Shortchanged by UC

carlos1973

Looking for some clarity on what I have been told in my Journal today.

I'm due to be paid UC on the 4th and my payment period is from the 28th March to the 27th April. My rent has increased and been changed with DWP and is the correct amount. The amount that I'm being paid is less than I was expecting and I asked why, via a journal message.

The reply I got back was that they only pay the increased rate for assessment periods after the 10th April.

This means that I am missing just over 2 weeks of the higher rate and it feels unfair to say the least. This comes just after I find out that CMS has not increased child maintainence even though my Ex's income will increase with the new benefit rates!

Does anyone know if the reply is correct?

kaMelo

If you're saying that the housing element is correct and the standard allowance is correct but paid at last years rate then yes, this is correct. No one will receive the increased rate of standard allowance until at least May, some maybe the beginning of June. You're not losing out, you will receive twelve payments at this rate.

poppy12345

The increase will apply to assessment periods starting from 10th April. This means that those with payments due from 16th May will be the first to receive the increased amounts. You will not receive the increase until your June payment. It's how UC works.

tifo

This has been mentioned many times here (including by me) and it seems unfair but you will still receive 12 months of the increase up to the next change, so for example if it goes down then it will also go down from the next assessment after the change.

sarahlply

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/80029304#Comment_80029304

try to think of it as being paid in arrears, same as when you start a new job, any job I have had has had pay rise implemented in arrears as well.

poppy12345

tifo said:

This has been mentioned many times here (including by me) and it seems unfair but you will still receive 12 months of the increase up to the next change, so for example if it goes down then it will also go down from the next assessment after the change.

Why is it unfair? No one is losing out because as you correctly said, everyone will be entitled to 12 payments at the increased rate.

carlos1973

Thanks for the replies.
It is obviously just the way things are.  I feel it is unfair as I have already paid increased bills in April and have the same this month but won't get the extra money until June.  Having it in April and May next year doesn't pay the bills this year!

Spoonie_Turtle

carlos1973 said:

Thanks for the replies.
It is obviously just the way things are.  I feel it is unfair as I have already paid increased bills in April and have the same this month but won't get the extra money until June.  Having it in April and May next year doesn't pay the bills this year!

It's an oddity of the monthly system, not such a problem for benefits that are calculated on a weekly basis (even if they're paid fortnightly or 4-weekly).

The increases only catch up to equivalent buying power of last September anyway though, by the time anyone gets it there's already been at least another 6 months of further inflation.

sarahlply

Unfortunately it would be the same in most employment paid monthly, I know my husband didn’t get his new pay rate in his late April pay, it won’t happen until he gets paid later on this month because he is paid monthly in arrears. Some years he doesn’t even get the new pay rate until the summer as unions and management haven’t agreed it by April, it’s unusual that it’s been implemented this early this time around.
it’s really hard for sure as you say bills etc go up straightaway regardless of what uc or employers do. 

NedS

poppy12345 said:

tifo said:

This has been mentioned many times here (including by me) and it seems unfair but you will still receive 12 months of the increase up to the next change, so for example if it goes down then it will also go down from the next assessment after the change.

Why is it unfair? No one is losing out because as you correctly said, everyone will be entitled to 12 payments at the increased rate.

Almost, but not quite - it depends when the date falls each year, as increases start on the first Monday after 6th April, so it is possible for some AP end dates to have 13 months at one rate and 11 months at another depending on what day of the week the end of the tax year falls.

For example, this year claims with APs from 10th to 9th will be the first to get the increase. Track those AP dates back for the last 5 years increases and they won't give 5 equal periods of 12 months (working backwards it would have been 11 months, 12 months, 13 month, 12 months ... then I ran out of fingers but you get the idea). Should average out in the long run though, and it's just how the system works.

tifo

poppy12345 said:

tifo said:

This has been mentioned many times here (including by me) and it seems unfair but you will still receive 12 months of the increase up to the next change, so for example if it goes down then it will also go down from the next assessment after the change.

Why is it unfair? No one is losing out because as you correctly said, everyone will be entitled to 12 payments at the increased rate.

Because, as many users have said, having to wait for the extra money after already waiting for the increase (cost of living etc) means some people could do with the money NOW rather than in 2 months.

Some people say it's like a job. It's not really because some employers increased wages last year, or gave one off payments, both these were available the following month, yet benefit claimants have had to wait until April this year and then many for a few months more. Yes, i understand that they also received cost of living payments but these are a long way apart. And benefits are already lower than what is required for a decent living, for many, and in these cost of living times it affects claimants even more.

I know many people seem to live a Life of Riley on benefits but for the majority that's not the case.