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Grants for Necessary Furniture

RoddyRoddy Member Posts: 389 Pioneering
in Universal Credit
I have recently been handed over to the Universal Credit palaver, and it is they that now pay my awarded benefits. I am in receipt of PIP and ESA (not income related) and I recently applied for a Budgeting Loan to purchase a new Bed & Mattress as the one that I have must be at least 10 years old and was here when I moved into a Sheltered Accommodation facility. My provider will not pay for a new bed and I can hardly afford to purchase one myself. It is badly stained and the springs are poking through...

Anyway, having applied for the loan, I was refused, on the basis that I don't receive Income Related ESA, but surely due to my illnesses and disability needs I consider myself to be eligible for an item which lets face it is important for my health & wellbeing. 

My question therefore is: Are their any Grants or Loans available that I don't know about which I can claim for via Universal Credit or DWP?  As far as I can gather, you are not entitled if you're on Universal Credit, but I would have been before I was moved onto it, due to the benefits that I receive which fit the criterion (to the best of my knowledge, it is?)
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Replies

  • Ami2301Ami2301 Community champion Posts: 7,331 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi @Roddy Have you used our Grants Chedker? :)
    Disability Gamechanger - 2019
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  • poppy123456poppy123456 Member Posts: 22,218 Disability Gamechanger
    Hi,

    I see it was a budgeting loan through ESA that you applied for. They are correct by refusing your loan because it's Contributions based ESA you're receiving not income related and this doesn't entitle you to claim this loan.

    What you should have applied for is a budgeting advance through UC. They're the same but slightly different names. How much you can borrow will depend on your circumstances. If you're single without children then it's £348 and if you have dependent children it's £812. Also if you have any other existing loans or if you asked for an advance payment when you first applied for UC and you're still paying that off then you won't be able to have the loan until the other one is fully paid off.


    Community champion and proud winner of the 2019 empowering others award. This award was given for supporting disabled people and their families for the benefit advice i have given to members here on the community.
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  • RoddyRoddy Member Posts: 389 Pioneering
    @Ami2301 & @poppy123456

    That you both for your helpful assistance. I will follow your advice by contacting U. Credit and let you know how I got along with them. 
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  • woodbinewoodbine Member Posts: 3,578 Disability Gamechanger
    edited April 2019
    You should have a look at feegle, gumtree and face book pages, can often find great value or freebies. We recently gave away a double bed on freegle nothing wrong with it but we had been given a new one.
    my advice is given freely and is correct to the best of my knowledge.
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