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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 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.

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. You are currently viewing: 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