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<p>Short-term contracts where earnings are above the relevant threshold would lead
to the closure of a claim to benefit. Once this short-term contract has ended, Universal
Credit can be claimed.</p><p> </p><p>The Universal Credit assessment period and payment
structure are fundamental parts of the design. They help reduce welfare dependency
by mirroring the world of work, where currently around 70 per cent of tax credit claimants
are paid monthly or four weekly.</p><p> </p><p>The assessment period runs for a full
calendar month from the date of entitlement and the Universal Credit pay date will
be seven calendar days after the end of the initial assessment period. Subsequent
pay dates will be the same each month.</p><p> </p><p>It is therefore not possible
to award a Universal Credit payment as soon as a claim is made, as the assessment
period must run its course before the award of Universal Credit can be calculated.</p><p><strong>
</strong></p><p>No claimant has to go five weeks without receiving support, as advances,
worth up to 100 per cent of a claimant’s indicative award, are available up front
if there is need.</p>
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