You might be able to get financial help paid to you before your next Universal Credit payment if: you’re waiting for your first payment your payments have been stopped or reduced you have an unexpected one-off cost you need help with job expenses your circumstances have changed What you can use the payment for depends on which type you’re eligible for. You’ll usually pay it back automatically through your regular Universal Credit payments. You can also find other financial support if you’re on Universal Credit .

Get an advance on your first payment

If you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs before you get your first Universal Credit payment, you can apply to get an advance. The amount you can get depends on your circumstances. The most you can get is the amount of your first estimated payment. How to apply You’ll need to: explain why you need an advance verify your identity (you’ll do this when you apply online or on the phone with a work coach) provide bank account details for the advance (talk to a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach if you cannot open an account) explain any money or savings you have To apply, you can: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach call the Universal Credit helpline Universal Credit helpline Telephone: 0800 328 5644 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges You’ll usually find out the same day if you can get an advance. If you need help Call the Universal Credit helpline if you need help applying for an advance payment. Paying back your advance You must usually pay back the advance within 24 months. You usually start paying it back out of your first payment. Example Your first estimated payment is £344 and you get £344 as an advance. You pay back your advance over 24 months, which is £14.33 per month. You’ll get £329.67 on your first payment date - this is your first payment minus the bit you’re repaying (£344 minus £14.33). If you’re struggling to repay an advance If you cannot afford your advance repayments, you can ask for your repayments to be delayed for 3 months. To request this, you can: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach call the Universal Credit helpline Repaying if you no longer claim Universal Credit If you’re no longer claiming Universal Credit you’ll still need to pay back your advance. If you move to another benefit, the deductions will usually continue from your payments. If you move off benefits, you’ll get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage money you owe . You can pay back what you owe in full or set up monthly repayments. If you want to discuss your repayments you can call DWP Debt Management.

If your payments have been stopped or reduced

Your Universal Credit payments can be stopped or reduced if you get a sanction or fraud penalty. If so, you might be able to get financial support to help you (or a child or young person you look after) afford: food heating hygiene (for example soap, nappies or laundry powder) housing costs that are not provided by Universal Credit (such as supported, sheltered or temporary housing) The support is called a ‘recoverable hardship payment’. You’ll need to pay this back through your future Universal Credit payments. Eligibility You must: have reduced your non-essential costs have looked into other ways to get support be able to prove that you need the support If you’re in a couple, both of you must both agree to getting a hardship payment. There are additional rules if you’ve been sanctioned. If you’ve been sanctioned You must have been sanctioned at 100% (or 50% or more for a couple) of your standard allowance for any amount of time. You (and your partner if you have one) must also have completed: your work-related requirements in the 7 days before applying any activities you were given to end your sanction (sometimes called a ‘compliance condition’) When you can apply You can only apply once you’ve had a lower or missed Universal Credit payment because of a sanction or penalty. You’ll need to reapply each time you get a lower or missed payment. You’ll also need to show you’re still eligible. How to apply When you apply, you’ll need to show: what you’ve done to find other types of support what other income or savings you might have to help pay your costs what you’ve done to reduce your non-essential costs which living costs you’re not able to afford To apply, you can: ask your Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach update your journal in your Universal Credit account call the Universal Credit helpline Universal Credit helpline Telephone: 0800 328 5644 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges When you’ll get your payment If your application is accepted, hardship payments are usually paid directly into your bank account on the same day. Repaying hardship payments You’ll need to pay back a hardship payment once your sanction or fraud penalty has ended. Your Universal Credit payment will be automatically reduced by up to 15% of your standard allowance until you repay the hardship payment. You can check how to repay and manage money you owe . Repaying if you no longer claim Universal Credit If you’re no longer claiming Universal Credit, you’ll get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage money you owe. If you’re struggling to repay a hardship payment If you cannot afford your hardship payment deductions, you can call DWP Debt Management to discuss your options.

Get an advance for unexpected costs

If you already get Universal Credit and need help paying for a one-off cost, you might be able to get a Budgeting Advance payment. What you can use a Budgeting Advance for You can use this payment to cover a one-off cost for things like: furniture household items such as a cooker, washing machine or vacuum cleaner essential items for your family such as mobility aids or child safety products a TV, in some circumstances clothes or footwear repairs or security for your home funeral expenses a rent (tenancy) deposit or removal costs, if you’re moving house You can also check with your local council if you can get help paying a deposit for housing. What you cannot use a Budgeting Advance for You cannot use a Budgeting Advance payment for: ongoing costs such as food household bills such as gas or electricity rent paying off debts What you can get What you get will depend on how much you need. The smallest amount you can borrow is £100. You can get up to: £348 if you’re single £464 if you’re part of a couple £812 if you have children Eligibility To get a Budgeting Advance, you’ll need to either: have been getting Universal Credit, Employment and Support Allowance, Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance or State Pension Credit for 6 months or more need the money to help you start a new job or stay in work You will not be eligible if either: you’ve earned more than £2,600 (£3,600 together for couples) in the past 6 months you’ve not paid off any previous Budgeting Advance loans (you can only have one at a time) How to apply To apply, you can do any of the following: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach call the Universal Credit helpline Universal Credit helpline Telephone: 0800 328 5644 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges Paying back your advance You’ll pay your advance back through your Universal Credit payments. You’ll usually pay it back over 24 months, starting from your next Universal Credit payment. Example You get an advance of £240. You pay this back over 24 months, so £10 is taken off your payment each month. If you’re struggling to repay an advance If you cannot afford your advance repayments, you can ask for the amount you pay to change. To do this, you can: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach call the Universal Credit helpline Repaying if you no longer claim Universal Credit If you’re no longer claiming Universal Credit you’ll still need to pay back your advance. If you move to another benefit, the deductions will usually continue from your payments. If you move off benefits, you’ll get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage money you owe . If you want to discuss your repayments you can call DWP Debt Management.

Help with job expenses

If you’re applying for or starting a job, you can get support to pay for expenses like: buying a uniform or equipment paying for childcare before your first wage travelling to an interview buying interview clothes You do not usually need to pay this back. How to apply To apply, you can: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask your Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach You’ll need to show that you: need the money to get or start a job cannot afford to pay for it yourself If you cannot get help from your Universal Credit contact, you might be able to apply for an advance for unexpected costs .

Get an advance if your circumstances have changed

If your circumstances have changed and this means you’ll be eligible for more money, you can apply for an advance. For example you might be able to get an advance if: you’re having a child your rent is going up you’ve lost a job or your wages have gone down When you can apply You can apply as soon as you’ve reported the change . You cannot apply after you’ve received a higher payment due to your change of circumstances. How to apply To apply, you can do any of the following: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach call the Universal Credit helpline Universal Credit helpline Telephone: 0800 328 5644 Relay UK (if you cannot hear or speak on the phone): 18001 then 0800 328 5644 British Sign Language (BSL) video relay service if you’re on a computer - find out how to use the service on mobile or tablet Welsh language: 0800 328 1744 Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm Find out about call charges Paying back your advance You’ll pay your advance back through your Universal Credit payments. You’ll usually pay it back over 6 months, starting from your next Universal Credit payment. If you’re struggling to repay an advance If you cannot afford your advance repayments, you can ask for your repayments to be delayed for one month. To request this, you can: update your journal in your Universal Credit account ask a Universal Credit contact at your local jobcentre or your work coach call the Universal Credit helpline Repaying if you no longer claim Universal Credit If you’re no longer claiming Universal Credit you’ll still need to pay back your advance. If you move to another benefit, the deductions will usually continue from your payments. If you move off benefits, you’ll get a letter from DWP Debt Management explaining how to repay and manage money you owe . If you want to discuss your repayments you can call DWP Debt Management.

Apply for a Universal Credit advance or hardship payment

Overview

You might be able to get financial help paid to you before your next Universal Credit payment if:

you’re waiting for your first payment
your payments have been stopped or reduced
you have an unexpected one-off cost
you need help with job expenses
your circumstances have changed

What you can use the payment for depends on which type you’re eligible for.

You’ll usually pay it back automatically through your regular Universal Credit payments.

You can also find other financial support if you’re on Universal Credit.

View a printable version of the whole guide

Apply for a Universal Credit advance or hardship payment

Overview

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Apply for a Universal Credit advance or hardship payment

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