If you’ve been sanctioned and can’t afford basic necessities, a hardship payment can provide emergency income. Here’s how to get one.
What Is a Hardship Payment?
A hardship payment is an emergency payment for UC claimants whose standard allowance has been reduced to zero due to a sanction. It’s not a full replacement for your UC — it’s 60% of your standard allowance.
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Who can apply | UC claimants who have been sanctioned |
| Amount | 60% of your daily standard allowance |
| Repayable? | Yes — recovered from future UC payments |
| When to apply | Any time during a sanction |
| How often | You may need to re-apply each assessment period |
Eligibility
To receive a hardship payment, you must:
- Be experiencing a sanction — Your standard allowance has been reduced or stopped
- Be in financial hardship — You can’t meet basic needs (food, heating, accommodation)
- Have met any compliance conditions — If your sanction is open-ended (lower or medium level), you must have re-engaged with your Claimant Commitment before applying
- Complete a hardship declaration — Confirm that you or your household will suffer hardship without the payment
What DWP Considers Hardship
DWP looks at whether you can afford:
- Essential food
- Essential heating and lighting
- Essential accommodation costs (rent, mortgage)
- Essential hygiene items
They also consider:
- Whether you have other income or savings
- Whether other household members can help
- Whether you have dependent children
- Whether you or anyone in the household has a health condition
How Much You Get
| Claimant Type | Standard Allowance | 60% Hardship Rate |
|---|---|---|
| Single, under 25 | £311.68/month | ~£187/month |
| Single, 25+ | £393.45/month | ~£236/month |
| Couple, both under 25 | £489.23/month | ~£294/month |
| Couple, one 25+ | £617.56/month | ~£371/month |
Important: The hardship payment only replaces part of your standard allowance. Your other UC elements (housing, children, disability) should continue to be paid normally during a sanction.
How to Apply
Step 1: Re-comply With Your Claimant Commitment
If your sanction is open-ended (you missed an appointment, failed to attend training), you must first do what was asked of you. Re-book the appointment, attend the training, or complete the required activity.
Step 2: Contact DWP
- Through your UC journal — Message your work coach requesting a hardship payment
- By phone — Call 0800 328 5644 and explain you need a hardship payment
- At the Jobcentre — Ask at your next appointment
Step 3: Complete the Hardship Declaration
You’ll be asked to confirm:
- You’re experiencing financial hardship
- You’ve taken reasonable steps to find alternative sources of money
- You or your household cannot meet basic living costs
Step 4: Payment
If approved, the hardship payment is added to your next UC payment. You may need to re-apply for each assessment period that you remain sanctioned.
Repayment
Hardship payments are recoverable — DWP takes the money back once your sanction ends.
| Repayment Detail | Terms |
|---|---|
| When repayment starts | When your sanction ends and full UC resumes |
| Repayment rate | Up to 25% of your standard allowance per month |
| Interest | None |
| Can I negotiate repayment? | Yes — contact DWP if the deductions cause further hardship |
Repayment Example
Tom, single aged 30, was sanctioned for 91 days and received hardship payments totalling £708. After his sanction ends:
- His standard allowance is £393.45/month
- Maximum repayment deduction: £98.36/month (25%)
- Repayment period: approximately 7 months
During those 7 months, Tom receives £295.09/month instead of £393.45.
Other Help Available During a Sanction
Hardship payments aren’t the only support available:
| Support | Where to Apply |
|---|---|
| Emergency food parcels | Trussell Trust or local food banks (referral from Jobcentre, GP, or Citizens Advice) |
| Local welfare assistance | Your local council’s emergency scheme |
| Energy bill help | Your energy supplier’s hardship fund |
| Council tax reduction | Your local council |
| Discretionary Housing Payment | Your local council (if you can’t cover rent) |
| Charitable grants | Turn2us grants search tool |
Challenging Your Sanction
While claiming hardship payments, you should also consider challenging the sanction itself:
- Mandatory Reconsideration — Request within one month of the sanction decision
- Provide evidence — Show you had a good reason for not meeting your Claimant Commitment (illness, caring emergency, transport problems, bereavement)
- Appeal to a tribunal — If MR is unsuccessful
- Get advice — Citizens Advice, welfare rights advisors, or your local law centre
If your sanction is overturned, any hardship payment deductions already made are refunded and the sanction period is removed from your record.
Tips
- Apply on day one — Don’t wait until you’re in crisis
- Re-comply immediately — For open-ended sanctions, you must re-engage before you can get a hardship payment
- Challenge the sanction simultaneously — Don’t just accept it
- Keep receipts — Evidence of your financial hardship strengthens your case
- Check other elements — Make sure your housing, child, and disability elements are still being paid correctly during the sanction
- Seek advice early — Free organisations like Citizens Advice can help you navigate the process