Guidance

Universal Credit: alternative payment arrangements

Alternative payment arrangements for Universal Credit claimants who cannot manage their single monthly payment.

• From: Department for Work and Pensions
• Published: 30 December 2019
• Last updated: 3 December 2025 — See all updates

Documents

Alternative payment arrangements (APAs)

HTML

Details

This guidance sets out the Department for Work and Pensions’ (DWP) approach to providing alternative payment arrangements (APA), where appropriate, for Universal Credit claimants who cannot manage their single monthly payment.

Published 30 December 2019

Last updated 3 December 2025 + show all updates

1. 3 December 2025

   Managed payment to landlord (MPTL) process now allows claimant tenants in the social rental sector to object to the creation of the MPTL.

2. 17 January 2024

   Added that when an APA is agreed a claimant may also be asked to take steps to help manage their money, such as getting budgeting advice. Added links to other financial help.

3. 13 May 2020

   Added a link to the new service ‘Apply for direct payment of rent’ which replace the UC47 form.

4. 31 March 2020

   Revised section 5 (Annex A), factors to consider for Alternative Payment Arrangements. This includes new information about factors to consider for those in temporary accommodation.

5. 30 December 2019

   First published.