Question about AET in Universal Credit.

GhostRetro

I get paid 4 weekly and work 30 per week at £11.44 per hour. I understand universal credit will take 4 weekly pay as monthly when calculating payment.

According to all sources I have looked at they don’t calculate AET in that manor, they take an average over 3 months from which they work out and average weekly gross income, then multiply it by 52 and divide it by 12, to get an average monthly income, and use that figure to access if the threshold has been met.

I am part of a joint claim for Universal Credits as my partner does not work, and we above the couples AET.

But yet my partner, has been told she must look for work.

Does anybody know why this is?

michaels

AET for a couple is equivalent to 29 hours per week at NMW.

Must be something to do with getting paid 4 weekly rather than monthly, sorry but I don't know how they are supposed to work out AET for those not paid monthly.

NedS

With earnings of 30h/week at £11.44, your monthly earnings are £11.44x30x4=£1372.80 per month, and will be double that in any month where you are paid twice.

In month's where you receive one 4-weekly payment, your household earnings are under the couple AET and therefore your partner will be expected to look for work.

In practice, I am not aware that weekly (or 4-weekly) earnings are averaged by the UC system. If the legislation states that they can be averaged for AET purposes, you would probably need to request that and the jobcentre would have to manually override your partner's work group regime.

GhostRetro

NedS said:

With earnings of 30h/week at £11.44, your monthly earnings are £11.44x30x4=£1372.80 per month, and will be double that in any month where you are paid twice.

In month's where you receive one 4-weekly payment, your household earnings are under the couple AET and therefore your partner will be expected to look for work.

In practice, I am not aware that weekly (or 4-weekly) earnings are averaged by the UC system. If the legislation states that they can be averaged for AET purposes, you would probably need to request that and the jobcentre would have to manually override your partner's work group regime.

Thanks for your help.

GhostRetro

michaels said:

AET for a couple is equivalent to 29 hours per week at NMW.

Must be something to do with getting paid 4 weekly rather than monthly, sorry but I don't know how they are supposed to work out AET for those not paid monthly.

no worries

VUDU85

GhostRetro said:

I get paid 4 weekly and work 30 per week at £11.44 per hour. I understand universal credit will take 4 weekly pay as monthly when calculating payment.

According to all sources I have looked at they don’t calculate AET in that manor, they take an average over 3 months from which they work out and average weekly gross income, then multiply it by 52 and divide it by 12, to get an average monthly income, and use that figure to access if the threshold has been met.

I am part of a joint claim for Universal Credits as my partner does not work, and we above the couples AET.

But yet my partner, has been told she must look for work.

Does anybody know why this is?

Hi

Found your post through a Google search as in a very similar situation myself whereby being paid 4 weekly puts me at right around the AET whereas i'd be well above if paid monthly or if my wage was calculated monthly (4 weekly amount x 13 and then divide by 12)

Just wondering how your situation played out and what discussions were had with UC

Thanks in advance