PART 3AWARDS
Introduction
20. This Part contains provisions for the purposes of sections 7 and 8 of the Act about assessment periods and about the calculation of the amount of an award of universal credit.
Assessment periods
21.—(1) An assessment period is, subject to paragraph (5), a period of one month beginning with the first date of entitlement and each subsequent period of one month during which entitlement subsists.
(2) Each assessment period begins on the same day of each month except as follows—
(a)if the first date of entitlement falls on the 31st day of a month, each assessment period begins on the last day of the month; and
(b)if the first date of entitlement falls on the 29th or 30th day of a month, each assessment period begins on the 29th or 30th day of the month (as above) except in February when it begins on the 27th day or, in a leap year, the 28th day.
(3) Where an award of universal credit has terminated and a further award is made without a claim by virtue of regulation 6 or 9 of the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations 2013(1) (“the Claims and Payments Regulations”), each assessment period in relation to the new award begins on the same day of each month as the assessment period in relation to the old award.
(4) Where the further award is to a couple jointly in a case where each of them had an award that terminated when they became a couple, the old award for the purposes of paragraph (3) is the one they nominate or, if they fail to nominate one, the one which the Secretary of State determines.
(5) Where, because the time for making a claim for universal credit is extended by virtue of regulation 26(2) of the Claims and Payments Regulations, the first date of entitlement falls before the date on which the claim is made—
(a)the first assessment period is the period beginning with the first date of entitlement and ending with the day before the date on which the claim is made; and
(b)paragraphs (1) and (2) apply to the second and subsequent assessment periods as if the date on which the claim is made were the first date of entitlement.
(6) The amount payable in respect of that first assessment period is to be calculated as follows—
where N is the number of days in the period and A is the amount calculated in relation to that period as if it were an assessment period of one month.
Deduction of income and work allowance
22.—(1) The amounts to be deducted from the maximum amount in accordance with section 8(3) of the Act to determine the amount of an award of universal credit are—
(a)all of the claimant’s unearned income (or in the case of joint claimants all of their combined unearned income) in respect of the assessment period; and
(b)65% of the amount by which the claimant’s earned income (or, in the case of joint claimants, their combined earned income) in respect of the assessment period exceeds the work allowance.
(2) The amount of the work allowance is—
(a)if the award contains no amount for the housing costs element, the applicable amount of the higher work allowance specified in the table below; and
(b)if the award does contain an amount for the housing costs element, the applicable amount of the lower work allowance specified in that table.
(3) In the case of an award where the claimant is a member of a couple, but makes a claim as a single person, the amount to be deducted from the maximum amount in accordance with section 8(3) of the Act is—
(a)all of the couple’s combined unearned income in respect of the assessment period; and
(b)65% of the amount by which the couple’s combined earned income in respect of the assessment period exceeds the work allowance,
and the applicable amount of the work allowance is the same amount as for joint claimants.
| Higher work allowance (taking the highest of whichever of the following amounts is applicable)— | ||
| Single claimant— | ||
| not responsible for a child or qualifying young person | £111 | |
| responsible for one or more children or qualifying young persons | £734 | |
| has limited capability for work | £647 | |
| Joint claimants— | ||
| neither responsible for a child or qualifying young person | £111 | |
| responsible for one or more children or qualifying young persons | £536 | |
| one or both have limited capability for work | £647 | |
| Lower work allowance (taking the highest of whichever of the following amounts is applicable)— | ||
| Single claimant— | ||
| not responsible for a child or qualifying young person | £111 | |
| responsible for one or more children or qualifying young persons | £263 | |
| has limited capability for work | £192 | |
| Joint claimants— | ||
| neither responsible for a child or qualifying young person | £111 | |
| responsible for one or more children or qualifying young persons | £222 | |
| one or both have limited capability for work | £192 | |