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If you\u2019re used to working out your budget weekly or fortnightly, you\u2019ll need to think about how you\u2019ll manage your money for a whole month.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You may need to change the date you pay certain bills \u2013 let the billing company know what you are doing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you think you will find it difficult to manage your money monthly, then talk to your Work Coach about the system of Alternative Payment Arrangements. They can allow some claimants to receive their Universal Credit payments twice monthly*.
Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
* If you are claiming Universal Credit in Scotland, then there is a different system called Scottish choices. This means you can choose to have your Universal Credit award paid to you twice a month and for an amount of your Universal Credit to be paid direct to your landlord and you will be offered these options when you first make your claim or you can opt in at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Paying your rent <\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>
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It is your responsibility to make sure your rent is paid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Make sure you prioritise your rent otherwise you could risk losing your home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you are in debt, have rent arrears or will struggle to pay your rent, you or your landlord can ask for an amount up to the value of your Housing Costs Element to be paid direct to them under the Alternative Payment Arrangements scheme \u2013 it\u2019s called a \u2018managed payment\u2019*.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See Alternative Payment Arrangements below for more information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Example:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
* If you are claiming Universal Credit in Scotland, then there is a different system called Scottish choices. This means you can choose to have your Universal Credit award paid to you twice a month and for an amount of your Universal Credit to be paid direct to your landlord and you will be offered these options when you first make your claim or you can opt in at any time.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Payment to couples<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>
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If you are a couple claiming Universal Credit, you will receive one monthly payment.
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Alternative Payment Arrangements<\/h2>\n\n\n\n Your Universal Credit is usually paid as a single lump sum, into the account of your choice on a monthly basis, however the following Alternative Payment Arrangements are available:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nAre in debt or have rent arrears.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Have a disability \u2013 including a mental health condition.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Are homeless, have been previously homeless or are at risk of losing your home.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Have experienced domestic violence.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Have a learning difficulty, like problems with reading or writing.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Are in temporary or supported accommodation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Are 16 or 17 or leaving care.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Have an addiction to drugs, alcohol or gambling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nIf you\u2019re struggling to get by for other reasons, your application will still be considered \u2013 contact a Benefits Adviser for help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re making a new claim for Universal Credit, you should ask for the arrangement you want at your interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re already getting Universal Credit, you can make the request on your journal \u2013 send your Work Coach a message, or by calling the Universal Credit Helpline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NOTE:<\/strong> Alternative Payment Arrangements are kept under review to make sure they are providing the right support. The purpose of that review is to decide if an Alternative Payment Arrangement is still the best approach for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\nExample<\/strong>:Example<\/strong>: <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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If you think your payment is wrong<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<\/div>
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If you think your payment is wrong, you should call the UC helpline or ask for an explanation using your online account if you have one. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You should do this if:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nYour payment is less than you expected and you haven’t been told why.<\/li>\n\n\n\n You think there’s been a mistake with how your Universal Credit has been worked out.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\n
If you are still not happy after receiving an explanation then, you can request a ‘Mandatory Reconsideration’. Do this on your UC journal – use the words ‘I am requesting a Mandatory Reconsideration’.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Provide any evidence you have, this could be, for example:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\nYour tenancy agreement – if you think your housing costs are wrong.<\/li>\n\n\n\n Payslips or bank statements – if there’s been an error in your earnings (ask your employer for payslips if you don’t have them).<\/li>\n\n\n\n Childcare bills – if you think your childcare costs are wrong.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\nIMPORTANT:<\/strong> You\u2019ll get a monthly statement that tells you how much Universal Credit you\u2019re going to get. You can access this on your UC account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n\n\n
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\nWhen we moved onto UC we talked to a money adviser who gave us some great tips for making sure our UC payment lasted a full month.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
You\u2019ll usually get a single Universal Credit payment every month. This will be paid directly into the account you chose when you made your claim. This could be your bank, building society or credit union account. You\u2019ll then be paid calendar monthly, usually on the same date each month. But if that date falls at […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":3322,"menu_order":3,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_themeisle_gutenberg_block_has_review":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-755","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/755","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=755"}],"version-history":[{"count":68,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":16890,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/755\/revisions\/16890"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3322"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ucpages.co.uk\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
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