How Many Times Can You Get an Advance on Universal Credit?

If you’ve just started claiming Universal Credit, the five-week wait for your first payment can feel like an eternity. Fortunately, the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) offers advance payments to help you manage in the meantime. But how many of these advances can you actually get, and what are the limits? This guide breaks down the rules for each type of advance, so you know exactly where you stand.

Maximum Budgeting Advance (single claimant): £812 ·
Maximum Budgeting Advance (couple with children): £1,230 ·
New claim advance maximum: 50% of estimated UC entitlement ·
Minimum Budgeting Advance: £100 ·
Number of Budgeting Advances allowed at one time: 1 ·
Typical payment time: 3 working days

The table above shows the core frequency rules for each advance type.

How many times can you get an advance on Universal Credit?

Types of Universal Credit advances

The DWP offers three main types of help: a new claim advance to tide you over until your first regular payment, a Budgeting Advance for specific one‑off costs after six months on Universal Credit, and a hardship payment for urgent needs when you’re subject to a sanction or have no other options. Each has its own frequency rules.

New claim advance eligibility and limits

• You can only get a new claim advance once per claim, and only before your first Universal Credit payment arrives (GOV.UK).
• The maximum is 50% of your estimated monthly Universal Credit entitlement (Turn2us).
• You don’t need a specific reason – just show you can’t manage until your first payment.

The implication: this is a one‑time bridge, not a repeat safety net.

Budgeting Advance frequency and conditions

• You must have been getting Universal Credit (or certain other benefits) for at least six months, unless the money is needed to help you start a new job (GOV.UK).
• Only one active Budgeting Advance is allowed at any time. You cannot take out a second until the first is fully repaid (GOV.UK).
• You are not eligible if your earnings (or joint earnings) in the past six months exceed £2,600 (or £3,600 for couples) (GOV.UK).

The pattern: a Budgeting Advance is a one‑at‑a‑time loan, not a recurring line of credit.

What is the highest advance you can get on UC?

New claim advance maximum

The most you can get as a new claim advance is 50% of your estimated Universal Credit award (Turn2us). So if your monthly entitlement is £800, you could receive up to £400.

Budgeting Advance maximum based on circumstances

• Single claimant: up to £812 (GOV.UK)
• Couple (no children): up to £464 (GOV.UK)
• Couple with children: up to £1,230 (GOV.UK)
• Minimum Budgeting Advance: £100 (GOV.UK)

These amounts are based on your circumstances at the time of application. The DWP also considers your income, savings, and ability to repay.

How the advance amount is calculated

For a new claim advance, it’s simply half your estimated entitlement. For a Budgeting Advance, the DWP applies a formula that takes into account your income, savings, and how much you can reasonably repay from future UC payments (nidirect). Generally, you’ll receive enough to cover the specific cost you’ve identified, up to the cap.

Can I get a second advance on Universal Credit?

Getting a second new claim advance

Technically, you cannot get a second new claim advance on the same claim. The only way to get a second one is to close your existing Universal Credit claim and start a new one. However, this would reset your waiting period and potentially affect your entitlement (Shelter England). The DWP has not published a formal policy on repeat applications after a gap, so this is generally not recommended.

Getting a second Budgeting Advance

Yes – you can apply for a second Budgeting Advance once the first one has been repaid in full, provided you still meet the eligibility criteria (six months on UC, earnings below thresholds) (GOV.UK). There is no official limit on how many Budgeting Advances you can have over time, as long as you only ever have one active at a time and repay each before taking another.

What to do if you need more help after an advance

If you already have an active Budgeting Advance and face an urgent, essential cost, you may be able to apply for a hardship payment instead. This is not a loan – it’s a payment for basic living expenses if you’re sanctioned or have a reduced UC payment. Hardship payments are deducted from future UC, but they have stricter conditions (Turn2us).

The trade-off: you cannot hold two advances simultaneously, but a hardship payment might bridge the gap if you’re in genuine crisis.

Which reasons are accepted for advance payment?

Accepted reasons for a Budgeting Advance

• Furniture and household items (GOV.UK)
• Clothing and footwear (GOV.UK)
• Moving costs and rent deposit (GOV.UK)
• Funeral expenses (GOV.UK)
• Home repairs and security improvements (GOV.UK)
• Maternity and childcare costs (GOV.UK)
• Travel costs related to a new job (GOV.UK)

Reasons that are not accepted

You cannot use a Budgeting Advance for everyday living costs such as food, household bills, rent, or repaying debts (GOV.UK). The DWP explicitly excludes these.

What to do if your reason is not listed

If your need doesn’t fall under the official list, a Budgeting Advance likely won’t be approved. In that case, consider a hardship payment or speak to your work coach about other support, such as a local welfare assistance scheme.

Why this matters: knowing the accepted reasons upfront saves you from a wasted application and helps you plan.

How do I claim a Universal Credit advance?

Applying for a new claim advance

You can apply through your Universal Credit online journal or by asking your work coach at a Jobcentre appointment (Shelter England). You’ll need to explain why you need the money and confirm your identity.

Applying for a Budgeting Advance

Log into your Universal Credit account, go to the ‘Report a change’ section, and select ‘Budgeting Advance’. You can also request a call from the DWP to discuss your application. You’ll need to state the amount you need, the reason, and provide evidence if required (GOV.UK).

What happens after you apply

Advances are usually paid within three working days (GOV.UK). The money is paid into the same bank account as your regular Universal Credit. Repayment begins automatically from your next monthly UC payment, spread over up to 12 months (Turn2us).

Three types of advance, one key difference: new claim advance is a one‑off pre‑payment, Budgeting Advance is a repayable loan for specific costs, and hardship payment is a non‑repayable grant for emergencies.

Steps to apply for a Universal Credit advance

1. Check eligibility: For a new claim advance, you must be waiting for your first payment. For a Budgeting Advance, ensure you’ve been on UC for at least 6 months and have earned less than £2,600 (single) or £3,600 (couple) in the past 6 months (GOV.UK).
2. Log into your Universal Credit account and go to the ‘Advances’ section or use your journal to request a call.
3. Provide details: State the amount you need (optional for new claim advance), your reason, and any supporting evidence for a Budgeting Advance.
4. Wait for a decision: The DWP usually responds within 1–2 working days. Payment follows within 3 working days if approved.
5. Understand repayment: The advance will be deducted from your future Universal Credit payments over 12 months. Check how much your monthly payment will reduce so you can budget accordingly.

Timeline: when to apply for an advance

• Day 1 – Day 28 (first assessment period): Apply for a new claim advance if you can’t wait for your first UC payment (Shelter England).
• After first UC payment: New claim advance is no longer available; repayment begins.
• Month 6 onwards: You become eligible for a Budgeting Advance (GOV.UK).
• Any time after month 6: Apply for a Budgeting Advance for an accepted reason.
• After full repayment of a Budgeting Advance: You may apply for another (GOV.UK).

What we know for sure

• New claim advance is available only before your first UC payment (GOV.UK)
• Budgeting Advance requires at least 6 months on UC (GOV.UK)
• Maximum Budgeting Advance: £812 single, £1,230 with children (GOV.UK)
• Only one active Budgeting Advance allowed (GOV.UK)

What we don’t know

• Whether you can get a second new claim advance if you close and reopen your claim quickly (no official policy)
• If a Budgeting Advance can be increased after partial repayment (no published guidance)
• Whether a hardship payment can be combined with an active Budgeting Advance (decided case‑by‑case)

“You can get an advance on your first Universal Credit payment if you need help to pay your bills or cover other costs before you get it.”

GOV.UK

“A Budgeting Advance is a loan to help you with emergency or one-off costs. You must repay it from your Universal Credit payments.”

Turn2us

For anyone claiming Universal Credit, the number of advances you can get depends on the type and your repayment history. A new claim advance is strictly one per claim. A Budgeting Advance can be taken repeatedly – but only one at a time, and each must be fully repaid before the next. If you hit a crisis while already repaying, a hardship payment may be your only safety net. UK claimants facing an unexpected cost should apply for a Budgeting Advance only when needed, repay it fully, and then return for another — otherwise, a cycle of deductions can shrink your monthly UC income below a livable level.