Example

• Ben has lost his job and makes a new claim for Universal Credit on 22nd July
• His first assessment period finishes on the 22nd August. He will be paid seven days later on the 29th of each month
• He needs to wait one assessment period (that’s a calendar month) to the 22nd August because UC is paid monthly in arrears
• He also needs to leave up to seven days for the money to reach his account
• He should expect his first payment of UC no later than 29th August.
• If the 29th August is a bank holiday, he should receive the payment on the last working day (Friday) before the holiday.

Any changes that happen in an assessment period will affect the month in which it falls.