Universal Credit

[Kay1953]

I have recently requested for my U C payments be paid fortnightly and it has been accepted. My next monthly payment is due on the 27th of October. As I thought U C is paid in arrears, I thought I would receive my full month's payment on the 27th (a month after my first payment) and any future payments would be made every 2 weeks. I've been told instead that the payment on the 27th of October will be half of my monthly amount and the other half will be paid on the 10th of November. I don't really understand. I would have been due a month's payment on the 27th. I now have to pay a month's worth of bills with half the amount of money.
Can anyone explain how this works please?

Have you asked them how it works? Hope you get it sorted.

It's not paid fortnightly, it's paid twice a month. UC is a monthly benefit therefore half the payment generally works out to longer than fortnightly as most months have more than 28 days. I agree this doesn't sound correct though.

If you got paid the full amount on the 27th to last a month and then half the amount two weeks later you would get paid too much, this may be why.

Uc is paid in arrears though.

It’s correct.
OP was paid on the 27th September- this payment is to last them from the 27th September-27th October.

OP will be paid again on the 27th October.

They requested for it to be paid twice in the month so will receive half on the 27th October then half 2 weeks later. The amount they receive will be what they usually do for a month just split over 2 payments.

How can it not be correct?

I think this too. If OP had not requested fortnightly she would have got whole month worth at once.

Same. How I was working it out

Yeah they're just doing what you requested. So half then and the other half two weeks later. If they gave you all of it then there would be none left for the next two weeks payment.

I've got a phone call booked but it's not till the 16th

Thanks for replies. I didn't get any notifications.
I was told that U C is paid monthly in arrears. This makes my monthly payment due on the 27th October. That is what I am owed from the 27th Sep to the 27th October. On the 10th of November I should get what I am owed for 27th of October to the 10th of November which is half of my monthly payment and so on.

It sounds like they’re going to continue using the standard monthly assessment period and just paying it in two instalments instead of one, whereas you thought they would move to assessing it every fortnight and thus paying every fortnight. I don’t know if their systems are able to do that?

I assume they would do half on the usual 27 Oct and half 2w later so around 10 of month

No, because your assessment period dates don’t change.

Your assessment period date must be 21st September to the 20th October - you’re paid for this on the 27th October and that payment is expected to last until the 27th November.

Instead of a monthly payment you’re going to get what you’re entitled to in 2 payments, first one the 27th October and then the next one 2 weeks later.

I highly doubt the phone call you have booked is regarding this, even if it is - all they will be able to do is explain the above.
They won’t change the way they pay you or your assessment period dates.

Yes it is correct - two payments a month. So at the end of the month assessment then calculate then pay two equal payments. It is not fortnightly, never three payments in a month. I would need to check but think will also mean if the second payment is paid early eg Bank Holiday you will need to budget over three weeks.

I didn't know you could request this.

Your UC assessment period runs from 21st of one month to the 20th of the following month, with payment due on 27th. That payment has to last you until the 26th of the following month. When they pay twice per month, you get the first half of the payment on 27th, and the remainder 15 days later.

You can request it on the journal or by calling (if you have a phone claim.) You are supposed to give a reason such as finding it hard to budget, disability or other vulnerability.

Because you have requested 2 payments a month you will get half your uc each payment.
The only way you would get the whole months payment on the 27th would have beeen to be paid on the normal uc scedule once a month.

Thanks everyone

hi op I’ve been on UC since 2019 and I’ve always had my payments twice a month as I struggle with budgeting and I know others who do it too for various reasons. Anyone can request this for the pp who asked.

I get what you’re saying but everyone who has explained it is correct. UC is indeed paid in arrears and usually you would receive your payment on the 27th of the month. This payment has now been essentially split in two so you will still get the exact same amount but in 2 halves so by your reckoning it would mean that you would receive too much money. After the first month it will make more sense to you I’m sure. It’s much better!

thisfilmisboring123

The phone call is regarding this. I've asked for someone to explain this aswell as other things.

Fair enough.
You’ve done well to get them to call you.
Not sure I’ve ever seen them book a phone appointment for something like that.

Hope you get sorted.

It is paid monthly in arrears. Previously, you got one payment a month in arrears. But now you’ve asked to have that split. You’ll get your first half payment on the usual date, and the second half payment a couple weeks later. It means one payment is a month in arrears and the other is a month and a half (it’s not actually but it feels like that to you). But you still get your full payment. It will continue on like that, you’re still getting the same amount. Just two payments which add up to the full value, starting one month after your last payment.

If you want to do a switch to 2 payments then you should always budget for that as you know the first payment you get will be half of what you’re used to. The other half follows a couple weeks later. It’s still the same amount, just split up in 2.

thisfilmisboring123

Thank you.
It's because of mental health I think. I'm getting in a bit of a flap about things changing 😳

I just can't seem to understand. Everyone has explained it on here, I know. It must be me 🙄. They already owe me for the month 27 Sep - 27 Oct if its paid in arrears. That's when I would have received my full payment, on the 27th Oct. Then, I thought instead of waiting another month for a payment, (so the 27th Nov) after approx 2 weeks, I would have received a half payment for 27th Oct - 10th Nov then on the 27th Nov another half payment and so on.
I'm sorry to keep posting. I just like to understand things.
I think it's just me. People have explained it lots of times on here so thank you everyone for your help 😁