Understanding Universal Credit payments
This information applies to England and Wales.
Universal Credit is a means-tested benefit. This means it’s based on your savings and income. It’s paid monthly, usually into your bank, building society or credit union account. It can take at least 5 weeks to get your first payment but you can ask for an advance.
Get an advance on your first payment (GOV.UK)
You can ask the DWP to:
- pay you more frequently
- pay your rent directly to your landlord
- split your payment between you and your partner if you have a joint claim
Alternative payment arrangements (GOV.UK)
Moving to Universal Credit and transitional protection
Skip to
- Limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) payments
- Backdating LCWRA payments
- Backdating other Universal Credit payments
- Find a local benefits expert
- Getting backdated Universal Credit payments
- Benefit overpayments
- Checking your payments
- If you think there’s been an underpayment
- If your benefits have been overpaid
- Help with food, bills and essentials
- Having a Universal Credit review
Limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) payments
After a Work Capability Assessment, you may be in the limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA) group.
This means you will start receiving the LCWRA element. This is in addition to your standard Universal Credit allowance. It should arrive with your next Universal Credit payment.
When you’re in the LCWRA group, you do not have:
- work coach appointments or
- work requirements
The DWP will cancel booked appointments and work requirements, if you had any.
Backdating LCWRA payments
You must wait 3 months before you can start receiving a LCWRA payment. This is sometimes called a ‘relevant period’.
Payments can be backdated to 3 months after you submit your fit note.
A fit note is a statement from your GP or healthcare professional saying whether you’re fit to work.
You will probably need to wait longer than 3 months for a Work Capability Assessment.
For example, you submit your fit note on 1 January.
Your Work Capability Assessment is on 15 September.
You are assessed as being in the LCWRA group.
Because you had to wait over 3 months for your Work Capability Assessment, your LCWRA payments are backdated.
They are backdated to 3 months after you submitted your fit note. That is 1 April.
Backdated LCWRA payments are separate from the rest of your Universal Credit payments. They might be paid:
- at a different time
- a few weeks after the DWP decides you are in the LCWRA group
These payments do not count as income so will not affect your benefits.
Backdating other Universal Credit payments
If someone in your family has started to receive certain benefits, you might be eligible for extra Universal Credit payments. This will be from the same time they receive their benefit.
For example, if your child starts to receive Disability Living Allowance (DLA), you may be eligible for disabled child element. Tell the DWP by:
- writing a message in your online journal
- calling the Universal Credit helpline
Your child’s DLA might get backdated. If so, your disabled child element payments will also be backdated to the same date.
Get advice to:
- check what you might be eligible for
- find out which UC elements can be backdated and how long for
Getting backdated Universal Credit payments
If you’re eligible for backdated payments, you should receive them automatically. Your Universal Credit online journal will show what you’re getting.
Sign into your Universal Credit account
In case you do not receive them, it’s a good idea to keep a record of dates like:
- when you contact the DWP
- when you apply for benefits
This can help you work out when you might be due backdated payments.
If you think you should be receiving backdated payments and you are not, you can:
- write a message in your online journal
- call the Universal Credit helpline
Benefit overpayments
You might not get backdated payments if the DWP says they have overpaid a benefit in the past. They will use the money to pay off what you owe.
Checking your payments
Log into your online account to see your monthly statement. This will show your Universal Credit payments for that month.
If your statement says ‘nil award’, this means that your Universal Credit payment is £0 for that month.
It might be because you’ve had other types of income or earnings.
Warning Free online benefits calculator
Use a free online benefits calculator to:
- find out what you are entitled to
- see how changes would affect your benefits
If you think there’s been an underpayment
You can:
- post a message in your online journal
- call the Universal Credit helpline
Statutory sick pay and Universal Credit
Statutory sick pay (SSP) is treated as income. This means if you have been receiving SSP, it will reduce your Universal Credit.
If your SSP has stopped, your Universal Credit should start to increase again.
If it has not increased, leave a note in your online journal.
If your benefits have been overpaid
Overpaid means you’ve been paid more benefit than you were entitled to. It could happen because:
- you did not give enough information on your claim form
- you did not report a change of circumstances
- the DWP has made a mistake
- your bank or building society has made a mistake
What is an overpayment under the Universal Credit system (Turn2us)
If you have been overpaid, the DWP will deduct money from your Universal Credit. Your monthly statement on your online journal will say:
- which benefits you have been overpaid
- how much you have to pay back
To find out about paying back overpayments you can:
- write a message in your online journal
- call the Universal Credit helpline
Challenging an overpayment
If you think you have not been overpaid, you can ask for a mandatory reconsideration.
Challenge a benefit decision: mandatory reconsideration (GOV.UK)
You need to explain why you were not overpaid and give evidence to show this.
You normally need to do a mandatory reconsideration within a month of the DWP saying you’ve been overpaid.
Overpayments under the Universal Credit system (Turn2us)
You can get support to do a mandatory reconsideration.
Asking for lower repayments
You can try to lower your monthly repayments if you’re:
- struggling to afford food or essentials
- getting into debt with other bills
Speak to DWP Debt Management.
Help with food, bills and essentials
There are places where you can get free or cheap food.
If you need support with energy bills, there is some support available from government and local authorities.
Government help with energy bills
Contact Scope to arrange an appointment if you would like free phone or email support.
Having a Universal Credit review
You might have a Universal Credit review to check you’re getting the right amount.
This kind of review is different from a reassessment if you’re in the LCWRA group.
You will not need to apply for a review. If the DWP requires a review, it will send a message in your Universal Credit online account.
Not everyone who claims Universal Credit has a review. The DWP may have:
- chosen you randomly
- received some information to suggest the amount you’re getting is wrong, from the tax office (HMRC) or a pension provider
If your Universal Credit is reviewed (GOV.UK)
Having a review can be stressful. Before it happens, the DWP will ask you to send:
- proof of your identity
- bank statements or other documents
The review will be a phone interview. You can have someone with you for support. If a phone interview is not accessible to you, you can ask to have it a different way. You can:
- write a message in your online journal
- call the Universal Credit helpline
The review might find that you are getting too little or too much Universal Credit. This means your payments could go up or down. You can appeal the decision if you disagree with it.
LCWRA reassessments
When you are in the LCWRA group, the DWP will tell you when they plan to reassess your claim. It depends on your circumstances, but it is usually in 1, 2 or 3 years.
When you have a LCWRA reassessment, you will not need to have a standard Universal Credit review at the same time. But you may need to have one in the future.
If your health has changed
If your health has changed since your last Universal Credit review or LCWRA reassessment, tell the DWP. You can:
- report a change on your Universal Credit online journal or
- call the Universal Credit helpline
You might need to have a Work Capability Assessment.
Last reviewed by Scope on: 01/10/2024
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