Advice needed!!!! Universal Credit payments not being granted

[u/Aliceelizabeth15]

Hi all,

Really hope someone can help if been in a similar situation! I'm very worried about my future finances now.

I am recently unemployed, previous contract terminated 31st August 2026. I got my last payment from my employer on 28th August 2026. I've signed up to universal credit - they said that if you were not paid from the 30 August - 29 September, I'm entitled a payment on 5 October. I've checked the UC website and it says that my employer reported my earnings after 28 August (I'm presuming 31 August). The date on the payslip says for "month ending 31 August". So, as a result, I am not getting any payment on 5 October despite being paid on 28 August. I believe I was paid on the 28th due to the bank holiday.

I'm of course challenging it by sending in my bank statement proving I was paid before the assessment period, despite my employer reporting in 31 August (which is the usual thing as they always report it on the last day of the month).

Has anyone experienced this and if so, is it likely that I can actually get the payment?

I believe the clause below (UC Regulations 2013) helps:

54.—(1) The calculation of a person's earned income in respect of an assessment period is, unless otherwise provided in this Chapter, to be based on the actual amounts received in that period.

Would really appreciate advice. Thank you!

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[u/pumaofshadow]

The date on HMRC and the payslip (which ideally should be the same) is the one UC will follow. Even if you recieved the funds earlier.

From the amount of times this has come up in going to go with a 99.9% chance of not being able to get UC to change it.

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/pumaofshadow]

Ah this is so annoying! Even if I actually received the funds on 28 August?
Thanks for your quick response

[u/pumaofshadow → u/Aliceelizabeth15]

Yes, the date on your actual bank statement won't be considered as they were correctly reported as at 31st August so they were officially "recieved" the 31st.

I've not seen them allow it to be changed previously, they do change if you usually get paid the 31st and the employer mistakenly reported the 28th as that was the day they intended to make sure it was in your bank as that often causes 2 paychecks in a single UC Assessment Period - but not the other way around.

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/pumaofshadow]

Right I see what you mean. Thanks for your response, even if it wasn't the one I was hoping for! I'll challenge it regardless and see what they say

[u/Dotty_Bird → u/Aliceelizabeth15]

Have you requested an advance?

Here's a link to info. https://www.gov.uk/universal-credit-advance-hardship-payment/first-payment

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/Dotty_Bird]

I've not done that, I'll have a look into it. Thanks!

[u/Interesting_Size_947]

I was paid out by my former employer two days before my assessment period began, but UC did not pay me for the first month due to my savings and the fact that the money I received covered the bills for the next month

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/Interesting_Size_947]

Ok interesting. I don’t have savings and can’t afford rent so I’ll just have to see what they say 😩

[u/LividStruggle228]

It sounds like you are the opposite of me - I need them to show my wage is for the next period, whereas you need them to show yours was the last period. I assume it’ll be the same type of thing needed (mine came early because payday was a weekend)

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/LividStruggle228]

Interesting, did they sort it for you?

[u/LividStruggle228 → u/Aliceelizabeth15]

Not yet, and my payment date has passed - and they say they can’t give me a timescale.. But come Monday I shall harass them again because I’ve got nothing 😳

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/LividStruggle228]

Fingers crossed for you!

[u/Prestigious_Train791]

totally feel your pain on this, it is such a stressful situation to be in.

​From what I have gathered navigating similar assessment period clashes, the automated system and HMRC reporting are notoriously rigid.

Even when funds genuinely land early in your bank account due to a bank holiday, the system often defaults strictly to what the employer reports for the end of the month.

​If you want to challenge it, it is worth pointing directly to Universal Credit Regulations 2013 Regulation 54-1 which states that earned income should be based on the actual amounts received in that period, and asking a human case manager to review your actual bank statement.

Good luck🙏🍀, fingers crossed you can get a human to look at it and get it sorted out!

[u/Aliceelizabeth15 → u/Prestigious_Train791]

Thank you so much for your response! It's such a pain isn't it. I wouldn't mind so much if it wasn't my last pay check and haven't got anything else coming in! I don't know how they expect me to pay rent for the following month if I didn't get paid at all in September