Pension Contributions and UC?

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Does anybody know if pension contributions are disregarded for the purpose of UC calculations or counted?

I have been a student the last 3 years so have claimed UC to top up.

I am now working and paying into an NHS pension. I am gratefully still entitled to a small amount of UC which is very helpful as a single parent.

However, my last calculation was completely wrong and nobody seems to want to tell me why my earnings, according to them, were £300 higher than what I received.

A very exasperated sounding adviser then mentioned it was due to my pension contributions. She wrote "You have a deduction for a pension of £92.02 which is not disregarded and is used to calculate the award. The amount is correct". I have no idea where she plucked that number from though either as my pension was higher than this and it still doesn't make up the extra £300 they have as my earnings. She wont talk to me on the phone as I have asked, just keeps replying that the amounts are correct.

I will add that I am being very polite in my responses even though I am getting frustrated with the poor responses and lack of explanation.

I also believe they have used November's earnings twice but they wont listen to me on that from either. I have just requested a full breakdown, for the last 3 months of what has been used for calculations and how these have been done.

Sorry, rant over! My actual question is, are pension contributions disregarded or counted in calculating UC? A google search is actually quite contradictory.

Thank you if you got this far!

UC uses the net pay figure provided to HMRC by the employer when running payroll. The figure used is that after Tax, NI and pension. However if you pay Student Loan that is not taken into account.

Thank you. This is what I assumed as my first 2 months, the amount they had as my earnings matched what I had been paid.
Last month its like the numbers have been plucked from thin air!

I had a small advance of £250 in my second period as I had been paid incorrectly in my first. This was clearly visible in my my second months calculation. The advisor is trying to tell me they used it in my 3rd month but wont listen that it was in the second month as the figures add up.

Then I just got the message about this random pension amount. It almost feels not worth it for the small amount I get, but equally it helps. I am worried if they cannot calculate it correctly I am going to end up owing money at some point down the line that I cannot afford to pay back.

It was easier when I was a student.

I'd suggest that you look at all 3(?) Assessment Periods and compare them with what's on your payslip for the relevant period. Focus on the discrepancy and ask, via your Journal, for an explanation.

Does the £250 advance feature? Normally these are treated as taxable income.

Oh I have asked multiple times, explaining that I don’t understand the calculations and why I think it’s incorrect and just get told it is correct.

I have asked today for a link to send them
my payslips and then for a breakdown of each payslip in its corresponding assessment period. I am yet to have a response!

The £250 has definitely been counted in November and I expect in December too.

I have always sung the praises of UC as with student finance the calculations were complex and all rand smoothly for 3 years. Now it’s just a massive pain in the bum 😞