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Part of How to claim Universal Credit: step by step

Apply for a Universal Credit advance or hardship payment

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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.

View a printable version of the whole guide

This page is Part of How to claim Universal Credit: step by step

  1. Step 1 Check if you're eligible

    1. Check if you're eligible for Universal Credit

    If you've worked in the last 2 to 3 years, you may also be eligible for:

  2. Step 2 Create an account and make a claim

    You need an online account to claim Universal Credit.

    1. Set up an account and make a claim

    You must submit your claim within 28 days of creating your account.

    If you live with your partner, they will also need to set up an account. You'll be given a code to link the accounts together.

  3. and Find out how your claim is assessed

    You'll need to have an interview with Jobcentre Plus. You'll be told how to arrange this after you submit your claim. It will be within 10 working days.

    If you have a disability or health condition you may need a work capability assessment. You'll be told if you need one after you claim.

    1. What to do if you have a health condition or disability

  4. Step 3 Apply for an advance on your first payment

    If you need help with bills or other costs while you wait for your first payment, you can apply to get an advance.

    1. Get an advance on your first Universal Credit payment
    2. Check if you can get any other financial support

  5. Step 4 Get your first payment

    You’ll get your first payment 5 weeks after you claim. Your account will be updated to tell you how much it will be.

    1. What to do if you disagree with the decision

  6. Step 5 Report any change of circumstances

    You must update your account if your circumstances change to get the right payment.

    1. How to report a change in circumstances
    2. What to do if your payments are stopped