Universal Credit Issues

[Mistysmom]

Hi I am wondering if anyone can provide assistance to an issue we are having with Universal Credit.

Since returning to work after the birth of my youngest DS, I returned to work on a part time basis as childcare costs are ridiculous in the area. He is currently in 3 days a week 8.30-3. My husband works full time. We put in a claim for Universal Credit to assist us with childcare costs.

Every month since our claim started, we have been overpaid due to my husbands employer not reporting his wages during our qualifying period.

Our qualifying period is 1st month to last day of month - employer reporting wages before 5th of the following month.

I have been putting this money aside apart from money I believe is ours for the childcare as I know we are not entitled to this.

We queried this the first time it happened and had the Debt collection letter so are currently repaying that back. But we have had another two overpayment since.

UC say its down to my husbands employer, the accountant is blaming the business owners for not giving him the figures on time.

I am getting really stressed out with it all and am considering going back to work full time and just claiming the 20% Government assistance with childcare. All we wanted was some assistance with nursery fees and its causing more hassle than it's worth.

Any help greatly appreciated!

Is your husband treated as self employed for UC?

@Bromptotoo no he's employed

Something's odd there then.

If one is employed and on PAYE Universal Credit get the figures reported by the employer via a system called Real Time Information when they run payroll. If he is paid on or around the 5th of the month, with an AP running from 01-31 in each month, there's loads of slack time.

This is what we find strange. The calculation is done on the 3rd so to me its obviously being done after that to not be included. Should we be chasing employer?

I should also add he is paid weekly - just the payroll is run on a monthly basis

If they calculate the statement on 3rd of each month and earnings aren't being reported before before the last day of your assessment period I can understand why it would be wrong the first month of your claim but not for subsequent months.

so effectively we aren't getting paid incorrectly then unless there's a double pay in the month? Sorry just really confused by the situation,

if only one monthly payment is being reported during your assessment period dates then you aren't being overpaid assuming the monthly earnings figure equates to the weekly pay totals. To be honest I think if people are paid weekly then employers would normally report weekly and someone being paid weekly would have varying amounts of Uc paid because in some assessment periods four pay days would fall and in some months five. I presume employer is somehow averaging the weekly pay monthly in the figures they are reporting to HMRC ?
Another thing to be noted ( sorry not sure how much you know about how UC is calculated) but childcare costs are paid as one element of UC alongside other elements you are eligible for like your standard couples element, child element and rent element if you pay rent. Then earnings reduce the whole award ( the sum of all those elements including childcare element). So if you are calculating just what you think you may be getting for childcare, that may be wrong and actually you are entitled to the sum you've been getting. Also you will get a work allowance on your claim meaning a portion of your earnings are disregarded before deductions take place. Hard to say really without seeing a statement. Perhaps contact citizens advice or similar to check your statement.