You have a choice of getting a single Universal Credit payment every month or two payments of Universal Credit every month. This will be paid directly into the account you chose when you made your claim. This could be your bank, building society or credit union account.
The date you receive payments is based on the date you made your claim.
You can also chose to have an amount of your Universal Credit paid to your landlord – in most cases this will be to value of the Housing Costs Element included in your award but can be lower if your award is lower.
The options of having more frequent payments, and/or some of your Universal Credit paid to your landlord are called Scottish Choices.
New claim for Universal Credit
When you make a new claim for UC you will have:
A calendar month before your entitlement is assessed, then
Up to 7 days before your payment is processed.
You can ask for an Advance Payment of Universal Credit if you don’t think you’ll have enough money to live on while you wait for your first payment.
See the Advance Payment page for more information.
After your first payment of Universal Credit, you’ll get an offer of the Scottish Choices in your online account.
If you’re not sure if hey will work for you, speak to a Benefits Adviser before making any decision.
You can also ask for one or both Scottish choices at any time by:
- using your online account
- phoning the Universal Credit helpline on 0800 328 5644
- asking your work coach.
You can cancel a Scottish UC choice at any time.
Example:
Mumtaz makes his claim for Universal Credit on 16th June. He completes all the steps to make a successful claim. Therefore his Assessments Periods are set as starting on 16th of every month, and ending on 15th of every month. This sets his payment date as 22nd of every month.
So the DWP assess his first Universal Credit award on 15th July and work out how much he is due to be paid for that Assessment Period i.e. for the period 16th June to 15th July, his bank account is credited with this on 22nd July.
On-going Payment
You will usually receive your payment of Universal Credit seven days after the end of the Assessment Period. Where this falls at a weekend or bank holiday, you will receive the payment on the last working day before this.
If you have opted to have twice monthly payments, then you will receive one payment seven days after the end of the Assessment Period, and a second payment 14 days later. Where this falls at a weekend or bank holiday, you will receive the payment on the last working day before this.
You’ll be able to view your payment details in your online Universal Credit account.
Example:
Mumtaz’s decided to stick with monthly payments. His Universal Credit award will be assessed on the last day of his Assessment Period, being the 15th of every month and a payment issued.
This payment will be credited to his bank account on 22nd of each month – unless that is a Saturday, Sunday or Bank Holiday – when it will be credited on the first working day before this.
So if 22nd August is a Sunday, his bank account would be credited with his UC award on Friday 20th August.
EXAMPLE: Sue was worried about how she’d manage with monthly payments, so when she was offered twice monthly payments she decided that they could work better for her. She’s just received a full month’s payment of Universal Credit. She will need to wait a further month until she receives her next Universal Credit – which will be half of her award, with the other half paid 14 days later. And all future payments will then follow that pattern.
TIP: If your Universal Credit is due to increase because you have lost your job or other change in your circumstances and you are going to struggle until you receive your next Universal Credit payment, you can apply for a Changes in Circumstance Advance.
Budgeting
If you’ve opted to stick with monthly payments and you are used to working out your budget weekly or fortnightly, you’ll need to think about how you’ll manage your money for a whole month.
You may need to change the date you pay certain bills – let the billing company know what you are doing.
If you find it difficult to manage your money monthly, then you can opt for twice monthly payments at any time, either go onto your online account, message your work coach or call the UC helpline.
Paying your rent
Even if you have opted to have part of your Universal Credit paid directly to your landlord, it is still your responsibility to make sure your rent is paid.
The amount paid to your landlord may not cover your full rent, so you will need to pay any shortfall.
Make sure you prioritise your rent otherwise you could risk losing your home.
Example:
Faith is moving out from her parent’s house and into a one bedroom flat. She’s been getting Universal Credit since leaving college last year.
As long as she notifies the DWP of her change in circumstances and provides information about her landlord and her rent, then her Universal Credit award will increase as a Housing Costs Element will be included.
Faith’s monthly rent is £600, but her Universal Credit only increases by £560 after the Housing Costs Element is added. Faith opted to have this paid directly to her landlord, but she is still is responsible for making sure the £40 shortfall is paid to her landlord.
Payment to couples
If you are a couple claiming Universal Credit, you will receive one monthly payment.
This will be paid into the account you chose when you made your claim.
In exceptional circumstances a Universal Credit payment can be divided between a couple. This is known as a split payment. Contact a Benefits Adviser or talk to your Work Coach to find out more.
If you think your payment is wrong
If you think your payment is wrong, you should call the UC helpline or ask for an explanation using your online account if you have one.
You should do this if:
- Your payment is less than you expected and you haven’t been told why.
- You think there’s been a mistake with how your Universal Credit has been worked out.
If you are still not happy after receiving an explanation then, you can request a ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’. Do this on your UC journal – use the words ‘I am requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration’.
Provide any evidence you have, this could be, for example:
- Your tenancy agreement – if you think your housing costs are wrong.
- Payslips or bank statements – if there’s been an error in your earnings (ask your employer for payslips if you don’t have them).
- Childcare bills – if you think your childcare costs are wrong.
IMPORTANT: You’ll get a monthly statement that tells you how much Universal Credit you’re going to get. You can access this on your UC account.
When we moved onto UC we talked to a money adviser who gave us some great tips for making sure our UC payment lasted a full month.
