Something went wrong, please try again later. Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox Something went wrong, please try again later. Our free email updates are the best way to get headlines direct to your inbox Universal Credit claimants are being reminded of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) regulations that must be adhered to in order to receive benefit payments. The latest DWP figures reveal that 7.5 million individuals are claiming Universal Credit, marking the highest number since its inception in 2013. Universal Credit can be claimed by those who are unemployed or employed but earning a low income. There is no fixed amount that you receive each month - your payment is determined by your personal circumstances, such as age, whether you live with a partner, and if you have children. As a result, it's essential to inform the DWP about your financial situation - including savings and earnings - as these details are vital for the department to calculate the appropriate level of support. While most employment earnings are automatically received through the Real Time Information system, some instances necessitate manual reporting, such as if you're self-employed. According to the rules, if you're overpaid Universal Credit, you will need to repay it to the DWP, typically deducted from your future payments, reports the Mirror. These regulations apply to all Universal Credit claimants, including those who are self-employed. A recent parliamentary question reiterated the rules around reporting certain finances to the benefits department. Liberal Democrat MP Ian Roome questioned the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) on its measures to assist individuals who are "unable to demonstrate consistent monthly income figures" for Universal Credit applications. Labour Party MP Sir Stephen Timms responded, acknowledging that "We recognise that some self-employed customers, including those in the farming industry, are likely to report large monthly fluctuations in their earnings." To address volatile incomes, Sir Stephen Timms explained: "Steps have been taken to account for this, such as allowing self-employed losses to be carried forward into future assessment periods. Wherever possible, employed earnings are received through the Real Time Information (RTI) system used by employers to report Pay As You Earn (PAYE) data to His Majesty's Revenue and Customs (HMRC)." He continued to detail the benefits of the RTI in adjusting Universal Credit awards automatically, reducing the burden on claimants. "RTI enables a customer's Universal Credit award to be automatically adjusted to reflect their fluctuating earnings, which eases the reporting burden on customers." Additionally, Mr Timms highlighted: "If earnings are not reported through RTI for any reason, the customer will need to self-report their earnings and provide evidence of these." Summarising the government's stance, the minister added: "We are committed to reviewing Universal Credit to make sure it is doing the job we want it to, to make work pay and tackle poverty. The review will include consideration of the support in Universal Credit for customers with fluctuating incomes." The official GOV.UK site cautions that individuals could face court action or penalties if they provide incorrect data or fail to notify of changes affecting their claim. According to Citizen's Advice, they recommend informing the DWP promptly about any changes that may alter your Universal Credit, stating: "It's always better to report something if you're not sure". Changes to circumstances can be reported by logging into your Universal Credit online account and using the "Report a Change" feature. Alternatively, the Universal Credit helpline is available on 0800 328 5644, though response times may vary as you could be placed on hold.