UpPayment® Down Payment Assistance Program

UpPayment® Down Payment Assistance Program is sponsored by Progressive Insurance. Provides down payment assistance to first-time homebuyers to help overcome financial barriers in purchasing a home.

UpPayment Down Payment Assistance | Progressive Get down payment assistance through the UpPayment® program See if you're eligible to receive down payment assistance * What is the UpPayment program? UpPayment is Progressive's down payment assistance program, administered by the National Urban League . It's designed to help first‑time homebuyers overcome financial barriers through down payment assistance.

This year, UpPayment will provide at least 200 eligible homebuyers with up to $13,500 each toward the purchase of a first home. To apply, you will first work with a participating housing counselor certified by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), at no cost. You can easily find a participating counselor through the Urban League network .

See if you're eligible to receive funding through this program and learn how to apply . Then, use our locator tool to find a participating housing counselor near you.

You are eligible to apply if you meet the following UpPayment requirements: First-time homebuyer (haven't owned a primary residence within three years of the closing date) purchasing a non-commercial, non-mobile residential property with intention of permanent residence at the site Mortgage pre-approval letter dated within the last six months Household annual income below 500% of the federal poverty guidelines Legal U.S. resident (excluding U.S. territories) 18 or older (or the legal age of majority in your state) Enrolled with a participating HUD-certified housing counseling program Be able to identify a closing agent and provide the requisite contact and monetary disbursement information See UpPayment Terms & Conditions Note: Employees of the National Urban League or its affiliate organizations, and their immediate family members, aren't eligible for down payment assistance.

Progressive employees and their immediate family members also aren't eligible. However, anyone can access free HUD-certified housing counseling through the Urban League. What to expect when you apply Find a counselor from our list Choose a HUD-certified counselor from our list to help you start the process.

If you're eligible, your counselor will help you apply to UpPayment for down payment assistance. Applications are accepted May 1 – September 30, 2026 on a rolling basis each month. If funding is available and you're approved, your counselor will work with your closing agent to apply the funds toward your down payment.

Every applicant must work with a participating HUD-certified housing counselor, who will help you prepare for homeownership and guide you through the application process. Enter your ZIP code to find the Urban League affiliate offering housing counseling nearest you: Please email UpPayment@nul. org to connect with a housing counselor.

If you're unsure which local housing counseling program to contact, you can request assistance via email . If you're already working with a HUD-certified counselor outside the Urban League network, you'll need to connect with a participating Urban League counselor to apply for UpPayment. Real stories.

Real milestones. See how UpPayment helped Chanel and Tiffany become homeowners. For Chanel, it's more than a house For Tiffany, "someday" finally became "closing day" UpPayment frequently asked questions How much assistance does UpPayment provide?

The 2026 UpPayment program will provide homebuyers with down payment assistance of up to $13,500 each toward the purchase of a first home. At least 200 eligible applicants will receive support this year. In 2025, the program supported more than 100 families , totaling $1.

35 million in assistance given. When does the UpPayment program end? Eligible participants can apply for UpPayment from May 1 to Sept.

30, 2026. Each participating Urban League affiliate has a set amount of assistance dollars to award each month, from May through October, and will award them to eligible applicants on a first‑come, first‑served basis each month. Why do I have to work with a HUD-certified housing counselor?

To be eligible, every UpPayment applicant must first work with a participating housing counselor to prepare for the process of buying their first home. HUD-certified counselors are trained to assess your readiness and set you up for long-term success as a homeowner. Learn more about working with a housing counselor .

Do I have to repay the down payment assistance? No. If selected to receive down payment assistance, your assistance of up to $13,500 won't need to be repaid. Housing counseling through the National Urban League is also free.

Each recipient is responsible for all applicable federal, state, and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with assistance acceptance. What can the down payment assistance be used for? The down payment assistance can only be used for your down payment.

If you're selected, your housing counselor will work directly with your closing agent to apply the funds toward your down payment. Learn more about down payments and closing costs . Do I need to use a specific lender or real estate agent?

No. You can choose any lender or real estate agent. To be eligible, you must work with a HUD-certified housing counselor. Can I work with a counselor of my choosing?

Yes. You may work with any HUD‑certified housing counselor to receive housing counseling. However, only Urban League/National Urban League (NUL) counselors can access the UpPayment application and help you apply for down payment assistance.

If you need to be connected with an Urban League housing counselor, use our locator tool to find a participating counselor near you. Does my credit score matter? There isn't a credit score requirement to qualify for UpPayment.

That said, your credit score can impact the type and amount of mortgage you qualify for. Work with your housing counselor to understand how your credit score might impact your home buying process, and find out how much house you can afford to buy . What can I expect from housing counseling?

Your participating housing counselor will guide you through every step of the homebuying and application process. They'll help you confirm if you qualify, help you apply, and work directly with your closing agent to apply any funds if you're awarded assistance. Counseling is free, and you'll receive helpful guidance, even if you're not eligible or selected to receive assistance.

Why did Progressive create the UpPayment program? Progressive is committed to providing the essential knowledge and resources that our community members need to purchase their first homes , sustain their homes , and build wealth through homeownership . Our Open the House initiative is dedicated to helping first-time homebuyers get into homes, and the UpPayment program helps deliver on that dream.

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The UpPayment program was definitely worth it. It helped us be able to get that down payment that we needed for the home. My daughter fell in love with it as soon as we came to see it.

She was like, home sweet home. I didn't have that, so I'm giving her everything that I didn't get. It's a blessing.

When I saw this house, all I could see was how beautiful it could be. I'd saved and put back money, and it always seemed like I didn't have enough. So I looked for resources.

When I heard back that we were being considered, I didn't believe it. And then I woke up, and the money was there, and I just … So this house for me is joy.