People on Universal Credit being handed £153 'hardship payments' from DWP

People on Universal Credit are being handed £153 as part of the hardship payment scheme. If your Universal Credit has been cut because of a sanction or penalty for fraud, you might be able to get some emergency money - as much as £153 - to help you cover household expenses like food and bills.

This is called a 'hardship payment'. A hardship payment is a loan, so you’ll usually have to pay it back when your sanction ends. The Jobcentre will usually get the money back by taking an amount of money from your Universal Credit payment each month until it’s paid off.

You can apply for a hardship payment to help you until your next Universal Credit payday. If you're still in hardship the following month, you'll need to apply for another hardship payment. You must be 18 or over (16 if your payment is reduced because of fraud).

READ MORE Martin Lewis addresses university tuition fee hike and says 'to be really clear'

You must be struggling to meet your basic needs or the basic needs of a child or young person you’re responsible for. 'Basic needs' include accommodation, heating, food and hygiene. You'll only be eligible if the reason you can't meet these needs is because of the sanction.

You must have made every effort to stop spending money on non-essential things. The Jobcentre expects you to only spend money on meeting basic needs, so they might expect you to spend less on entertainment or leisure activities.

You must have done everything you can to get money from other sources before you can apply. The Jobcentre should be reasonable about what you can do in your circumstances. For example, you won't be expected to sell your belongings, move house, or get a bank loan or credit card. But you could be expected to ask friends or family for money, looked for other benefits (eg from your local council, or local charities), or ask for extra hours if you work.

You must have done all the work-related activities that you were supposed to do in the 7 days before you apply for a hardship payment.