You might be able to get extra help if you’re struggling with money and you’re on Universal Credit or you’ve recently applied for it.
Get money early if you’ve just applied
You’ll usually get your first Universal Credit payment 5 weeks after you apply.
You can ask to get your first payment sooner if you’re worried you won’t have enough money to live on - this is called an ‘advance payment’.
The advance payment is a loan - the repayments get taken off your Universal Credit payments automatically until you’ve paid it back. Find outhow to get an advance payment.
If you're repaying a debt
If you’re paying back creditors or a debt management company, contact them to explain the situation.
Tell them you’ve applied for Universal Credit, but you won’t get your first payment for a while - say when if you can. Ask them if they’ll accept a late payment.
It’s a good idea to ask them to freeze interest on your debts until you’re paid.
If you’re repaying a debt, it can help to make a budget. You can use a budgeting calculator to help.
You can also check if you canget help with your debtsorcontact your nearest Citizens Advicefor debt advice.
Change how you're paid
You can ask to have your Universal Credit paid differently to help you manage your money - these are called ‘alternative payment arrangements’. You might be able to get:
- your housing costs paid straight to your landlord instead of being part of your Universal Credit payment
- a Universal Credit payment twice a month instead of once a month
- separate Universal Credit payments from your partner
When you can get an alternative payment arrangement
You might be able to get an alternative payment arrangement if you:
- are in debt or rent arrears
- have a disability - including a mental health condition
- are homeless or are at risk of losing your home
- have experienced domestic violence
- have a learning difficulty, like problems with reading or writing
- are in temporary or supported accommodation
- are 16 or 17 or leaving care
- have an addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling
If you’re struggling to get by for other reasons, you might still be considered -contact your nearest Citizens Advicefor help.
Asking for analternative payment arrangement
If you’re applying for Universal Credit or you’re about to apply, you should ask for the arrangement you want at your interview.
If you’re already getting Universal Credit, you should call the Universal Credit helpline.
Universal Credit helpline
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Telephone (Welsh language):0800 328 1744
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then0800 328 5644
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it.Find out how to use Relay UKon the Relay UK website.
Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).
You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
If you're behind with your rent
Get advice ondealing with your rent arrearsas quickly as possible - if you owe a lot of money, your landlord could try to evict you.
If you’re 2 months or more behind on your rent, your landlord can ask for some of your Universal Credit to be paid directly to them. This will help you pay off the debt. You’ll need to keep making your usual rent payments as well.
If these cuts in your payment mean you can’t afford day-to-day items like food or bills, call the Universal Credit helpline. They might be able to give your landlord less money for rent arrears.
If you’re thinking of lowering the rent arrears payments from your Universal Credit, first you should talk to an adviser. Your landlord might try to take further action to evict you if the payment they receive isn’t what they expect - this depends on your circ*mstances and the type of tenancy agreement you have.
Universal Credit helpline
Telephone: 0800 328 5644
Telephone (Welsh language):0800 328 1744
Textphone: 0800 328 1344
Relay UK - if you can't hear or speak on the phone, you can type what you want to say: 18001 then0800 328 5644
You can use Relay UK with an app or a textphone. There’s no extra charge to use it.Find out how to use Relay UKon the Relay UK website.
Video relay- if you use British Sign Language (BSL).
You canfind out how to use video relay on YouTube.
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Calls are free from mobiles and landlines.
You should tell the helpline what bills you have and how much they cost - include food bills and rent too.
Check when you’ll get Cost of Living Payments
If you’re eligible, the government will send you a payment of £299 during spring 2024. You’ll get this between 6 and 22 February 2024.
To get the £299 payment you must have been paid Universal Credit for an assessment period ending between 13 November and 12 December 2023.
You’ll still get the payment even if your Universal Credit was paid to your landlord or if you didn’t get paid because of deductions.
If you didn’t get the last payment
The government sent the last Cost of Living Payment of £300 in autumn 2023 - you should have got this by 19 November.
You should have got this payment if you were paid Universal Credit for an assessment period ending between 18 August and 17 September 2023.
If you think you should have received a Cost of Living Payment, you can report a missing payment on GOV.UK.
If you’re still waiting for a decision about your claim
If you started a Universal Credit claim by 18 August and you're waiting for a decision, you can still get the Cost of Living Payment. You won't get it until your claim is successful.
Getting more help with your rent
You might be able to get extra money from your council to help - this is called a ‘discretionary housing payment’ (DHP).You'll need to be getting the housing costs part of Universal Credit.
It's worthchecking if you can get a DHP if you're renting privately. There's a different way tocheck if you can get a DHP in social housing.
If you’re struggling with money
There are things you can do to save on your regular living costs. Check what to do if you need help with living costs.
If you’re finding it hard to pay your bills, you can get help. Find out more about getting help with your bills.
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Now, let's discuss the concepts mentioned in the article you provided.
Universal Credit and Advance Payment
Universal Credit is a government benefit in the United Kingdom that provides financial support to individuals who are on a low income or out of work. According to the article, the first Universal Credit payment is usually received five weeks after applying. However, if you are worried about not having enough money to live on, you can request an advance payment. An advance payment is a loan that is automatically repaid through deductions from future Universal Credit payments.
Repaying Debts and Budgeting
If you are repaying debts or have a debt management plan, it is important to inform your creditors or debt management company about your Universal Credit application. You can explain that you won't receive your first payment for a while and ask if they would accept a late payment. It is also advisable to request freezing the interest on your debts until you receive your payment. Creating a budget can be helpful in managing your finances, and there are budgeting calculators available to assist you. Additionally, you can seek help with your debts by contacting your nearest Citizens Advice bureau.
Alternative Payment Arrangements
If you are struggling to manage your money, you can request alternative payment arrangements for your Universal Credit. These arrangements can include having your housing costs paid directly to your landlord, receiving Universal Credit payments twice a month instead of once, or having separate Universal Credit payments from your partner. Alternative payment arrangements may be available if you are in debt or rent arrears, have a disability or mental health condition, are homeless or at risk of losing your home, have experienced domestic violence, have a learning difficulty, are in temporary or supported accommodation, are 16 or 17 years old or leaving care, or have an addiction to drugs, alcohol, or gambling. If you are struggling for other reasons, it is recommended to contact your nearest Citizens Advice for assistance.
Rent Arrears and Direct Payments
If you are behind on your rent, it is important to seek advice on dealing with rent arrears as quickly as possible to avoid eviction. If you are two months or more behind on your rent, your landlord can request that some of your Universal Credit payment be paid directly to them to help pay off the debt. It is crucial to continue making your usual rent payments in addition to the direct payment. If the reduced payment affects your ability to afford essential items like food or bills, you can contact the Universal Credit helpline for assistance.
Cost of Living Payments
The government provides Cost of Living Payments to eligible individuals. In spring 2024, a payment of £299 will be sent to those who have been paid Universal Credit for an assessment period ending between 13 November and 12 December 2023. Even if your Universal Credit was paid to your landlord or if you didn't receive payment due to deductions, you will still receive the Cost of Living Payment. If you believe you should have received a previous Cost of Living Payment and did not, you can report a missing payment on the GOV.UK website.
Discretionary Housing Payment and Saving on Living Costs
If you are receiving the housing costs part of Universal Credit, you may be eligible for extra financial assistance from your council through a discretionary housing payment (DHP). It is worth checking if you qualify for a DHP, especially if you are renting privately. Additionally, if you are struggling with money, there are ways to save on regular living costs. You can seek help with living costs and bills by exploring the available resources.
I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any further questions.
