Support during the five week wait in Wales

You can ask for a Universal Credit (UC) Advance while you’re waiting for your first payment.  

It is a loan which you must pay back from your future Universal Credit payments, usually over 24 months.  

How much you can get will depend on your Universal Credit entitlement, but you can get up to 100% of your estimated amount.  

You can only claim a Universal Credit Advance during your first assessment period, and you’ll normally receive it within three working days of requesting it.  

You can request a UC Advance payment by:

• Speaking to your Jobcentre Plus work coach
• Requesting one in your online Universal Credit account   

Calling the Universal Credit Helpline:

• Telephone 0800 328 5644 
• Textphone 0800 328 1344 

You might be able to get support while you wait for your first Universal Credit claim through the Discretionary Assistance Fund.  

The Discretionary Assistance Fund has two grants available: 

• An Emergency Assistance Payment to cover the costs of an emergency 
• An Individual Assistance Payment to help people with extra needs to live independently.  

To get this support you must be on a low income and have below a certain amount in savings and be able to demonstrate your need.

You don't have to pay it back.

You can apply to the Discretionary Assistance Fund through the Welsh Government.

Applications can also be made on the phone, or by downloading and posting a form, depending on if your local council allows it.

Most councils will tell you the outcome of your application for an Emergency Assistance Payment within 24 hours, and within 10 working days for an Individual Assistance Payment. 

You might be able to get support through the Flexible Support Fund, to help with extra costs associated with getting into and starting work. This could include support with travel expenses to attend an interview, or money to pay for clothing to start work.

The flexible Support Fund is discretionary, so you don’t have to pay it back. You also don’t have an automatic right to it if you qualify and no set amount of money can be given.

It depends on your situation, circumstances and needs.  

To get access to the Flexible Support Fund, you should speak to your Work Coach or an adviser at your local Jobcentre Plus.

You will need to tell them what you need the money for and give evidence that you cannot pay for the items yourself. 

There might be other support available to you if you get Universal Credit and meet certain criteria

• Budgeting Advance - if you have been X
• UC Recoverable Hardship Fund - of you have been sanctioned

Visit our Emergency Information guide for other support options.