Financial advice and support

How to open a UK bank account

To open a bank account in the UK, you usually need proof of permanent address. NatWest and RBS now advise that for guests from Ukraine a visa can be presented instead of a permanent address. Lloyds will accept a letter of authority from hosts for guests who don’t have the required evidence.

Guests don't need to set up a UK bank account before arriving in the UK. But it would be wise to set one up soon after you arrive, once you are settled in.

How to use your £350 pre-payment card

Once guests have arrived, you will receive a pre-paid card from us with the initial one-off £350 payment to help with essential costs. You will need to activate your card when you get it so your prepared for a situation when a PIN is needed - for example, in a supermarket. After that, it can be used for contactless payments - for example, on public transport where PIN verification is not always available. Full information about how to activate your card and check your balance will be sent to you. It will come at the same time as the pre-paid card.

How to claim Benefits in the UK

You can access cash and certain benefits in the UK. What you can claim depends on your age and circumstances. But, if you're eligible, you can claim right away.

In the UK, the State Pension age is currently 66 years old. If you're younger than this, you need to claim working-age benefits, such as Universal Credit. If you and your partner are both over State Pension age, you can claim Pension Credit or other means-tested benefits such as Housing Benefit.

If you have a long-term health condition or a disability, you might be able to claim Attendance Allowance if you're over State Pension age, or Personal Independence Payment if you're under State Pension age.

Usually, everyone making a claim is subject to the habitual residence test (HRT), however, all resettled Ukrainians are exempt from this test.

For benefits that are means-tested, your income and capital (your assets) are considered. The capital should be valued to reflect the market value and it must be accessible to you as someone making a claim. So, if you do have capital but aren't able to access it or the market value of your assets has been affected, this will not be considered as affecting your claim.

Child Benefits

Child Benefit is a universal benefit for parents or guardians It gives monthly payments equal to £21.80 per week for the eldest child and £14.45 per week for each additional child.

You can usually claim Child Benefit if you are the parent or guardian of a child or children under the age of 16 (or under the age of 20 if they stay in approved education or training). You need to apply for Child Benefit by filling in a Child Benefit claim form and sending it to the Child Benefit Office.

Child Benefit is usually paid every 4 weeks on a Monday or Tuesday.

If your child’s birth was registered outside the UK, when you send your claim form, include your child’s:

• original birth certificate
• passport or travel document used to enter the UK

How to claim Universal Credit

The UK has a welfare system. It is designed to help those who face financial hardship, or who have specific needs. Your local Jobcentre Plus can help you find out which benefits you can get. You can also check online.

You can apply for Universal Credit online. It's a payment for working-age people (18 and over), to help with living costs if you’re on a low income. To apply online you’ll need:

• your bank, building society or credit union account details
• an email address
• access to a phone
• proof of identity (for example: a passport, debit or credit card)

If you’re in education, you should check the guidance about claiming Universal Credit as a student.

There are two ways to get help with your Universal Credit claim. You can either call the Universal Credit helpline or use the Help to Claim service.

Calls to the Universal Credit helpline are free - Phone: 0800 328 5644 13. You can get free support from trained advisers to make a Universal Credit claim.

The Help to Claim service is provided by Citizens Advice and is confidential. They will not share your personal information without your consent. 

When making a Universal Credit claim you will need to enter your bank account details. You should use your own bank account details and ensure that you are the only person with access to your account.

Get an advance on your first payment

If you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs while you wait for your first Universal Credit payment, you can apply to get an advance. The most you can get as an advance is the amount of your first estimated payment.

You can apply for an advance payment in your online account. Or, you can apply through your Jobcentre Plus work coach.

Food banks and food hubs

Your hosts may wish to support you with food and other essentials, but they are not required to do so. If you don’t have food or other essentials provided and do not have access to money to buy what you need, you can go to a foodbank near you to get food for free. Check our foodbank and food hubs webpage to find one near you. Food banks and food hubs exist across the country. Many offer other essentials as well as food.

Support with bills for those aged 65+ 

Ukrainian guests aged 65+ struggling with food and fuel bills can get help from the Government-funded Household Support Fund. The fund is open to eligible UK residents. Support can be provided within a few days, with longer-term support possible if needed. Applicants who were born before September 30, 1956 can apply by calling 01223 221929 or online through the Household Support Fund page on the Cambridgeshire County Council website.

Free course on family budgeting

An online Family Budgeting course is available in Ukrainian. It's for guest families who want help in working out their monthly budget and to get better at planning ahead financially.

The free monthly course is delivered by Runway Training. It will cover situations like:

• understanding how to budget each month
• how to compare the value of supermarket deals
• improving your confidence with numbers

The courses are online but also at some local venues. All learners completing the course will receive a £25 shopping voucher.

For more information email emmapyrkos@runwaytraining.co.uk or call 01732 402 402

How to apply for a Government Loan to help settle in the UK

The Government provides extra financial help for Ukrainian guests as they settle in the UK. It comes in the form of a Refugee Integration Loan. This is given to help pay for things such as rent, rent deposits, household items, education, or training for work.

Guests must be over 18. They also must be a refugee, have humanitarian protection, or be a dependant of a refugee or someone with humanitarian protection. They can apply for the loan either by themselves or with their husband, wife or partner. If applying alone, then they can borrow between £100 and £500, or, if applying with a partner, then the amount is between £100 and £780.

Eligibility criteria for a Refugee Integration Loan can be checked on the gov.uk website.

Refugee Integration Loans are interest-free. Borrowers only pay back what they borrow, but they must make regular payments. Repayments will not start until 6 weeks after you get the money, and the repayment amounts will be dependent on circumstances. Successful applicants will be sent a loan agreement which will tell them how to repay the loan.

Ukrainian guests should contact their local Jobcentre Plus before applying for this loan to see if they can get help with the costs associated with training, education, work, living or childcare; they may be able to get this help for free. If successful in their application, they must tell Jobcentre Plus that they have been given an integration loan.

The loan must be used for things that are essential to help guests settle into UK society, including:

• a housing deposit, rent payment or moving costs
• essential items for the home
• training or education
• basic living costs (such as food or household bills)
• work clothing and equipment

They cannot be used to pay for debts or travel costs for family members to come to the UK and successful applicants may be asked to prove how they have spent the loan. The loan will not usually affect any income-related benefits unless applicants have more than £6,000 in savings. Applications must be made online.