Best time to apply for universal credit?

[Soundoflettinggo]

Hello. Currently still on tax credits but have recieved my letter to apply for universal credit by mid February. Just wondering when is the best time to apply? I have no idea how long the application takes, or how long before any payment etc. Does it make sense to apply on the day that I get a payment from tax credits? Will that then close my tax credit claim immediately? Any advice is much appreciated.

Also I have a mandatory reconsideration open with tax credits at the moment, over an absolute balls up that they made with one of my children's disability payments, and I have no idea what happens with that when my tax credit claim ends. I will call them of course and ask about it when I get the time but if anyone happens to know how that works too that would be brilliant.

Thank you.

Applications for Universal Credit (UC) will take one month plus seven days from when you apply until your first payment - assuming you're entitled.

The month is 'baked in' as UC is paid monthly so as to replicate salary. The final week is a calculation period while the system gets the information together.

The process is wholly automated and the vast majority of cases run exactly to that timescale. Even at the height of the pandemic when there were multiple thousands of new claims folks were paid on time.

As soon as you apply for UC you Tax Credits claim will close. Some people work out a 'tactical' time based in TC payments but personally I wouldn't bust gut over that.

The timing that is worth accommodating is around salary dates if you or your partner are monthly paid. It's best to avoid a position where your monthly Assessment Period ends on/very close to salary date. This is becuase 'banking day shift' where the pay day can be five days before the actual calendar day the money is due means you get two lots of salary in one AP. If it happens UC can 'untangle it' but it's a manual process and a PITA for all concerned.

If there's an outstanding review on your TC claim that should not be affected.

@Bromptotoo Thank you! I got myself in such a tizzy about tax credits, I didn't even consider salary dates.

My DH is paid on the 26th of each month. What date would you say is best to submit the application? Ideally I would like the universal credit payment to come in around the same time as his wage to make it easier paying the bills.

Just carers allowance for me as 2 disabled children. I'm struggling to wrap my head around it all and worrying about getting it wrong.

Maybe around the 15th of the month? You’d likely get your payment around the 21st of the month, and it’s far enough away from pay day to avoid getting 2 payments in one assessment period. I get paid on the 25th of each month but for example this December I get paid on the 20th because of Christmas so salary dates can move.

@Soundoflettinggo if you want the payment to arrive on around the 26th then your Assessment Period (AP) would need to end on the 19th.

Your first AP starts when you make the claim so if you did that on 20 Jan then your first AP would be 20/01/24 to 19/02/24 with payment on/about 26/02/24.

@TeaKitten @Bromptotoo Ah okay, that makes sense! Thank you so much for the help and explanations. Very much appreciated.

Also factor in anything like housing benefit

I had my renewal letter and had to apply for UC by 1st Dec. I applied the day after my last working tax credits payment in Nov. I get my first payment on the 13th Dec, which works out at 5 weeks. Its been very straight forward, yes you have to log in to update your journal fairly regularly, but its quick and you get reminders.

Childminder moving to UC next month.
being self employed i need my income to be worked out from the 1st of month to the end. When should I apply? I have till 31st July

If you need/want your Assessment Period to end on the last working day then apply on 1 July.

This is an old post, but hoping someone may be able to help. I need to apply for UC and would like to time the application to avoid the same pitfall above. My normal payday is 24th of the month. When should I apply? @Bromptotoo

My payday is similar to yours Takesghecake. I am going to apply on 12th that way my period will end about the 12th and I won't get caught out by being paid early or late.

If you're paid on 24th then, I think, worst possibly scenario would be Easter Monday being 24 March and you being paid on 20 March with previous date being 24 Feb. Two lots of pay in one AP if your AP runs from 24th to 23rd.

If you claim before 19th or after 25th you should be good.

Thanks for taking the time to work that out! I could not wrap my head around it. Sounds good, I will do as you suggest