UC Advance . How does it work?

[FocusOnTheFrais]

Sorry for many questions. We have a migration notice and I want to be fully prepared for moving from weekly TCs to monthly UC.

There’s lots of conflicting information online about when an advance will be made available during the application process.

Do we have to attend our local job centre for an interview before we can apply for an advance? What if an appointment is weeks away?

How is the advance worked out? Does someone manually have to do it or does the system work it out and offer you it?

DH works and is an unpaid carer to me, our DCs and his mum. Finding the time and the childcare to attend an appointment will be impossible at short notice. Can we ask for a telephone appointment?

TIA,
Kelly

You can apply via your online journal under ‘Payments’ - or send a message to your work coach via your Journal to request assistance

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-advances

They will try to verify your identity online, but if they can't completely do that, you'll need an appointment at the job centre. With our claim, I was verified online but DH was called in. They're surprisingly efficient. We were offered an advance a couple of days after DH's identity check appointment.

We were offered a whole month's advance. But do consider that you'll have to pay it back and that will reduce your monthly amount.

@Justkeepsplashing Ty. Did you have to have an appointment at the job centre before you can apply online?

@Lougle Ty. How quickly did your DHs appointment with the job centre come through?

I didn’t, no. I was working full time when I switched over from TC to UC and I recall a particular week when the washing machine broke, I needed a car tyre and there was a school trip so I asked for an advance on my Journal and was awarded it without seeing someone.