UC managed migration guide

You can't request an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) until after you've received your first payment. Please also be aware that if they agree to this you'll be waiting 1 month for your payment but then you'll only receive half of that payment. The other half will be between 14 and 17 days later. It can be very difficult to manage your money when it's first set up.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-alternative-payment-arrangements/alternative-payment-arrangements#types-of-alternative-payment-arrangements-apas

It seems like you can request it anytime but payments won't start until after the end of your first assessment period. Yes, you can request this yourself. I'll copy and paste some useful information from the link above.

3. More frequent payments

Universal Credit is paid monthly. But in instances where it is identified that a claimant is finding it difficult to budget monthly, they can have their Universal Credit divided over the month to be paid more frequently - twice a month or, exceptionally, 4 times a month.

These can only start from the end of their first assessment period and would, in most circumstances, be half their Universal Credit award, with the remaining half paid 14 to 15 days later.

In exceptional cases they could be paid 4 times a month, for example a quarter of their Universal Credit payment after the end of the first assessment period and the rest paid at 7 to 8 day intervals.

In cases where their Universal Credit includes housing costs, this should be accompanied by a managed payment to safeguard their home.

Who can request a more frequent payment

If the claimant is making the request, this can be by:

• using their online Universal Credit account
• talking to their work coach or case manager
• phoning Universal Credit on 0800 328 5644

You're welcome. I see you are migrating from Income Related ESA and housing benefit. Both of those will continue for 2 weeks and then stop, so you won't be without money. Tax credits stops as you've now submitted the claim for UC.

You can also request an advance payment from UC but this does need to be repaid back and your future UC payments will be reduced.

Were you in the Support Group for ESA? If so then please make sure you put a message onto your journal to tell them you are in this group. Please do not provide a fit note, even if they ask you, which they may.

There will be a maximum amount you can request once you've had your first appointment. It will be based on your maximum UC entitlement.

This may seem rather low at first but the amount will increase once things have been verified on your claim, such as ESA Support Group, rent and any children you may have on your claim.