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<p>Nobody has to wait for five weeks for a payment following an application for Universal
Credit.</p><p> </p><p>Universal Credit new claim advances provide access to a payment
for those in financial need, which can be accessed urgently, until their first regular
Universal Credit payment is due. Claimants can access up to 100% of the total expected
monthly award, which they can pay back over a period of up to 12 months. We have announced
that from October 2021, the repayment period for these advances will be extended further,
to 16 months.</p><p> </p><p>The Department has delivered a number of improvements
to support claimants during their first assessment period, such as removing waiting
days and paying those claimants moving from Housing Benefit onto Universal Credit
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><p> </p><p>Assessment periods align to the
way the majority of employees are paid, and how utility companies and other service
providers collect payments. This allows Universal Credit to be adjusted each month,
which means that if a claimant’s income falls they will not have to wait several months
for a rise in their Universal Credit.</p>
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