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.
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
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
01
Find a counselor from our list
Choose a HUD-certified counselor from our list to help you start the process.
02
Apply for assistance
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.
03
Close on your home
If funding is available and you're approved, your counselor will work with your closing agent to apply the funds toward your down payment.
Find a Housing Counselor
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
No. You can choose any lender or real estate agent. To be eligible, you must work with a HUD-certified housing counselor.
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.
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.
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.
