Part time work + universal credit

M.S.E.addict

My granddaughter (mother of a young child) works part time, minimum 16 hrs pr wk, her wages supplemented by universal credit.

Her working hours vary slightly each week to suit her employer's needs, so the uc element of her income is based on a monthly assessment.

The Problem:

Her employer has a 4 weekly pay cycle; the uc assessment period is monthly.

Simply because of this difference there are months when she receives no uc at all!

Both her employer and uc say that there is nothing they can do!

Is there anything that can be done? Any advice would be much appreciated.

marcia_

M.S.E.addict said:

My granddaughter (mother of a young child) works part time, minimum 16 hrs pr wk, her wages supplemented by universal credit.

Her working hours vary slightly each week to suit her employer's needs, so the uc element of her income is based on a monthly assessment.

The Problem:

Her employer has a 4 weekly pay cycle; the uc assessment period is monthly.

Simply because of this difference there are months when she receives no uc at all!

Both her employer and uc say that there is nothing they can do!

Is there anything that can be done? Any advice would be much appreciated.

 If her employer is not willing to move to monthly pay, in which case she may lose out, then nothing can be done 

QrizB

M.S.E.addict said:

Her employer has a 4 weekly pay cycle; the uc assessment period is monthly.

Simply because of this difference there are months when she receives no uc at all!

One month a year, she'll receive two 4-weekly paycheques. That month she'll earn twice as much as usual and receive no UC.

Which month it is should be the same every year (it'll change every 20-ish years). Hopefully she can plan for this.

Depending on the exact numbers, she might receive more UC in total this way than she would if she was paid monthly.

M.S.E.addict

QrizB said:

M.S.E.addict said:

Her employer has a 4 weekly pay cycle; the uc assessment period is monthly.

Simply because of this difference there are months when she receives no uc at all!

One month a year, she'll receive two 4-weekly paycheques. That month she'll earn twice as much as usual and receive no UC.

Which month it is should be the same every year (it'll change every 20-ish years). Hopefully she can plan for this.

Depending on the exact numbers, she might receive more UC in total this way than she would if she was paid monthly.

Many thanks for your reply.  Your explanation has been very helpful.

I was thinking that this would happen every time there's a 5 week month, i.e. 4 times a year, which would make budgeting quite a challenge, whereas once a year is manageable.

I don't know the figures, except to say that she's probably on minimum wage, so how it affects her overall income I honestly can't say.