Universal credit. Start new job, getting paid after asssessment period

leongecko

Hi, currently claiming UC.
I have just started a new job, which is to be paid weekly, but a week in hand.
I started on the 2nd september, but i wont get paid my first week wages until the 19th September.
My UC assessment period runs up until the 17th of September. My UC caseworker claims that as I wont receive any wages until after the assessment period, I should receive a full payment.he is "99% sure" this is the case.

however, when reporting a change of circumstances there was not an option to say when I will get paid. all it asked me was how many hours i am working and what I will usually be paid.

My worry is that when assessment day comes around they will look and say "he started on the 2nd, says he earns this much per week, so therefore we will deduct x amount"

Caseworker doesnt seem to understand my concern here. so my question is this; how does UC assessment process determine when I have been paid? I cant see an option to report this on the portal. Hope that makes sense, any advice or pointers as to what I may be missing would be appreciated.

poppy12345

You'll receive all your UC payment this time because you wouldn't have received your wages within that assessment period.



Next UC payment will be affected but this will depend how much wages you receive during your AP. If your UC payments are reduced to zero your UC claim will close.

NedS

What happens is your employer reports how much you have been paid (including how much tax and NI is deducted) and when they paid you to HMRC. HMRC then share this information with UC at the end of your assessment period (AP). This is called RTI (Real Time Information). So your work coach is correct, as is poppy12345 above. As you have not yet received any earnings within the period, as reported by your employer/HMRC, you will receive your full UC payment.


You will see any earnings reported on your UC statement for that period, so always check these have been reported correctly. It is your Net Pay (take home pay) after tax and NI that is reported and taken into account.

leongecko

Thanks for your quick reply. Thats my understanding too. im just trying to figure out how they know when i have or havent been paid, Theres no option on the portal for me to tell them when i will receive wages so i am unsure how they assess how much ive earned and when. The only options i can log are how much i would usually earn per week and the hours worked. The portal is pretty easy to use tbh but i would have expected a "when will you receive your first wage packet" field as surely they need that information?

leongecko

aah I see, so i dont need to log this information its done automatically by my employer? ok thats makes a lot more sense. Thank you so much !!

[Deleted User]

That’s correct, it’s reported to HMRC.