Backdated Pay and Universal Credit
07/03/2019
Universal Credit Payments May Stop or Reduce
If you receive Universal Credit the amount you get changes if your take-home pay changes. This includes awards of backdated pay. If you get additional pay within a Universal Credit assessment period (month), your Universal Credit payment will either be less than you normally receive or your income may be too high to qualify for a payment.
Universal Credit is calculated on your personal circumstances. Because of this we, as your employer, do not know how, or if, you may be affected.
The 2018/19 Local Government pay settlement was agreed on 01 March 2019 and is scheduled to be in place and paid with a backdated award on 28 March 2019. This increase together with the backdated payment means you will either receive less Universal Credit than normal or you may even earn too much to qualify and your Universal Credit claim will close. If your claim closes, you will see a message on your UC Journal telling you about this.
Will Universal Credit Payments Start Again Automatically?
No. If Universal Credit payments stop because you have had additional pay, you must start up your claim again. You should do this as soon as you can to make sure you do not miss out.
How Do I Reclaim Universal Credit?
Log into your UC journal and select the “Reclaim” tab. You will find this at the bottom of the screen. This will take you to a new screen where you will be asked to answer a few simple questions. If you have any problems doing this, contact your Work Coach or visit your local Job Centre Plus.
You can get independent help and advice about Universal Credit from Advice First on tel. no. 0800 3289344.
You can access your UC Journal at http://www.gov.uk/sign-in-universal-credit
An overview of Universal Credit can be found at http://www.gov.uk/universal-credit
Should you require advice re any advice on other means tested benefits you can call 0800 328 9344.