'I'm on Universal Credit and want to be paid twice a month - how do I do it?'

Yahoo

a day ago

A Universal Credit claimant has questioned whether requesting to receive payments twice a month was a "straightforward process".
They said splitting up their benefit payment would "massively help" with budgeting.
However they weren't sure how to go about it, and took to Reddit to ask for help.
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They posted: "I was wondering how I'd go about requesting to be paid twice monthly and is it just straightforward process?
"I just believe it would massively help me with budgeting bills etc."
One reply read: "You can phone them or ask in your journal choosing the option 'payments' when messaging.
"It's pretty straightforward. I asked by phoning them.
"I had to have a short conversation with a case manager or supervisor... I can't remember exactly what their job title was, but it couldn't be authorised by the first person I spoke to."
They continued: "If you do have your payments changed to twice monthly, the change will happen in your next statement.
"You will get half of your entitlement on your current normal pay date, and the other half 14 days later.
"Then you wait until your normal payment date again."
A second response said: "Agree journal request the phone is a long wait!"
According to the gov.uk website, people can ask to have their Universal Credit paid differently if you need help managing a single monthly payment.
An Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) could be set up so that claimants receive payments twice a month instead of once a month.
The website states that people were more likely to get an APA if they are in rent arrears, experience or homelessness or domestic abuse, or have addiction problems, mental health issues or learning difficulties.