Universal Credit Advance - How much Universal Credit Advance will I get?

You can get up to 100% of your estimated entitlement to Universal Credit. However, you will have to pay the amount back through deductions from future payments of Universal Credit and you might not be allowed to borrow an amount that would take more than 24 months for you to pay back.

If you claimed Universal Credit before April 2021, you will have to repay your Advance within 12 months. If you have claimed since December 2024, you will have to repay your Advance within 24 months.

You will normally receive the advance within three working days of requesting it. However, if the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) agrees your situation is urgent, payment can be made quicker (even on the same day in some cases).

How do I repay a Universal Credit Advance?

Repayments are made by making deductions directly from your monthly Universal Credit award lasting a period of up to 24 months. If you claimed Universal Credit before April 2021, you will have to repay your Advance within 12 months. If you have claimed since December 2024 you will have to repay it within 24 months.

You can ask for the repayments of the advance to be delayed for up to 3 months if you cannot afford it. This is only allowed in exceptional circumstances.