Picking best date to start Universal Credit

rjw273

First of all can someone just confirm this is right...

When you apply for Universal credit, the date you apply is the start date of your first assessment period.

Eg. if i applied today (4th August) the first assessment period would run from 4th Aug to 3rd Sept. Payment would be around 10th Sept.



Also, are tax credits (CTC and WTC) calculated up until the day you apply for UC?

Eg. If our most recent CTC payment was on 28th July, would we get 1 more weeks worth of CTC or would the 28th July payment be our last? I'm not sure if CTC, WTC, and HB are paid up front or in arrears.

I'm asking because our existing tax credits and housing benefit are paid at different times throughout the month and i'm wondering if there is a date that would be better to apply for UC on depending on when we've received the existing benefit payments.

Any help, much appreciated.

huckster

Be warned that you might be significantly worse off on UC. This is particularly the case for people who are self employed.

What change in circumstances is causing you to change to UC, from tax credits and housing benefit ?

Use one of the benefit calculators Turn2us or Entitledto, to check on what UC payment you are likely to receive.

You are correct in terms of how assessment periods work.

Don't change unless you have to. From 2019 onwards people will be migrated from tax credits etc as part of a government process and be guaranteed not to be worse off due to the change.

rjw273

I've done several online calculations, double and treble checked the results and we'd be £150 a month better off on UC plus we would keep more of any extra income earned. Trust me... i've researched it a lot and i'm fully aware its not good for everyone but it would benefit us a lot.

huckster

If that is the case, keep copies of the online benefit calculator results and the information you entered.

Hopefully, when you claim, the UC statement issues matches what the calculators have shown. No reason why they should not, but if there is a difference then you have the calculator results to compare.

calcotti

rjw273 wrote: »

I've done several online calculations, double and treble checked the results and we'd be £150 a month better off on UC plus we would keep more of any extra income earned. Trust me... i've researched it a lot and i'm fully aware its not good for everyone but it would benefit us a lot.

Although a lot of people are worse off on UC there are winners too - sometimes substantially better off. It does all depend on circumstances. Do just be aware that UC requires more active engagement by you to claim and manage.
If you do claim UC when your award calculations become available keep a copy of them. It is my understanding that you can only see the latest calculation in your online journal and you may want to refer back in the future.