Petition · Department for Work and Pensions

Change the ‘whole month’ approach to change of circumstances in Universal Credit

Closed 54 signatures

What the petition asks

If a change in circumstance occurs at any point in the Universal Credit assessment period it counts for the whole month - which we think is unfair.
It can mean people receive less than they had expected and budgeted for. We think any changes in entitlement should be pro-rata.

For example if a child stops being a child 3 days before assessment period ends, the claimant is told they owe money for the whole month due to this change - not just the 3 days the child had stopped being a child.
We feel the Government may push people in debt with this policy.
We think it would be better if the Government calculated entitlement to the day.

Timeline

25 Feb 2025 Petition opened for signatures
25 Aug 2025 Closed to new signatures

Key facts

Signatures 54
Status Closed
Department Department for Work and Pensions
Opened 25 Feb 2025
Closed 25 Aug 2025

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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 18 Aug 2026.