The Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Claims and Payments) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016

Payment of universal credit

42.—(1) Universal credit is payable in arrears by two instalments each month in respect of each assessment period unless, in any case or class of case, the Department arranges otherwise.

(2) Where universal credit is to be paid in accordance with regulation 41—

(a) the first of those instalments is to be paid within 7 days of the last day of the assessment period but if it is not possible to pay that instalment within that period of 7 days, it is to be paid as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter; and

(b) the second of those instalments is to be paid within 22 days of the last day of the assessment period but if it is not possible to pay that instalment within that period of 22 days, it is to be paid as soon as reasonably practicable thereafter.

(3) In respect of an award of universal credit which is the subject of an arrangement for payment under regulation 41, the Department may make a particular payment by credit transfer otherwise than is provided by paragraph (2), if it appears to it appropriate to do so for the purpose of—

(a) paying any arrears of benefit; or

(b) making a payment in respect of a terminal period of an award or for any similar purpose.

(4) Where the Department has arranged for universal credit to be paid in accordance with regulation 41, joint claimants may nominate a bank or other account into which that benefit is to be paid.

(5) Where joint claimants of universal credit have not nominated a bank or other account into which that benefit is to be paid, the Department may nominate a bank or other account.

(6) The Department may, in any case where the Department considers it is in the interests of—

(a) the claimants;

(b) a child or a qualifying young person for whom one or both of the claimants are responsible; or

(c) a severely disabled person, where the calculation of an award of universal credit includes, by virtue of regulation 30 of the Universal Credit Regulations, an amount in respect of the fact that a claimant has regular and substantial caring responsibilities for that severely disabled person,

arrange that universal credit payable in respect of joint claimants be paid wholly to only one member of the couple or be split between the couple in such proportion as the Department considers appropriate.

(7) Where a superseding decision takes effect in accordance with paragraph 26 of Schedule 1 to the Universal Credit, Personal Independence Payment, Jobseeker’s Allowance and Employment and Support Allowance (Decisions and Appeals) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2016, the amount payable in respect of that last 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.