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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. We have produced guidance to help ensure claimants,
staff and representatives are aware and it is available at the following link: <a
href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles"
target="_blank">https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments/universal-credit-different-earning-patterns-and-your-payments-payment-cycles</a></p><p>
</p><p>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>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, and
HMRC have recently updated guidance to reiterate to employers the importance of reporting
accurate dates and the impact on payment cycles.</p>
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