Universal Credit Advance - What is Universal Credit Advance?

When you first make a claim for Universal Credit you will have to wait around five weeks for your first payment. If you face financial hardship during this period of time you can request an Advance Payment of Universal Credit. The Advance Payment is a loan which you have to pay back from your Universal Credit payments a bit at a time. You don’t pay any interest on a Universal Credit Advance Payment.

What is Universal Credit Advance?

When you first make a claim for Universal Credit you will have to wait around five weeks for your first payment.

If you face financial hardship during this period of time you can request an Advance Payment of Universal Credit.

The Advance Payment is a loan which you have to pay back from your Universal Credit payments a bit at a time. You don’t pay any interest on a Universal Credit Advance Payment.

Applies to: England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales

Age rules; You must be aged 16 or over

Type of benefit: Means tested

Taxable: No

Administered by: Department for Work and Pensions

Updated: February 2018

Next Can I get a Universal Credit Advance?

Anything wrong with this page?

Tell us the problem

Name * Please enter your name

Email * Please enter a valid email address

What you were doing? * Please enter what you were doing

What would you like to report? * Please enter what you'd like to report

Security code

Please enter the security code* Please enter the security code shown

Thank you

If you would like to tell us more please visit our contact page

Add to favourites Print this guide

Check benefit entitlement

Find out what means-tested benefits you might be entitled to, including tax credits.

Use the Benefits Calculator

Grant Search

Search our database of grant-giving organisations

Search for grants