Universal Credit (UC) - How will I be paid Universal Credit?

Universal Credit is a single payment made monthly. It is paid after the end of each month when you were entitled to Universal Credit.

It will take at least five weeks for you to receive your first payment. Once you make your claim, there is a one-month assessment period and then payments are made seven days after the assessment period .  

If you are going to struggle to wait five weeks for your money, you can request a Universal Credit Advance payment, which you will then need to pay back through deductions from your Universal Credit. If you think that you might struggle to manage your money, you can use a free budget planner to understand of your money coming in and out and improve your finances – MoneyHelper Budget Planner.

Universal Credit will be paid into one bank account or another account nominated by each household. If you live in Northern Ireland and are claiming as a couple, you can ask your work coach to split the payment so you each get paid. If you cannot get any kind of bank account, you may be able to get paid through the Payment Exception Service.

If you are experiencing domestic abuse and need control of some of the household income, you can ask for Universal Credit payments to be split between your account and your partner's account.

For most people, your Universal Credit payment will include money for your rent and it is up to you to make sure you pay that rent to your landlord. If you are worried you might struggle to do this, you can ask for the money to be paid direct to your landlord instead.

The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) can pay more frequently or split payment in exceptional circumstances. If you live in Scotland, you can ask for your Universal Credit to be paid twice monthly. If you live in Northern Ireland, you will usually get your payments twice per month, but you can ask to get it once per month instead.