Different earning patterns on UC

Universal credits use the RTI feed from HMRC to work out any earning deductions for your payment award. Your employer will report to HMRC every time you are paid. On the last day of each assessment period Universal Credits checks the RTI feed to get info on earning reported during your assessment period.

This does mean that if you work a few hours extra or have some days off sick, Universal Credit will automatically know and make the correct deduction on your payment.

As an assessment period is static dates then the frequency of your pay could mean that a different amount of earnings are used each assessment period.
Pay Patterns for your employer

Weekly
There will be 7 months of the year when you have 4 pay days, and 5 months of the year when you have 5 pay days.

Bi weekly                            
There will be 10 months of the year where you will have 2 pay days, and 2 months of the year where you will have 3 pay days.

4 weekly                             
There will be 11 months where you will have 1 pay day, and 1 month where you will have 2 pay days.

Monthly                       
There will be 12 months that you get paid so you should only have 1 pay day in each assessment period. When you are paid monthly it is a good idea to try and keep your claim date away from the day you are paid from your employer so there is no chance of you ever having 2 pay days in an assessment period.
                                               
​For example, if you are paid on the last working day of the month do not make your claim anywhere between the 26th and 2nd of the month always try and leave at least a few days before and after your pay day before you make your claim. If you need help with this one of the admin team will be able to help with what are the best dates for you to make your claim.
If for some reason Universal Credits doesn’t pick up your earnings, we DO NOT advise that you self report your earnings.
This is because the missed earnings can be picked up in the next assessment period. We suggest that you keep any over payment aside as next month DWP may pick up the missed earnings resulting in a greater deduction for wages.