Can I Get Another Advance Payment on Universal Credit? Rules and Limits Explained

Yes, you can get another advance payment on Universal Credit, but only in certain situations. It depends on the type of advance you’ve already had and whether your circumstances have changed.

When I speak to people claiming Universal Credit, this is one of the most common questions. From what I’ve seen, eligibility usually comes down to changes like higher costs or delays in updated payments.

In some cases, if you are still waiting for your first payment, have had a change in circumstances, or need help with an essential expense, further support may be available. However, the rules are strict, especially if you still owe money on a previous advance.

Key things you need to know:

• A New Claim Advance is usually only available once per claim
• A Change of Circumstances Advance can sometimes be claimed more than once
• A Budgeting Advance generally cannot be taken again until the previous one is fully repaid

What Is a Universal Credit Advance Payment?

A Universal Credit advance payment is an interest-free loan from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). It allows you to receive some of your Universal Credit early if you do not have enough money to manage before your next payment arrives.

Unlike your normal Universal Credit payment, an advance is not extra money. It must be paid back through deductions from future payments. This means your monthly Universal Credit will be lower until the amount has been repaid.

The system exists because Universal Credit is paid in arrears. Most new claimants wait around five weeks for their first payment, and many people cannot afford to go that long without money for rent, food and bills.

A DWP spokesperson explained the purpose of advances clearly:

“Advance payments are designed to make sure claimants are not left without support while waiting for their Universal Credit entitlement.”

Why Does Universal Credit Offer Advance Payments?

Universal Credit offers advance payments to help you manage gaps in income, especially when you first make a claim or when your circumstances change.

Since payments are made monthly, you may need to wait before receiving your full amount. An advance can provide short-term support during this period.

You might need an advance if:

• You are waiting for your first Universal Credit payment
• Your rent has increased and you need extra support
• You have lost your job or your income has dropped
• You have become responsible for a child
• Your circumstances have changed and your future payments will be higher

This support helps cover essential costs like rent, food, and bills. However, it is important to remember that an advance is a loan, so you should only borrow what you can afford to repay.

What Are the Different Types of Universal Credit Advance?

There are three different types of Universal Credit advance, and the rules for getting another one depend entirely on which type you already have.

New Claim Advance

A New Claim Advance is for people who have recently applied for Universal Credit and are waiting for their first payment. You can usually borrow up to the value of one month of your estimated Universal Credit award.

Most people can only receive one New Claim Advance per claim. However, if you asked for less than your full entitlement, you may be able to request a top-up before your first payment arrives.

Change of Circumstances Advance

A Change of Circumstances Advance is available if your situation changes and your Universal Credit entitlement increases. You can apply before the higher payment reaches your account.

Typical qualifying changes include:

• Having a child
• A rise in rent
• Losing a job or earning less
• Separating from a partner

Unlike a New Claim Advance, this type of advance can sometimes be claimed more than once if there is another separate change later.

Budgeting Advance

A Budgeting Advance is different from the other two. It is intended for one-off essential costs after you have been receiving Universal Credit for at least six months.

You can use a Budgeting Advance for:

• Replacing essential furniture or appliances
• Paying moving costs or a rent deposit
• Buying work clothes or paying travel costs
• Covering urgent home repairs

However, you can only have one Budgeting Advance at a time. If you still owe money on your current one, you cannot apply again.

Type of Advance	What It Is For	Can You Get Another One?
New Claim Advance	Waiting for your first UC payment	Only as a top-up before first payment
Change of Circumstances Advance	Increase in UC entitlement	Yes, if another qualifying change happens
Budgeting Advance	Essential one-off costs	Only after previous one is repaid

Can You Get Another Advance Payment on Universal Credit?

Yes, you may be able to get another advance payment on Universal Credit, but it depends on the type of advance you already have.

If you previously received a New Claim Advance, you normally cannot get another one once your first payment has been made.

If you have had a Change of Circumstances Advance, you may be able to apply again if your entitlement increases for a different reason. If you already have a Budgeting Advance, you must repay it in full before another one is allowed.

When Can You Get Another New Claim Advance?

You cannot normally receive a second New Claim Advance after your first Universal Credit payment has arrived. The only exception is where you originally borrowed less than you were entitled to.

For example, if your estimated monthly Universal Credit was £800 and you initially borrowed £400, you may still be able to ask for the remaining £400 before your first payment date.

A Citizens Advice adviser summarised the rule like this:

“A New Claim Advance is generally limited to one month’s entitlement. If you do not take the full amount initially, you may ask for the balance before your first payment arrives.”

When Can You Get Another Change of Circumstances Advance?

You may be able to get another Change of Circumstances Advance if something else happens that increases your Universal Credit entitlement again.

Common examples include:

• Another increase in rent
• A new baby joining your household
• A further reduction in earnings
• Becoming a carer

The key point is that you must apply before the higher Universal Credit payment is issued. Once you have already received the increased amount, you can no longer ask for an advance linked to that change.

Which Situations Usually Qualify for Another Advance Payment?

You may qualify for another advance if your Universal Credit entitlement increases or you face an essential one-off expense.

This usually happens when your financial situation changes and you need support before your next payment arrives.

Common situations include:

• A rise in rent after moving home or a landlord increase
• Becoming responsible for a child, which increases your entitlement
• Work-related costs like travel or buying essential clothing

I’ve seen cases where people struggle after sudden changes. For example, one claimant from Birmingham explained:

“My rent went up by £90 a month and I had no savings. My work coach told me I could apply for another advance while the higher housing payment was being processed. Without it, I would have fallen behind.”

Why Could Another Universal Credit Advance Be Refused?

Not everyone will qualify for another advance payment. The DWP may refuse an application if you do not meet the rules.

The most common reason is that you still owe money on a Budgeting Advance. The rule is strict: you cannot have more than one active Budgeting Advance at the same time.

Other reasons include:

• You have already borrowed the maximum amount available
• There has been no qualifying change in your circumstances
• Your higher payment has already been made
• Your income or savings are too high
• Your identity checks have not been completed

A DWP representative has previously stated:

“Only one Budgeting Advance can be active at any one time. This prevents claimants from taking on more debt than they can realistically repay.”

A claimant from Manchester learned this the hard way after her washing machine broke and she already had an existing Budgeting Advance.

“I thought I could get another advance because it was a different emergency, but they refused because I was still paying off the first one.”

How Much Can You Get from Another Universal Credit Advance?

The amount you can receive depends on the type of advance and your circumstances. You may not always receive the maximum.

Type of Advance	Maximum Amount
New Claim Advance	Remaining balance of up to one month’s UC entitlement
Change of Circumstances Advance	The amount your UC award is due to increase by
Budgeting Advance	£348 single, £464 couple, £812 with children

For a Budgeting Advance, the DWP also considers your earnings. If you have earned more than £2,600 in the past six months as a single claimant, or £3,600 as a couple, you may not qualify.

The minimum amount you can usually borrow is £100.

How Do You Apply for Another Advance Payment?

You can apply for another Universal Credit advance in a few simple ways, with the online journal usually being the quickest and most convenient option.

You can apply:

• Through your Universal Credit online journal
• By speaking to your work coach at the Jobcentre
• By calling the helpline on 0800 328 5644

When you apply, the DWP will usually ask why you need the advance, how much you want to borrow and whether your circumstances have changed. If you are applying because your Universal Credit entitlement has increased, you may need to explain what has changed, such as higher rent, lower earnings or having a child.

If you are requesting a Budgeting Advance, you may also need to explain what the money will be used for, for example replacing a washing machine, paying moving costs or buying work clothes.

For many claimants, using the online journal is the fastest method because your request goes directly to your work coach or case manager. It also creates a written record of your application.

I’ve seen situations where someone needed extra support after a change in their rent. In one case, a claimant explained their situation clearly in their journal by saying:

“I would like to apply for another advance payment because my rent has increased by £85 a month and my next Universal Credit payment has not yet changed. I need help covering the shortfall until the higher payment is made.”

In many cases like this, applications are decided on the same day, and if approved, the money is usually paid within three working days.

How Long Does It Take to Receive Another Advance?

Most decisions are made on the same day you apply. Once approved, the money is normally paid into your bank account within three working days.

In urgent situations, same-day payments may be possible, especially if you have no money for food, heating or rent. However, delays can happen if the DWP needs more information or your identity checks are incomplete.

Application Method	Typical Speed
Online journal	Usually same day decision
Work coach appointment	1–3 working days
Telephone application	Same day to 3 working days

How Will Repaying Another Advance Affect Your Universal Credit?

Every advance payment is repaid through deductions from your future Universal Credit payments, meaning you will receive less each month until the loan is fully repaid. Repayments are usually spread over up to 24 months, making them more manageable over time.

For example, if you borrow £240 and repay it over two years, around £10 may be deducted from your monthly payment.

Before taking another advance, it’s important to consider:

• Existing deductions already coming out of your claim
• Whether you can manage on a reduced monthly payment

If the repayments become difficult to afford, you can ask the DWP to reduce the deduction amount or temporarily pause repayments. This can be done through your online journal or by speaking to your work coach.

What Other Help Can You Get If You Cannot Get Another Advance?

If you cannot get another advance, you may still have other support options. You could apply for a Hardship Payment if your Universal Credit has been reduced due to a sanction.

For housing costs, you may be eligible for a Discretionary Housing Payment or Local Welfare Assistance from your local council for essentials like food or heating.

You can also get free advice from organisations like Citizens Advice, StepChange, and MoneyHelper to explore further support and manage repayments.

Universal Credit Advance Types Compared

Advance Type	Main Purpose	Main Rule
New Claim Advance	Help during the five-week wait	Usually one per claim
Change of Circumstances Advance	Cover the gap before higher UC starts	Can be claimed more than once
Budgeting Advance	Help with essential one-off costs	Must repay the first one before another

The biggest difference is that only a Change of Circumstances Advance can regularly be claimed more than once.

New Claim Advances are usually limited to one claim, while Budgeting Advances are restricted to one active loan at a time.

Conclusion

So, can you get another advance payment on Universal Credit? In many cases, yes. However, the type of advance you already have makes all the difference.

If you only took part of your New Claim Advance, you may be able to request a top-up. If your circumstances change again and your entitlement increases, you could qualify for another Change of Circumstances Advance.

But if you already have a Budgeting Advance, you must repay it in full before you can borrow again.

Before applying, check your Universal Credit journal, review any existing repayments, and speak to your work coach if you are unsure.

FAQs About Universal Credit Advance

Can I get another Universal Credit advance if I am still paying one back?

You may still get another Change of Circumstances Advance while repaying a different type of advance. However, you cannot get another Budgeting Advance until the first one is fully repaid.

Can I get another advance after my rent increases?

Yes. If your rent increases and this raises your Universal Credit entitlement, you may be able to apply for a Change of Circumstances Advance.

Can I get a second New Claim Advance after my first payment?

No. Once your first Universal Credit payment has arrived, you cannot apply for another New Claim Advance.

Can I get another Budgeting Advance for a new emergency?

No. Even if the emergency is different, you must fully repay your current Budgeting Advance first.

How quickly will another advance be paid?

Most people receive a decision the same day and payment within three working days.

Will another advance lower my future Universal Credit payments?

Yes. Repayments are automatically deducted, so your monthly Universal Credit will be lower until the advance is repaid.

Who do I contact if I cannot afford the repayments?

You should contact your work coach, add a note to your Universal Credit journal, or call the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644.