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<p>No Universal Credit (UC) claimant has to wait five weeks for their first payment
and there are many reasons why people use foodbanks.</p><p> </p><p>If required, advances
of up to 100 per cent of their expected UC award are available to claimants from day
one of their claim. Advances are paid back over a maximum of 12 months and in the
Autumn Budget 2018, we announced that from October 2021, the payback period for these
advances will be extended further, allowing claimants up to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>This
is just one of a number of measures the Department has put in place to support claimants
such as paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit onto UC a two week ‘transitional
housing payment’. We are also introducing a two-week run on for eligible claimants
of Income Support, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance from
July 2020.</p>
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