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AIBU?

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Original poster

To the think this Universal Credit rule is so so wrong!

380 replies

ilovewelshrarebit123 · 03/10/2018 21:59

I'm a single parent, one DD and I work 30 hours a week.

I didn't get my UC payment this month which was a complete shock. I get paid my salary on the 15th of every month, and as the 15th of August was over the weekend I got paid on the 14th.

After investigation which has taken over a week, UC say I've been paid twice in the assessment period (15th to 14th) so I get nothing. I was paid on the 15/8 and 14/9 but it isn't two payments in one month is it. It was just a day early because of the weekend.

I'm £600 down and i just can't get my head around this policy. They've said there is nothing that can be done and I won't be getting this payment. It will also happen in January due to Decembers pay date.

They suggested I cancel my UC claim, start another one so the assessment period is different. But then I have to start the claim again and wait the 6 week assessment period with no payments.

Please don't tell me not to 'rely' on UC, I have no choice and I work hard.

So that's it, I'm stuffed this month through no fault of my own and UC is a crock of shit! 😡

OP posts:
gallicgirl · 03/10/2018 22:02

Yes, you're right and it's totally unfair.
Practitioners have pointed this out to government and they don't care.

purpleme12 · 03/10/2018 22:02

Eh?! I'm baffled. Is this really what happens with UC?

Armchairanarchist · 03/10/2018 22:05

This was highlighted on the news last December. I'm shocked it hasn't been resolved.

Original poster
ilovewelshrarebit123 · 03/10/2018 22:05

Yes Purple, it's just unbelievable. Get paid a day early due to a weekend lose your payment as you've been 'paid' twice, except you haven't!

I just fucking give up with the whole thing, I've had 12 payments of UC and out of them 5 have been wrong and I had to prove it!

OP posts:
purpleme12 · 03/10/2018 22:06

Oh my god I never knew this. This is so worrying. I just can't get my head around it! Why!

HuntIdeas · 03/10/2018 22:07

Does that mean you will get extra next month as you won’t have been paid at all 15/9 - 14/10?

Holidayfromreal · 03/10/2018 22:10

the universal credit website says the following

If you’re paid every 4 weeks by your employer, you will get one payment of earnings for each Universal Credit assessment period for most of the year. You will usually get 2 payments of earnings within a Universal Credit assessment period once a year.

Depending on the amount you get paid, this may affect your Universal Credit.

When you get 2 earnings payments within an assessment period, your income may be too high to qualify for Universal Credit in that month.

If this happens, you will be notified that your income is too high and you will no longer get Universal Credit.

You can re-apply the following month as you should only get one earnings payment in your assessment period then.

You will need to be prepared for a month when you get 2 earnings payments in one assessment period and budget for a potential change in your monthly Universal Credit payments.

(it's for if you work 4 weeks but essentially the same thing)

It is fucking bollocks OP. Make sure you prepare for when it happens in January too because I'm sure you have £200 a month spare to save up for it. Oh and check if you need to reapply as well because if your earnings go above the amount the automatically end your claim AngryAngry

SingaSong12 · 03/10/2018 22:11

purpleme
Unfortunately OP is completely correct and causes hardship for many people. The Child poverty action group are challenging it. We can only hope they succeed.

www.cpag.org.uk/content/universal-credit-assessment-period-inflexibility

Original poster
ilovewelshrarebit123 · 03/10/2018 22:13

Crikey, I never thought they'd cancel it, I'll check tomorrow. Thanks Hunt and you're right I don't even have £20 spare!

OP posts:
Allthewaves · 03/10/2018 22:15

It's stupid. They would be better surely calculating it on a weekly amount then wouldn't matter if your paid weekly, 4 weekly or monthly

purpleme12 · 03/10/2018 22:17

Gosh this makes me worry for when I go on it. I mean it's normal for at our place to get paid early in December. I can't believe this happens I don't understand why they decided to do it like that

NotSuchASmugMarriedNow1 · 03/10/2018 22:20

It's a really horrid thing to do to people but how do UC know what date you get paid? Can they access your bank account? If not, I would have been tempted to just say that I was paid on the 15th.

Sorry it's like this for you OP. I can't see the logic in it and can only assume it's aim is to give people less money

serbska · 03/10/2018 22:20

UC is a fucking shit show

LeftRightCentre · 03/10/2018 22:23

It is a totally fucked up crock of shite that openly persecutes the working poor.

RaininSummer · 03/10/2018 22:25

That is appalling. I had no idea this happened. Makes no sense.

LeftRightCentre · 03/10/2018 22:27

I'd like to know how you're supposed to budget when you have no more money left after essentials are paid for. I really would.

thefourgp · 03/10/2018 22:30

They really need to scrap UC. Tax credits were a fairer assessment and paid regular, reliable amounts. I had problems with mine, had to go through the whole appeal process and contact my MP to get it sorted. They finally admitted they shouldn’t have stopped my payments and paid the backdated monies. It took me months and if my parents has not helped me financially I don’t know what I would have done. As a single working mum it was a scary time. I didn’t get one apology. They didn’t give a fuck. I truly believe the government is trying to make it as difficult as possible for poor people to claim the benefits they’re entitled to.

ohreallyohreallyoh · 03/10/2018 22:31

The thing is, one of the points made about UC is that it would work like wages, so paid monthly, like real working people are paid. Except the vast majority are paid either weekly or monthly, not every 4 weeks (which is a bit like a month but not quite) and which, by definition, gives us 13 assessment periods as opposed to 12 annually. It is nothing other than a cost cutting exercise and affects those who need this money most. Disgusting. Absolutely disgusting.

Thatstheendofmytether · 03/10/2018 22:31

That is absolutely ridiculous! Surely that will mean you will get double next month? Absolutely no way they should be able to do this to people. Ask them what they intend to pay you next month. Good luck OP!

Isntthiswhatweteachthekids · 03/10/2018 22:32

We are still on tax credits when is it meant to be changed to UC ?

AbsentmindedWoman · 03/10/2018 22:34

It's completely appalling.

What is the official DWP response when challenged about this fuck up of UC? How are they justifying it?

SusanneLinder · 03/10/2018 22:34

I am a Welfare Rights Officer...and yes UC is a bloody nightmare.
Many employers report to the live service and your UC depends on when your employer reports your wages also.
So if your employer reports late then they think you have been paid twice in an assessment period also, and if you have Housing Costs, you can find yourself in Rent Arrears. We have to take foodbank parcels to working people.
It is a disaster.
Plus many disabled people are £30 a week worse off, as they can lose their premiums!

CrazySheepLady · 03/10/2018 22:36

There's been quite a lot of publicity about this issue and this nasty government don't care.

UC seems like a disaster to me, from what I've read at least. This is people's lives they're meddling with; homes, food, kids, work. Yet they won't change it. It's a vicious policy. I'm so sorry to hear of your situation, OP.

Heismyopendoor · 03/10/2018 22:38

I’m very worried about this when we switch over to UC as my DH is paid weekly so it’s
The same situation. I actually want to cry thinking about it.

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