Quote:
Originally Posted by Taf
It is possible to check that you are receiving what you should, but not so easily under Universal Credit where the calculations are devilishly complicated.
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And as an example, many will lose out over Xmas this year..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-42036462 |
1) It's not many.
2) It will happen for any month where there are 5 Fridays in the month(if that's the criteria). Ie Dec 16, Mar 17, Jul 17, Sept 17, Dec 17, Mar 18. So it will have happened a few times already this year.
Quote:
The Department for Work and Pensions said not all those paid weekly would get a reduced payment in December because it would depend on the date on which a claimant's universal credit was paid.
It also said the payments balanced out, because claimants entitled to more would receive it in the following month.
It said those who reapplied for the benefits would not have to submit new forms and would have their current claims restarted.
The DWP said: "For the vast majority of people in work, they will continue to get paid universal credit in a five-week month.
"Universal credit adjusts automatically to people's wages. When someone's wages take them over the UC threshold, they can get universal credit the next month, and this process is working.
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Surely a system that adjusts more easily to fluctuating income is a good thing.
Some of the issues are no different to where there is a weekly/monthly income/bill combination. Eg If you pay rent weekly and are paid monthly, then there will be 4 or 5 weeks a year where you are paying out 5 weeks of rent with one months income. It's called the real world. You have to plan for it.
One thing that should be looked at, is having to restart their claim when that happens. One of the core principles is meant to be to make it easier to put in more hours in a month and not be out of pocket for it. The benefits may reduce, but not by £1 for £1.
The concept of a single combined benefit payment system was mooted before 2010, by Labour.