You’ll usually get a single Universal Credit payment 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.
First Payment
Universal Credit is paid monthly and is paid in arrears – the date you receive payments is based on the date you made your claim.
When you make a new claim for Universal Credit 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 Can I get an Advance Payment? for more information.
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 they assess his Universal Credit award on 15th July and work out how much he is due to be paid for that Assessment period, his bank account is credited with this on 22nd July.
On-going Payment
You’ll be able to view your payment details in your online Universal Credit account.
After your first payment you will have the choice of:
- Continuing with monthly payments (usually paid on the same date each month) or being paid twice monthly
- And if you are a tenant, having an amount of your UC (up to the value of your Housing Costs Element) paid to your landlord.
Where the date you are due to be paid falls at the weekend or on a bank holiday then you will be paid on the last working day before this.
Example:
Mumtaz’s Universal Credit award will be assessed on 15th of every month and a payment issued. He has chosen to stay with monthly payments.
These payments will be credited to his bank account 7 days later i.e. 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.
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.
See Need extra financial help? for more information.
Budgeting
After your first Universal Credit payment you will be given the choice to stick with monthly payments or have your UC paid twice monthly.
If you stick with monthly payments and you’re 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 think you will find it difficult to manage your money monthly, then you can choose to have your Universal Credit payments twice monthly.
See Alternative Payment Arrangements for more information.
Example:
Anita is making a claim for Universal Credit after separating from her partner. She has poor numeracy skills and does not think she will be able to manage working out a monthly budget. So when she if offered twice monthly payments she chooses this option.
IMPORTANT: If you opt for twice monthly payments then:
This is not the same as fortnightly payments i.e. not all the payments you receive will be 14 days apart.
You will only receive half of your UC award when your next payment is due and then the other half 2 weeks later. Your next payment will then be made 7 days after the end of your Monthly Assessment Period (or a day or two earlier if that would fall to be paid at the weekend) and then the other half 2 weeks later.
This means that some payments could be up to 20 days apart. Speak to a Benefits Adviser who can help you work out when to expect your payments.
Paying your rent
It is your responsibility to make sure your rent is paid.
Make sure you prioritise your rent otherwise you could risk losing your home.
If you are claiming Universal Credit in Scotland, then you can choose to have an amount of your Universal Credit award – up to the value of your Housing Costs Element – paid direct to your landlord under the Alternative Payment Arrangements scheme. It’s often called an ‘APA managed payment’. You do not need to be in rent arrears.
See Alternative Payment Arrangements for more information.
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. Faith is responsible for making sure the full £600 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 2 members of a household. This is known as a split payment. Contact a Benefits Adviser or talk to your Work Coach to find out more.
See Alternative Payment Arrangements for more information.
If you think your payment is wrong
If you think your payment is wrong, you should call the Universal Credit 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 – chose the option to send a message about a Payment and start your message with 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.
I’m 67 and getting a state pension and some Housing Benefit – will I have to claim?
When we moved onto Universal Credit we talked to a money adviser who gave us some great tips for making sure our UC payment lasted a full month.