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I'm starting work 2 weeks into my Universal Credit period

Universal Credit line is closed so not able to ask on the helpline. I'll be starting work on September 24th, which will be 17 days into my Universal Credit monthly period which runs between the 6th of September to 5th October.

Can i ask when i get my benefits next month, will they pay me the 17 days of benefits of not working, or do i have to complete the whole 31 days to receive the £317 i get from Universal Credit.

So the question is do they credit partial payments if you start work in the middle of the month. I think i should receive around £125-150, but i'm worried the Job Centre might just credit full payments only and if you find work in the middle of the month, they don't pay you at all?

Comments

  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    edited 8 September 2018 at 2:49PM
    Your Universal Credit claim simply carries on. Unlike legacy benefits which are calculated on a weekly basis UC is calculated on a monthly basis. When you first get paid DWP will be notified by HMRC and your earnings will be taken into account when the next UC payment is calculated. It doesn’t matter when you work simply the amount of earnings and when they are paid.

    Depending on your new employer’s payment cycle you may not have received any pay before the 5th October in which case you will get a full UC payment.

    If you are earning less than £500/month you will continue to get some UC even if the only UC you are entitled to is the basic £317/month.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
  • Atos
    Atos Posts: 43 Forumite
    edited 8 September 2018 at 3:02PM
    calcotti wrote: »
    Your Universal Credit claim simply carries on. Unlike legacy benefits which are calculated on a weekly basis UC is calculated on a monthly basis. When you first get paid DWP will be notified by HMRC and your earnings will be taken into account when the next UC payment is calculated. It doesn’t matter when you work simply the amount of earnings and when they are paid.

    Depending on your new employer’s payment cycle you may not have received any pay before the 5th October in which case you will get a full UC payment.

    If you are earning less than £500/month you will continue to get some UC even if the only UC you are entitled to is the basic £317/month.

    On the 24th when i start work, i've been told by my work coach to call in or update my journal, and let it be known there is a change to my work circumstances. From there on, does that not mean my claim will be closed? Will the work coach not close my file once i do let it be known i've started work? Hence meaning i will not be eligible for full benefits next month? After an appointment on the 13th, i won't be seeing my coach again for another work review so i'm assuming she will close my claim once i start work on the 24th.

    Or will my claim close once HMRC notify DWP of my first wage payment?

    Sorry for the numerous questions. Bit confusing all this.
  • calcotti
    calcotti Posts: 15,696 Forumite
    Part of the Furniture 10,000 Posts Name Dropper
    No your claim will not be closed. Universal Credit is a benefit for anyone on a low income including those in work. You do have to tell them about changes but as explained in my earlier post your UC entitlement will depend on what you actually receive as earnings during the assessment period. The importance of telling them that you have started work is that you will no longer be expected to look for work if you will be earning more than 35 x NMW/week. If you are earning less than this they can ask you to look for additional work (assuming there are no limiting circumstances).

    Your claim will only be closed if your earnings are such that your UC entitlement for an assessment period is NIL. Even then I think you will still have access to your UC journal for 6 months during which time, if your earnings drop, you can make a rapid reclaim for UC.
    Information I post is for England unless otherwise stated. Some rules may be different in other parts of UK.
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