Universal Credit claimants could get help in emergencies from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP), with some amounts reaching up to £378. These are known as hardship payments, a specific type of DWP payment, which are given to those who have experienced a reduction or sanction on their benefit payments.

This money, essentially a loan, can help claimants cover emergency expenses such as food or bills. However, it's crucial to remember that a hardship payment is a loan that must be repaid to the DWP once the sanction ends.

Typically, this repayment process doesn't require much action from the claimant. According to Citizens Advice, you will generally receive around 60% of the amount the DWP sanctioned in the previous month.

Therefore, if a person receiving the maximum monthly stand

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