Find out what to do if you’re finding it hard to repay a benefit debt.
What if I can’t afford the repayments?
If your circumstances have changed, perhaps you’ve lost your job and you can’t afford the same repayments, it’s important to act.
If this is your only debt
If your future income is uncertain and you don’t have enough to live on because of the repayments, you can ask for them to be reduced.
If you’re repaying a Universal Credit advance payment, call the Universal Credit Helpline or log into your online account and add a note to your journal asking for your repayments to be reduced. The repayments can also be deferred in some circumstances.
Universal Credit Helpline
If you need support with your advance payment and your work coach can't help you, call the Universal Credit Helpline on:
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday (closed on bank and public holidays). Calls are free.
To manage an existing benefit, payment or claim sign in to your Universal Credit account at GOV.UKOpens in a new window
If you’re repaying any other benefit or tax credit debt, contact the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) Debt Management contact centre.
DWP Debt Management contact centre
Find out more on the GOV.UK website
If you’re in Northern Ireland, you’ll need to contact the Department for Communities Debt Management Service
If you have other debts
Benefit debt is classed as a priority debt. This means the consequences of not paying it off can be more serious than others. Other priority debts include rent and mortgage arrears, overdue energy bills and unpaid Council Tax and TV licence bills.
If you’ve missed more than one payment or are juggling other debts, it’s important to pay them off in the right order as some are more urgent and some creditors have more power than others.
Have you missed a payment?
Use our Debt advice locator tool to find free and confidential debt advice online, over the phone or near to where you live.
How to challenge an overpayment decision
If you’ve been told about a new overpayment that you don’t agree with, you might be able to ask for the decision to be looked at again and appeal against it.
Extra support if you’re struggling financially and with your mental wellbeing
Having mental health issues might mean that you struggle to make the best money-based decisions for you, as well as act on them.
Find practical tips on how to manage financially and where to get free specialist help in our guide Money problems and mental wellbeing
Remember, if you’re struggling financially and with your mental wellbeing, it’s worth getting in contact with your bank, building society, lender or whoever you owe money to, to discuss your options.
However, picking up the phone and talking about your problems is often easier said than done when you’re struggling with your mental health.
To get practical tips on how you can talk to those you owe money to, check out our guide Having difficult conversations about money
Most places that you owe money to have policies about supporting you if you’re vulnerable. But they can’t help you unless you ask.
MoneySavingExpert have a free, downloadable PDF bookletOpens in a new window on money and mental health. It covers how to handle debts when you’re unwell, working with banks, free debt counselling, tips for bipolar disorder and depression sufferers, whether to declare a condition, and more.
