To think they are calculating my universal credit wrong?

[seventymodules]

I'm a lone parent and in my 3rd year at uni. I am in Scotland. I receive around 800 pounds SAAS and 325 pounds from universal credit from September - May. However when my course stops in May, my universal payments for June, July and august should go up.

However, I was told by the DWP that my payment in June will still consider me as having a student income since I received SAAS on the 7th May and the assessment period runs from the 1st of May until the 2nd of June.

That means that in June I will receive 325 pounds only and that won't even cover my rent. When I asked through my UC journal how I was meant to survive I was told that it was my 'own responsibility' and if I wasn't happy with legislation they suggest I 'contact my member of parliament to voice my opinion' which was very helpful indeed.

When I looked on the government website I found this -

However, no student income will be taken off your Universal Credit if:

the assessment period covers the first day of the summer holidays
you’re on summer holiday for the whole of a subsequent assessment period
your course ends during the assessment period

My course ends on the 22/05/21, during the assessment period 02/05/21 - 02/06/21 so I shouldn’t be considered as having student income during that assessment period. When I have sent them that, which has been twice now, I am just being ignored. Is there anything else I can do from here?

You stop your lessons on 22/05/21 but you may need to ask the university for the official course end date - it's often later.

That is official course end date.

My lessons have already stopped, just a few final assessments to get in.

From what I've heard about UC, this is just what it's like. Sounds awful.

Will the saas payment in May be a reduced amount or your normal monthly amount?
If it's the normal amount you will not receive any extra uc, however if it is less you will get the difference added to your uc.
This is because uc is paid in arrears so if you are back on your course in September you will get extra that month as it will be based on your August income.
Uc will not consider changes in your circumstances before the date (like rent increase or end job/course) they happen.
In June you can apply for a loan to help you get through to your July payment. It's a really shitty system that was set up with the intention to punish the poor.
I would suggest contacting your local food bank because they will be more helpful than uc and may know of any local help

Take them up on their advice and contact your MP and get them to kick up a fuss on your behalf!

Alternatively, is there someone at your university you can speak to who can either help with this or help you access a hardship grant from there?

Are you leaving after 3rd year? What did you do in previous years?

Join Facebook group universal credit essentials. They are a charity that gives advice and template letters to copy onto your journal.

@MichelleScarn no I'm doing my honours 4th year which starts in September. The previous years it's never been a problem, they've stopped taking deductions at the correct time. But I think due to them having the incorrect term dates for some reason it has thrown everything off. Mistakes happen, however, it's the lack of help in rectifying that is frustrating.

Was just wondering if that's what has caused an issue if they are thinking its only 3 years and this has confused them thinking you're graduating?

Didn't you say you were working 5 days a week in your parking thread you started on the same day? Wouldn't this impact your UC calculations?

@tralalalalalalalalala

Didn't you say you were working 5 days a week in your parking thread you started on the same day? Wouldn't this impact your UC calculations?

Indeed, would be nice if @seventymodules made the effort to reply on one or both of her threads.

Ask for a mandatory reconsideration