What is a hardship payment?
If your Universal Credit has been cut because of a sanction or penalty for fraud, you might be able to get some emergency money to help you cover household expenses like food and bills. This is called a ‘hardship payment’. A hardship payment is usually a loan, so you’ll have to pay it back when your sanction ends.
How many hardship payments can you get?
Universal Credit hardship payments are paid at 60% of your usual UC payment. If your reason for applying for a hardship payment is particularly severe, you could get up to 80% of your normal payments. Circumstances in which you might a higher payment could be because you or your partner is pregnant or seriously ill.
Can I get an emergency payment from universal credit?
You can phone the Universal Credit helpline to ask for an advance payment or apply through your online account. You can ask up to 1 month minus 3 working days after you apply for Universal Credit.