Database: Households on Universal Credit
Field: More Frequent Payment Indicator
Description
This variable shows whether a household has had their payment of Universal Credit divided over the month into two or four instalments via a More Frequent Payment Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA).
For the indicator to be shown as 'Yes', the household must have a More Frequent Payment Alternative Payment Arrangement in place, the claim must be in payment, and payment data must show that more than one payment was made for the assessment period that covers the count date.
Classification
Applicable to: All Households
The More Frequent Payment indicator field can take the following values:
Total number of categories: 2
Quality Statement
Households with this arrangement have been identified by observing whether a More Frequent Payment APA is recorded on the Universal Credit Full Service system (UCFS). It is not recorded within this data whether claimants receive their payment in two or four instalments.
During rollout of Universal Credit, the types of claims accepted varied for different regions. This led to regional differences in the number of claims where payment is made to a landlord. As such, figures from before December 2018 (when rollout was complete) should be carefully considered before any inferences are drawn around geographical differences in the proportion of claims involving direct payment to a landlord.
Claimants living in Scotland may make alternative payment arrangements such as More Frequent Payments through the National DWP system, in which case they will be included here, or through the Scottish Choices system. Claimants with arrangements through Scottish Choices are not included in the count for this variable. There is a separate variable called Scottish Choices More Frequent Payment.