Universal credit application help!

[Binglebong29]

Hi everyone, I am currently making an application for universal credit. The bit I am on now is asking for our income from Jan 2019 to Jan 2020, however our income was a lot higher during this time as we were both working.

What happens in this scenario when our income has now suddenly dropped due to a job loss?

Thanks

Universal credit is based on real time earnings. So your assessment period starts on the day you submitted the claim until one month later then your payment seven days after the last day of your assessment period reflects what you earned in that assessment period ( or rather what your employer(s) have reported to HMRC ). A few days after submitting your Uc claim everyone is usually asked to confirm earnings in the last year to see whether you are exempt form the benefits cap. I'm not sure why they are asking you earnings for those dates to be honest. Was one of you self empoyed ?

Yup as above. It's to see whether you're exempt from the benefit cap.

Thanks @Babyroobs no neither of us was self employed, I am currently on maternity leave and receiving smp but this has nearly finished and I will returning soon. Would that be the reason? Maybe I've filled something in wrong!

@Binglebong29

Thanks *@Babyroobs* no neither of us was self employed, I am currently on maternity leave and receiving smp but this has nearly finished and I will returning soon. Would that be the reason? Maybe I've filled something in wrong!

no it's just a standard question to see if you are exempt from the benefits cap, nothing to worry about but in your best interests to give them the information they want.