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<p>Universal Credit payments reflect, as closely as possible, the actual circumstances
of a household during each monthly assessment period. Assessment periods allow for
Universal Credit awards to be adjusted on a monthly basis, ensuring that if a claimant’s
income falls, they do not have to wait several months for a rise in their Universal
Credit award.</p><p> </p><p>Some claimants receive earnings from work multiple times
within an assessment period if they are paid via four-weekly, fortnightly, or weekly
patterns. This in turn may reduce, or in some cases, nil the Universal Credit award
the claimant receives that month. Claimants can always discuss the implications of
this with their case managers and work coaches and can be referred to Personal Budgeting
Support to help them manage their budgeting.</p><p> </p><p>If a claimant’s Universal
Credit claim is closed due to this, claimants can re-claim the following month via
a more simplified process than for an initial claim. We have produced guidance to
help ensure claimants, staff and representatives are aware of the importance of reporting
accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles, which is attached with this reply.</p><p>
</p><p>The Government is working with employers to ensure that they use the most appropriate
payment practices and comply with RTI guidelines in order to minimise the incidence
of erroneous or late reporting by employers. HMRC have recently updated guidance to
reiterate to employers the importance of reporting accurate dates and the impact on
payment cycles; the Financial Secretary to the Treasury is working closely with HMRC
and employers to do this.</p>
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