If you have reduced your earnings (or your employer has done so for you) specifically so that you can claim, or get more, universal credit, you will be treated as still having those earnings. This is called ‘notional earned income’.

This will also apply if you work for nothing, or less than would be expected. In this case, you will be treated as having the earnings that are reasonable for the work you are doing, as long as your employer has the means to pay. This will not apply, however, when you: