comes out of your later payments, so they are smaller. Take only what you can afford to repay, and ask about help you do not repay too.
- US, if you are pregnant, recently pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a child under 5: ask your local WIC office for an appointment. WIC gives free groceries. It is help for the weeks ahead, not tonight.
- UK, if you are pregnant or have a young child: ask about Healthy Start, or Best Start Foods in Scotland. Both help in the weeks ahead, not tonight. Most families need certain benefits. Pregnant under-18s do not. If your visa says 'no recourse to public funds', there is still a route: for Healthy Start, your child must be British.
- US, if you have a child at school: ask the school office for a free school meals application. You can apply at any time in the school year. If you get SNAP, your children at school qualify; ask if you still need an application.
- UK, if you have a child at school: ask the school or your local council about free school meals. In England, a child now qualifies if you get Universal Credit, whatever your income. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own process. If you cannot claim most benefits, ask anyway: your child may still qualify.
- Tell one person that food is short, such as a friend, a neighbour, your child's school or your doctor. They may know of local help that is not listed here.
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
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
In the United Kingdom
Wales: apply today for an Emergency Assistance Payment, a grant for food and fuelApply today, online, by phone or by post; on a Friday, apply before noon if you can.Wales
- How long
- Apply today, online, by phone or by post; on a Friday, apply before noon if you can. The fund says it takes 24 hours to process applications made Monday to Friday, and that if you apply after 12 pm on a Friday it will not contact you until the following Monday
- Starts
- the day you apply, online or by post or phone. The fund's processing office is closed on bank holidays: you can still apply online, but your application is not processed until the office reopens on the next working day
- If missed
- if you apply after noon on a Friday, you wait until Monday. You cannot apply if you have already received a grant in the last 7 days, or 3 grants in the last 12 months (counted back 12 months from the day you apply, not by calendar or tax year), so apply when you need it. If you are declined, the letter says what to do, and by when, to ask for a review
- It lets you
- get a grant, which you do not pay back, towards essential costs such as food, gas, electricity or emergency travel. You must live in Wales, be over 16, be in extreme financial hardship (for example you have lost your job, or have applied for benefits and are waiting for your first payment) and have no other money, such as savings. If you are approved you get a PayPoint voucher or a bank (BACS) payment. It cannot be used for ongoing bills that you cannot afford to pay
Checked 10 October 2026 at Welsh Government
Scotland: ask your council for a Crisis Grant (the Scottish Welfare Fund) when you have no money for foodApply to your council today.Scotland
- How long
- Apply to your council today. Most councils say they will tell you the outcome of your application within 2 working days, but some are taking longer because more people are applying, and your council may tell you how long you will wait
- Starts
- the day you apply to your local council: you cannot apply through the Scottish Government. Your council's website says how to apply, and it may also take applications by paper form, email or phone
- If missed
- there is no date to apply by. You can only get 3 Crisis Grants in a 12 month period unless exceptional circumstances apply, and a Crisis Grant is a one-off payment that cannot support your income long term, so ask for the help you need now and ask about other help too
- It lets you
- a one-off grant for an emergency, for example if you need help to get food or with heating costs, if there is a fire or flood at home, or if you face a gap in your normal income because of a redundancy or a change at work. You do not need to pay it back. You need to be on a low income, which does not mean you need to be on benefits
Where this differs: Scotland only. Each council takes the applications, so use your own council's page, which the Scottish Government page links to. Some councils are taking longer than the usual time. If your visa says 'no recourse to public funds', ask an immigration adviser before you apply: UK Visas and Immigration lists Scottish Welfare Fund payments as public funds. England, Wales and Northern Ireland have their own schemes: see their cards
Checked 10 October 2026 at mygov.scot (Scottish Government)
England: ask your council for crisis help with food and bills (the Crisis and Resilience Fund)Ask your council today, and say if your need is urgent.England only
- How long
- Ask your council today, and say if your need is urgent. DWP's guidance asks councils to aim to pay for urgent needs within 48 hours of a completed application, and to tell you how long it should take. It is an aim, not a promise, and it does not cover help given as goods instead of money
- Starts
- the day you apply to your council. Councils decide how to run their schemes, including whether and how you apply, but DWP's guidance to councils says each must offer at least two ways to apply, such as online, by phone or face to face, and should accept an application made for you by a friend, a relative or a community organisation
- If missed
- there is no date to miss, but you may wait for an answer while there is no food. Some councils limit household applications to one a year, so when you apply, tell them everything you need help with. If you are refused, there is no tribunal appeal: ask the council whether it will look at the decision again
- It lets you
- ask for money towards things like food, energy and water bills, essential items and housing costs. GOV.UK says the funding is aimed at anyone who is vulnerable or cannot pay for essentials. You do not have to be getting benefits, and if you get benefits, a payment from the fund will not affect them. Some councils share out money through local charities and community groups, and some may also offer food vouchers to families during the school holidays
Where this differs: England only. Scotland has the Scottish Welfare Fund, Wales has the Discretionary Assistance Fund and Northern Ireland has Discretionary Support: see their cards. Each English council sets its own eligibility, whether you have to apply and how. If your visa says 'no recourse to public funds', ask an immigration adviser before you apply: some council crisis payments count as public funds
Checked 10 October 2026 at GOV.UK (Department for Work and Pensions)
Northern Ireland: apply to the Finance Support Service for help with food: it may be a loan or a grantApply online today; if you cannot, call Finance Support free on 0800 587 2750 and ask how to apply.Northern Ireland
- How long
- Apply online today; if you cannot, call Finance Support free on 0800 587 2750 and ask how to apply. After you apply online you do not need to ring: Finance Support says someone will contact you. nidirect gives no decision time
- Starts
- the day you apply online to the Finance Support Service. Help with living expenses is normally for the time from the day you apply to the day before your next income payment is due, for example your next benefit payment or wage
- If missed
- there is no date to apply by, but help with living expenses normally runs from the day you apply, so applying later covers less time. If you are unhappy with a decision, ask Finance Support for a review within 28 days of the decision
- It lets you
- ask for help with short-term living expenses, for example to buy food. Depending on your circumstances you could be offered either an interest-free loan or a grant that you would not have to pay back, so check which it is when you are offered it. A loan is paid back by deductions from some benefits, or by Direct Debit if you get none of those or you get Universal Credit. In any 12 months you can get up to 3 loans. If you and your partner owe government debt of £1,500 or more you cannot get a loan, but you may be offered a grant for living expenses instead. If you are waiting for your first Universal Credit payment, also ask about a Universal Credit New Claims Grant: nidirect says you would not need to repay it, and you cannot have had a grant for living expenses in the past 12 months
Where this differs: Northern Ireland only. You must live in Northern Ireland and be over 18, or at least 16 with no parental support. Your own and your partner's income and any savings are looked at. If your visa says 'no recourse to public funds', ask an immigration adviser before you apply: UK Visas and Immigration lists Discretionary Support payments as public funds. In England, Scotland and Wales use the cards for those nations
Checked 10 October 2026 at nidirect (Northern Ireland Executive)
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
An advance is a loan: it is taken out of your later payments, which makes them smaller. You usually have up to 24 months to repay it, and if you cannot afford the repayments you can ask for them to be delayed. If you stop claiming Universal Credit you still owe it. You will usually find out the same day if you can get an advance. Take only as much as you can afford to repay, and ask about help you do not repay too: see the cards for your nation. In Northern Ireland it is called an Advance Loan: ask your work coach at your Jobs & Benefits office, or apply in your Universal Credit online account after your first interview.
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)
Who to call
Jump to: United States · United Kingdom
In the United States
call first if there is no food tonight: say 'I have no food and no money for food'. 211 connects you to local help with food, and with rent and bills too. It gives information and referrals: it cannot give you money or food itself
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
Feeding America — Find a Food Bank
find your nearest food bank from your ZIP code, then contact it for its hours and what it gives out. Anyone who needs extra help affording food can visit a food pantry or meal program, though some have extra requirements, such as living in a certain area
feedingamerica.org · Website, any time
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your ZIP code: the page uses it to find your nearest food bank
They may ask
- a pantry or meal program may ask questions or have you fill out a form about your family's needs, so it can give you the right amount of food and connect you with other programs
They can
- find the Feeding America food bank nearest to you from your ZIP code, or list the food banks in your state
- show you the hours, locations and services of the partner food pantries and meal programs that a food bank works with
- tell you that anyone who needs extra help affording food can visit a food pantry or meal program
They cannot
- promise the hours shown are up to date: the page says to contact the food bank directly for local services and hours
- promise there are no rules: some pantries or programs have extra requirements, like living in a certain area
call Monday to Friday, 8am to 8pm Eastern time, and a person helps you find food near you: meal sites, food banks and programs such as SNAP. Outside those hours, call 211, above
Call 1-866-348-6479 · Text 914-342-7744 (automated replies) · Mon–Fri, 8am–8pm ET
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- the address or zip code you need food near: the text service and the address search use it to find places near you
They can
- connect you with emergency food providers in your community, government assistance programs and other social services
- find meal sites, food banks and other services near where you are, through a representative on the phone
- answer a text to 914-342-7744 with food resources near an address or zip code, through an automated service
They cannot
- answer the phone outside Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Eastern time
- give you food themselves: the line finds places that do
SNAP (Food Stamps) — How to Apply
apply for SNAP in the state where you live, and ask if you can get expedited (faster) service. This page finds your state's office, website and hotline; USDA does not take applications or look up your case
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
WIC (Women, Infants, and Children)
if you are pregnant, recently pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a child under 5: choose your state to find your local WIC, then ask for an appointment. The groceries are at no cost to you
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- what your local WIC office asks for, which may include each person who will be enrolling, including babies and kids under 5
- identification for each person enrolling, such as a driver's license or state ID, passport, birth certificate, employer or school ID, health benefits card or crib card
- proof of address, such as a recent bill that shows your current address
- proof of enrollment in SNAP, Medicaid or TANF, or proof of income, such as recent paychecks, your latest tax return or a letter or note from your employer
They may ask
- your local WIC office tells you before your appointment who and what to have with you
They can
- check whether you or children in your care are likely to be eligible, with the Eligibility Tool
- start your application by phone or online, then book an in-person or virtual appointment to complete it
- give healthy groceries on an eWIC card, which works like a debit card, plus nutrition education, breastfeeding support and referrals, at no cost to you
They cannot
- complete your application in one step: you meet with WIC staff at an appointment
- help if no one is pregnant, recently pregnant, breastfeeding or under 5: WIC is for women who are pregnant, recently pregnant or breastfeeding, and babies and kids under 5
- give you one national number to call: choose your state on the page to find your local WIC
Free and reduced-price school meals (USDA)
if you have a child at school: ask the school or district for a free or reduced-price meal application. You may apply at any time in the school year. If you get SNAP, your children at school automatically qualify for free school meals; ask whether you still need an application
fna.usda.gov · Contact your school or district
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- whether your household gets SNAP or TANF: if it does, your children at school automatically qualify, and the school tells you whether you still need an application
They can
- tell you that you may apply for school meals at any time during the school year, directly to your school or district, and that you may ask for an application at any time
- tell you that children in a household that gets SNAP automatically qualify for free school meals
- tell you that you may also be eligible if you are eligible for unemployment compensation or WIC
They cannot
- take your application: USDA's online model application is not for households, so contact your child's school to find where to get its application
- decide whether your child qualifies: local school or district officials review applications
Legal Services Corporation — Find Legal Aid
if help is refused and you think that is wrong: finds the legal aid office for your area, for benefits problems
lsc.gov · Website, any time
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- an address or a city: the finder uses it to show the legal aid organization that covers your area
They can
- show you the LSC-funded legal aid organization for your area, with its phone number and website, for a civil legal problem
- point you to LawHelp.org for information about your legal questions and free legal forms
They cannot
- take every case: LSC's own study says the legal aid groups it funds turn away about half of the requests they get, for lack of resources. If the first office cannot take your case, ask it who else can help
- give you legal advice itself: LSC pays for legal aid organizations, and you contact the one for your area
US, if you are not a US citizen: finds free or low-cost nonprofit immigration legal help near you, by state or ZIP code. Ask whether SNAP or WIC could affect a green card you may apply for. It lists only nonprofits, not private lawyers or notarios. Some charge a small fee, so ask first
immigrationlawhelp.org · Website, any time
In the United Kingdom
if there is no food in the house tonight: 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
Help through Hardship (Trussell and Citizens Advice)
if you cannot find a food voucher: an advice line, not a food bank. Free advice and emergency support in England and Wales, on weekdays. Its page says it can help you find out where to get a food voucher for emergency food. In Scotland and Northern Ireland, use the advice doors below
Call 0808 208 2138 · Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. Closed on public holidays.
Before you call: what to have ready
They may ask
- some questions to understand your situation, so the adviser can give you advice that fits it
They can
- check you are getting all the benefits you are eligible for, and advise on extra benefits you might get
- tell you about grants you might be able to apply for
- help you get some emergency support if you cannot afford essentials
- help you find out where to get a food voucher for emergency food
- refer you to Mind's Infoline for mental wellbeing support
- take calls through a British Sign Language interpreter (SignVideo) or Relay UK
- help if you need an interpreter: ask the adviser
They cannot
- help if you live in Scotland or Northern Ireland: the page sends you to other ways to get help
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, or on public holidays
Help with the cost of living from your local council (GOV.UK, England)
England: your council's crisis help with food and bills. This page explains it and sends you to your council to ask. You do not have to be getting benefits. Say if your need is urgent
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
Universal Credit helpline (GOV.UK)
claim Universal Credit if you do not get benefits yet. If you already get benefits, work out first whether you will be better off, because they might end. Then call the helpline to ask for an advance if you cannot wait for your first payment: an advance is a loan, paid back out of your later payments. Calls are free, and you can claim by phone if you cannot claim online. In Northern Ireland, claim through nidirect instead
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
Scottish Welfare Fund: Crisis Grants (mygov.scot)
Scotland: apply to your council for a Crisis Grant for food or heating costs, which you do not pay back. 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 today, online or by phone; on a Friday, apply before noon if you can. Phone Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm
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: apply online for Discretionary Support (a loan or a grant) or, if you are waiting for a first Universal Credit payment, a Universal Credit New Claims Grant, which you do not repay. You do not need to ring: someone will contact you. If you cannot apply online, call and ask how to apply
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)
Scotland: if you are pregnant or have a child under 3, ask about Best Start Foods, a payment to help you buy healthy food such as milk and fruit. Most people need to get a benefit such as Universal Credit, but under-18s do not, and there is a route if you cannot claim public funds. Call free
Call 0800 182 2222 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, except bank holidays
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your National Insurance number: their page says they can answer your questions quicker if they know it
- the letter you are calling about, with the date on it
- for Funeral Support Payment: details of the funeral director, any travel receipts or funeral bills you have so far, and the National Insurance number of the person who died, if you have it
They can
- take an application over the phone, for example for Funeral Support Payment, with an adviser helping at your own pace
- take your request for a re-determination or an appeal by phone, and help you fill in the form
- review a Best Start Foods or Job Start Payment decision by phone
- take your application for Short-term Assistance when you challenge a decision to reduce or stop your Adult, Child or Pension Age Disability Payment
They cannot
- answer outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 5pm, or on bank holidays
England, Wales and Northern Ireland: if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, a card with money on it for healthy food, milk and infant formula. Most families need Universal Credit or Pension Credit, but not a pregnant under-18, and there is a route if your child is British and you cannot claim public funds. It is help for the weeks ahead, not same-day money. In Scotland, use Best Start Foods, above
Call 0300 330 7010 · Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, except public holidays
Before you call: what to have ready
Have ready
- your name, address, date of birth and National Insurance number
- your baby's due date, if you are pregnant
- your Universal Credit statement: the details you use must match your Universal Credit claim
- if you are under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant: your baby's due date, a copy of an official document (birth certificate, passport, driving licence or immigration visa), your NHS number and your National Insurance number
They can
- take an online application if you are more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, your family's monthly take-home pay is at or under the limit on the page, and you get Universal Credit
- take an application by email (healthy.start@nhsbsa.nhs.uk) or phone if you get Pension Credit, or if you are under 18 and more than 10 weeks pregnant
- send you an application form if you email healthystartNRPF@nhsbsa.nhs.uk, when your child is British and you cannot claim public funds because of your immigration status
- take calls from Relay text phone (18001 0300 330 7010), and take a request for an interpreter on the main line
- help with your card on a separate 24-hour line, 0118 338 5810: activate it, get your PIN, check your balance or report it lost
They cannot
- answer the main line outside Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm, or on public holidays
- pay at once: payments start once your child has been verified and appears on your Universal Credit statement, which can take up to 8 weeks
- help if you live in Scotland: use Best Start Foods instead
Citizens Advice (Adviceline, England)
free advice on benefits and money problems, and help with a Universal Credit claim (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)
free advice on benefits and money problems, and help with a Universal Credit claim (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)
free advice from a local bureau on benefits and money problems (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
free advice on benefits, tax credits and debt 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
free online checks of which benefits you may get, and a search for charity grants, which are money you do not pay back. It no longer gives one-to-one support
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
Say it this way
Change anything to your own words.
I would like to apply for SNAP today, even if I can only give my name, address and signature now. I have almost no money. Could you check whether I qualify for expedited service? What proof do you need, when is my interview, and how will I hear the result?
I have no money for food and I would like to apply for crisis help today. My need is urgent: there is no food in the house. Could you tell me how to apply, what you need from me, and how long a decision usually takes? Can I include everything I need in one application?
I have no food in the house and no money to buy any. I understand I need a food voucher to use a food bank. Could you give me one today, or tell me who can? There are [number] of us, the children are [ages], and we need [any dietary needs].
I have claimed Universal Credit and I have no money for food before my first payment. Could I apply for an advance? Please tell me how much I would get, how much I would repay each month, when repayments start, and whether I can ask for them to be delayed.
Not for you if…
This guide is for someone with no money for food now or very soon, whatever the reason. It does not fix a lasting gap in your income: the crisis grants here are one-off help, and some of the help is a loan. If losing your job is the cause, see 'I just lost my job'. If a benefit stopped, was cut or was refused, see 'My benefits were stopped, cut or refused', which has the dates for challenging that. If you have nowhere to sleep tonight, see 'I have nowhere to sleep tonight'. If the problem is a gas or electricity cut-off, see 'I got a shutoff notice'. If your visa says 'no recourse to public funds', ask an immigration adviser before you apply for benefits or crisis payments: some count as public funds. In the US, a 2025 federal law narrowed which non-citizens can get SNAP; ask your state. If some people in your home cannot get it, USDA says the state must still decide SNAP for the others who apply, such as children who are citizens. You need an adviser, not just this page, if help is refused and you think that is wrong, if an application is lost or kept waiting, or if a benefit you rely on is ending: in the US ask legal aid, and in the UK ask Citizens Advice, Citizens Advice Scotland or Advice NI.
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 my job · Lost wallet or phone · A medical bill · 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 have no money for groceries — where do I start?
Am I allowed to use food help, or is it for people worse off?