Petition · Department for Work and Pensions
Review Universal Credit assessment periods for monthly paid workers
Open for signatures
18 signatures
What the petition asks
We ask Government to review Universal Credit assessment rules and introduce an optional monthly earnings averaging method for claimants with regular monthly pay to reduce artificial fluctuations caused by assessment period timing.
Many claimants are paid monthly, but Universal Credit assesses earnings by fixed assessment periods linked to payment dates reported via HMRC RTI. This can cause artificial fluctuations in entitlement, including months with £0 payments or adjusted overpayments, despite stable income. We believe an optional monthly averaging method would better reflect real earnings and improve financial stability for working households.
Timeline
| 30 Jun 2026 | Petition opened for signatures |
Key facts
Signatures
18
Status
Open for signatures
Department
Department for Work and Pensions
Opened
30 Jun 2026
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 26 Jul 2026.