Should i contact UC journal

teresasue

Hi there I'm my son's Official Appointee and he migrated to UC from ESA Support Group just over a year ago with a lot of help from people on this site.

My question is I'm worried about doing things wrong. He has a very small Tesco Pension of £33.60p a month which I told them about at the start and it's deducted from his payment each month.

But every April he has a small rise literally about 50p. I don't know if UC would automatically know this or should I put a note in his Journal to tell them the new amount once we know. I don't want to mess things up for him.

Apology this is so long

Teresa

Emilee

@teresasue, even small pension changes need to be reported to UC. Unfortunately, not all pension payments are automatically reported to the DWP through RTI, so it's important to keep them updated.

Once you know the figure (and before his current assessment period ends) you should report the new amount to them via his online account.

As pensions are deducted pound for pound from UC, even small increases will affect UC calculations, so it's better to be proactive than risk an overpayment or other issues later on.

teresasue

@Emilee thank you

teresasue

@Emilee thank you but what is his assessment period please

Kimi87

Each UC payment is based on a claimants circumstances for the previous calender month, known as the Assessment Period.

The dates of his Assessment Period are the same each month and will be written on his statement.

My Assessment Period is the 26th to 25th of each month.

teresasue

@Kimi87 ahh great I didn't understand that thank you

teresasue

@Kimi87 Found his assessment date 18th March to 17th April

He usually gets his pension paid into his bank account around 27th if the month. So not actually heard amount yet but any day I think ... so should I tell them AFTER 18th April when we know how much .. is that right please

Kimi87

If the notification comes on time, once you know the new amount it needs to be reported ASAP, ideally during his current Assessment Period of March 18th - April 17th.

That's the AP the change happened in, if you delayed notification until his next AP beginning April 18th an overpayment might occur for the March - April AP.

As Emilee advised if this can be avoided that is less potential hassle later 😊

teresasue

@Kimi87 oh right wish they would hurry up with it then.

Thank you again

teresasue

@Kimi87 does this mean his assessment period is always 18th to 17th EVERY month please

Kimi87

Yes that's correct.