Waiting for your first Universal Credit payment

After you’ve successfully made a Universal Credit claim, it usually takes about five weeks to get your first payment. This is because Universal Credit is affected by how much you earn in an ‘assessment period’.  

What is an Assessment Period? 

An assessment period is a monthly period that starts on the day you first make your Universal Credit claim. Your claim is calculated and paid based on your assessment period.

You’ll get your Universal Credit payment a week after the end of your Assessment Period.

Five week wait 

Most people need extra financial support while they’re waiting for their first UC payment. It’s usually referred to as ‘the five week wait’. The types of support available to you depends on your personal circumstances and where you live. 

The support falls into two main categories:

• A Universal Credit (UC) Advance payment, which is a loan that you have to pay back.  
• Crisis/discretionary support, which is delivered locally by councils and local authorities  – different depending on where you live and your personal circumstance.

Visit the next sections in this guide that are relevant to where you live.

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