Universal Credit is calculated based on earnings received during a monthly assessment period. The government has said-'The proportion of working Universal Credit recipients who are paid in a non-monthly-cycles is 37.0%.'
Claimants who are not paid monthly, will see fluctuating UC payments even though their earnings might remain the same-
- weekly pay(52 pay packets per year)- will receive 8 UC payments the same
and 4 lower ones(when they get 5 pay packets in one assessment period).
- fortnightly pay(26 pay packets per year)- will receive 10 UC payments the
same and 2 lower ones(when they get 3 pay packets in one assessment period).
- 4 weekly pay(13 pay packets per year)- will receive 11 UC payments the same and one lower one(when they get 2 pay packets in one assessment period).
- paid one months pay early for Christmas- will get 2 months pay counted in one assessment period and none in the next one. The solution advised by the DWP for early Christmas pay is for the employer to declare that it was paid at the normal time(not early).
Book Now- updated–Universal Credit – the Tricky Parts 2022 course.