Universal Credit Calculator UK 2026
Calculate your Universal Credit entitlement for 2026 using official Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) rates. This calculator estimates your monthly UC payment based on your household composition, earnings, housing costs, children, disabilities, and caring responsibilities — helping you understand exactly how much financial support you can claim.
Universal Credit (UC) is the UK's main means-tested benefit for working-age adults, combining six legacy benefits into one monthly payment. Whether you're unemployed, in low-paid work, or transitioning between jobs, UC provides essential income support to help cover living costs. The amount you receive depends on your standard allowance (based on age and household), additional elements for children, housing, disability, and caring — minus a 55% taper on earnings above your work allowance.
Our calculator uses 2026/27 rates including the £368 standard allowance for single under-25s, £465 for single 25+, the £333 first child element, £673 higher work allowance, and 55p-per-pound taper. Enter your income, rent, number of children, and circumstances to see your estimated monthly payment and discover strategies to maximise your entitlement. If you're working, compare your UC with take-home pay after tax to understand your total household income.
UK Universal Credit Rates 2026/27
- Standard Allowance (Single, under 25): £368.74 per month
- Standard Allowance (Single, 25+): £465.89 per month
- Standard Allowance (Couple, both under 25): £578.82 per month
- Standard Allowance (Couple, one or both 25+): £730.45 per month
- First Child Element: £333.33 per month
- Additional Children: £287.92 per month each
- Work Allowance (with housing costs): £673 per month
- Work Allowance (without housing costs): £379 per month
- Taper Rate: 55% on earnings above work allowance
- Housing Costs: Up to Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate for your area
Calculate Your Universal Credit Entitlement
How Universal Credit Is Calculated in the UK
Step 1: Determine Your Standard Allowance
The standard allowance is the foundation of your Universal Credit payment, based on your age and whether you're single or part of a couple:
- Single, under 25: £368.74 per month
- Single, 25 or over: £465.89 per month
- Couple, both under 25: £578.82 per month
- Couple, one or both 25+: £730.45 per month
This is your baseline payment before adding elements for children, housing, disability, or caring responsibilities. The age threshold was chosen because under-25s typically have lower living costs and different labour market expectations, though this is controversial and subject to ongoing debate.
Step 2: Add Elements for Children
If you have dependent children (under 16, or under 20 in approved education or training), you receive additional monthly amounts:
- First child (born before 6 April 2017): £333.33 per month
- First child (born on/after 6 April 2017): £287.92 per month
- Second and subsequent children: £287.92 per month each
The two-child limit means you cannot claim child elements for a third or subsequent child born on or after 6 April 2017, unless exceptions apply (multiple births, non-consensual conception, adopted children, or kinship care). Children born before this date are protected. If you're comparing work versus benefits, use our take-home pay calculator to understand total household income including UC.
Step 3: Calculate Housing Costs Element
If you rent your home from a private landlord or housing association, you may receive help with rent through the housing element of Universal Credit. The amount is capped at your Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rate, which varies by area and property size:
- Check your LHA rate at GOV.UK LHA Rates by postcode and household size.
- If your rent is below the LHA rate, UC covers your actual rent.
- If your rent exceeds the LHA rate, UC only covers up to the LHA cap — you pay the difference.
- LHA rates are typically for 1-bedroom (single/couple), 2-bedroom (couple + 1 child), 3-bedroom (couple + 2 children), etc.
Important: You do NOT receive the housing element if you're a homeowner with a mortgage (though you may be able to claim Support for Mortgage Interest as a loan). Renters living with parents or in social housing may have different rules. The housing element is paid directly to you, not your landlord, unless you arrange an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) with the DWP.
Step 4: Apply the Work Allowance and Taper Rate
If you have earnings from employment or self-employment, Universal Credit reduces gradually using the work allowance and taper rate system:
- Work Allowance (with housing costs): £673 per month — you can earn up to this without any UC deduction if you receive housing element or have children or a disability.
- Work Allowance (without housing costs): £379 per month — applies if you don't receive housing element but have children or a disability.
- No Work Allowance: If you're a single person or couple with no children, no disability, and no housing costs, you have no work allowance — earnings are tapered from the first £1.
- Taper Rate: For every £1 you earn above the work allowance, your UC reduces by 55 pence.
Example: You earn £1,500/month, have 1 child, and pay £800 rent (eligible for £673 work allowance). Your taper calculation: £1,500 − £673 = £827. Taper deduction: £827 × 55% = £454.85. Your UC reduces by £454.85, but you keep 45% of earnings above the work allowance, making work financially worthwhile. This "make work pay" design ensures you're always better off working than relying solely on benefits.
Step 5: Add Disability and Carer Elements
If you or your partner have a disability or caring responsibilities, you qualify for additional monthly amounts:
- Limited Capability for Work (LCW): £156.11 per month — awarded if you have a health condition or disability that limits your ability to work, assessed via Work Capability Assessment (WCA).
- Limited Capability for Work-Related Activity (LCWRA): £416.19 per month — awarded if your condition is so severe you're not expected to prepare for work (e.g., receiving PIP, DLA, or severe disability awards).
- Carer Element: £198.31 per month — if you care for a severely disabled person for 20+ hours per week (they must receive PIP daily living, DLA middle/high rate, or Attendance Allowance).
You cannot receive both LCW/LCWRA and Carer Element — you'll get whichever is higher. These elements are added to your standard allowance and are not affected by the taper rate, making them a crucial part of UC for disabled claimants and carers.
Step 6: Include Childcare Costs
If you're working and paying for registered or approved childcare (nursery, childminder, after-school club), Universal Credit can help with up to 85% of your childcare costs, capped at:
- One child: Up to £1,014.63 per month (85% of £1,193.78 maximum)
- Two or more children: Up to £1,739.37 per month (85% of £2,045.73 maximum)
Childcare must be with a registered provider (Ofsted-registered in England, equivalent in Scotland/Wales/Northern Ireland). You must report your actual costs each month, and UC will reimburse 85% up to the cap. This childcare element is not affected by the taper rate — you receive it in full if you're working and paying for care. This makes returning to work more affordable, especially for single parents or low-income families.
Step 7: Deduct Other Income and Calculate Final Payment
Universal Credit is means-tested, so other income (besides earnings) also reduces your payment, but usually £1-for-£1 without a work allowance:
- State Pension: Deducted pound-for-pound from UC (pensioners usually claim Pension Credit instead).
- Private Pensions: Also deducted fully.
- Savings Interest: If you have over £6,000 in savings, you're treated as having "tariff income" of £4.35/month for every £250 above £6,000. Savings above £16,000 disqualify you from UC entirely.
- Other Benefits: Child Benefit, Personal Independence Payment (PIP), Disability Living Allowance (DLA), and Carer's Allowance are NOT deducted and can be claimed alongside UC.
Your final Universal Credit payment is: (Standard Allowance + Child Elements + Housing Element + Disability/Carer Elements + Childcare Costs) − (Taper Deduction + Other Income). Payments are made monthly in arrears, approximately 7 days after your assessment period ends. If you're also working, compare your total income including UC with net-to-gross salary calculations to plan your finances.
This calculator provides an estimate only for planning purposes. Actual Universal Credit awards depend on DWP assessments, real-time earnings reporting (via RTI from HMRC), verification of housing costs, WCA outcomes, and monthly fluctuations in income. For an official calculation, use the GOV.UK Benefits Calculator or apply directly at GOV.UK Apply for Universal Credit. For free advice, contact Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) or your local Jobcentre Plus.
Example: Single Parent, 2 Children, £1,000/Month Earnings, £800 Rent
Scenario
Jane is a 28-year-old single parent with 2 children (ages 5 and 8). She works part-time earning £1,000 per month gross. She rents a 3-bedroom flat for £800 per month, and her Local Housing Allowance rate is £850. She has no other income, disabilities, or childcare costs.
Universal Credit Calculation
- Standard Allowance (Single, 25+): £465.89
- First Child Element: £333.33 (born before April 2017)
- Second Child Element: £287.92
- Housing Element: £800.00 (actual rent, below LHA cap of £850)
- Total Maximum UC (before taper): £1,887.14
Taper Calculation:
- Monthly Earnings: £1,000.00
- Work Allowance (with housing costs + children): £673.00
- Earnings Above Allowance: £1,000 − £673 = £327.00
- Taper Deduction (55%): £327 × 55% = £179.85
Total Universal Credit Payment: £1,887.14 − £179.85 = £1,707.29 per month
Total Household Income: £1,000 (earnings) + £1,707.29 (UC) = £2,707.29 per month
Key Insights
- Jane's UC includes £800 housing element, effectively covering her rent in full.
- The £673 work allowance means her first £673 of earnings don't reduce UC at all — only the £327 above it is tapered at 55%.
- She keeps 45% of earnings above the work allowance (£327 × 45% = £147), making work worthwhile.
- If Jane increased her earnings to £1,500/month, her taper deduction would be (£1,500 − £673) × 55% = £455, reducing UC to £1,432 but increasing total income to £2,932 — still better off working more.
- If Jane stopped working entirely, her UC would be £1,887.14 (no taper) — but she'd lose £1,000 earnings, leaving her worse off by £820/month.
- Child Benefit (£102.40/month for 2 children) is paid separately and not deducted from UC.
Use the calculator above to model your specific household and see how changes in earnings, rent, or children affect your Universal Credit payment. If you're considering a job offer, compare scenarios with our job offer comparison tool to understand total household income.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much Universal Credit will I get if I earn £1,000 a month?
If you earn £1,000 per month, your Universal Credit payment depends heavily on your household circumstances:
- Single, under 25, no children, no housing costs: You receive £368.74 standard allowance. With no work allowance, your earnings are tapered from £0: £1,000 × 55% = £550 deduction. Final UC: £0 (earnings too high).
- Single, 25+, no children, no housing costs: £465.89 standard allowance − (£1,000 × 55%) = £465.89 − £550 = £0 UC (earnings exceed maximum).
- Single, 25+, 1 child, £700 rent (LHA £750): Standard allowance £465.89 + child element £333.33 + housing £700 = £1,499.22 maximum. Work allowance £673. Taper: (£1,000 − £673) × 55% = £179.85. Final UC: £1,319.37 per month.
- Couple, both 25+, 2 children, £800 rent (LHA £900): Standard allowance £730.45 + 2 children £621.25 + housing £800 = £2,151.70 maximum. Work allowance £673. Taper: (£1,000 − £673) × 55% = £179.85. Final UC: £1,971.85 per month.
The key variables are: do you have children (unlocks work allowance and child elements), do you pay rent (housing element + higher work allowance), and your age (affects standard allowance). Use our calculator to see your specific entitlement based on your exact circumstances.
How much Universal Credit will I get if I earn £1,500 a month?
With £1,500 monthly earnings, your UC reduces further due to the 55% taper:
- Single, 25+, no children, no housing: £465.89 − (£1,500 × 55%) = £465.89 − £825 = £0 UC (earnings exceed entitlement).
- Single, 25+, 1 child, £700 rent (LHA £750): Maximum UC £1,499.22. Work allowance £673. Taper: (£1,500 − £673) × 55% = £827 × 55% = £454.85. Final UC: £1,044.37 per month.
- Couple, both 25+, 2 children, £800 rent (LHA £900): Maximum UC £2,151.70. Work allowance £673. Taper: (£1,500 − £673) × 55% = £454.85. Final UC: £1,696.85 per month.
- Single, 25+, 2 children, £900 rent, LCWRA disability: Standard £465.89 + 2 children £621.25 + housing £900 + LCWRA £416.19 = £2,403.33 maximum. Work allowance £673. Taper: £454.85. Final UC: £1,948.48 per month.
At £1,500 earnings, families with children and housing costs still receive substantial UC support (£1,000–£2,000/month), while single claimants without children typically receive little or nothing. The work allowance and taper system ensures working is always more profitable than claiming UC alone — you keep 45% of earnings above the work allowance, plus your full earnings, plus remaining UC.
How much is Universal Credit a week in 2026?
Universal Credit is paid monthly in arrears, but here are the weekly equivalents for 2026/27 (divide monthly rates by 4.33):
- Single, under 25: £368.74/month = £85.18 per week
- Single, 25 or over: £465.89/month = £107.60 per week
- Couple, both under 25: £578.82/month = £133.68 per week
- Couple, one or both 25+: £730.45/month = £168.69 per week
- First child (pre-2017): £333.33/month = £76.98 per week
- Additional children: £287.92/month = £66.49 per week
- Housing costs: Varies by actual rent and LHA rate
- LCWRA element: £416.19/month = £96.12 per week
- Carer element: £198.31/month = £45.80 per week
Important: UC is always paid monthly, not weekly. The assessment period is one calendar month (e.g., 12th March to 11th April), and payment arrives around 7 days after the period ends. This differs from legacy benefits like Jobseeker's Allowance (fortnightly) or Employment and Support Allowance (weekly). You must budget monthly, which can be challenging if you previously received weekly benefits. If you're struggling with monthly budgeting, ask your work coach about an Alternative Payment Arrangement (APA) to receive payments more frequently or have rent paid directly to your landlord.
How much Universal Credit will I get if I earn £2,000 a month?
At £2,000 monthly earnings, most single claimants receive little or no Universal Credit unless they have significant housing costs, children, or disability elements:
- Single, 25+, no children, no housing: £465.89 − (£2,000 × 55%) = £465.89 − £1,100 = £0 UC.
- Single, 25+, 1 child, £700 rent (LHA £750): Maximum UC £1,499.22. Work allowance £673. Taper: (£2,000 − £673) × 55% = £1,327 × 55% = £729.85. Final UC: £769.37 per month.
- Couple, both 25+, 2 children, £1,000 rent (LHA £1,050): Maximum UC £2,351.70. Work allowance £673. Taper: (£2,000 − £673) × 55% = £729.85. Final UC: £1,621.85 per month.
- Single, 25+, 3 children (2 pre-2017), £1,200 rent, LCW disability: Standard £465.89 + 3 children £909.17 + housing £1,200 + LCW £156.11 = £2,731.17 maximum. Work allowance £673. Taper: £729.85. Final UC: £2,001.32 per month.
At £2,000 earnings, families with children, high rent, or disabilities can still receive £750–£2,000 UC per month. However, single people or couples without children typically earn too much to qualify. This reflects UC's design as a low-income top-up rather than universal support. If your earnings are rising and you're losing UC, you're still better off financially — the taper ensures you keep 45p of every £1 earned above the work allowance, so total household income always increases with more work.
What is the Universal Credit taper rate in 2026?
The Universal Credit taper rate is 55% in 2026. This means for every £1 you earn above your work allowance, your Universal Credit payment reduces by 55 pence.
How the taper works:
- Work Allowance: If you have children or a disability, you have a work allowance (£379/month without housing costs, or £673/month with housing costs). Earnings below this threshold do not reduce your UC.
- Above the Work Allowance: Every £1 earned above the work allowance reduces UC by 55p. For example, if you earn £800 above your work allowance, your UC reduces by £800 × 55% = £440.
- No Work Allowance: If you're single or a couple with no children and no disability, you have no work allowance. Your UC tapers from the first £1 of earnings at 55%.
- You Keep 45%: The taper means you always keep 45% of earnings above the work allowance, ensuring work pays better than benefits alone.
Example: You earn £1,200/month, have 1 child, and qualify for the £673 work allowance. Earnings above allowance: £1,200 − £673 = £527. Taper deduction: £527 × 55% = £289.85. Your UC reduces by £289.85, but you keep the other £237.15 (45% of £527) plus your full earnings, making your total income higher than if you didn't work at all.
The 55% taper rate was reduced from 63% in November 2021 to "make work pay" and encourage claimants to increase working hours. Combined with increased work allowances, it means low-income families keep more of their earnings while still receiving UC support. If you're planning to increase work hours or accept a pay rise, use our calculator to see how it affects your total household income including UC.
Data Sources & Accuracy
This calculator uses official UK government rates and benefit rules for the 2026/27 tax year:
- Universal Credit rates: GOV.UK Universal Credit - What You'll Get
- Standard allowances and elements: GOV.UK Benefit and Pension Rates 2026/27
- Work allowances and taper rate: GOV.UK Universal Credit and Working
- Housing costs and LHA rates: GOV.UK Local Housing Allowance Rates
- Childcare costs: GOV.UK Universal Credit Childcare Costs
- Disability elements (LCW/LCWRA): GOV.UK Universal Credit Health and Disability
Disclaimer: This calculator provides estimates only for planning purposes. Actual Universal Credit payments depend on real-time earnings data reported via HMRC's Real Time Information (RTI) system, verification of housing costs, DWP assessments of disability (Work Capability Assessment), fluctuations in monthly income, and other personal circumstances. For an official calculation, use the GOV.UK Benefits Calculator or apply directly at GOV.UK Apply for Universal Credit. For free, confidential advice, contact Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848) or visit your local Jobcentre Plus.
Your Privacy & Data Security
This calculator runs entirely in your browser using JavaScript. No personal information, income data, or household details are sent to our servers, stored, or shared with third parties. All calculations are performed locally on your device, ensuring your sensitive financial information remains completely private.
If you're considering applying for Universal Credit or need help with an existing claim, contact the Universal Credit Helpline on 0800 328 5644 (or textphone 0800 328 1344). Lines are open Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. For free, independent advice, contact Citizens Advice (0800 144 8848), Turn2us (0808 802 2000), or visit www.citizensadvice.org.uk.
Reminder: You must report changes in circumstances (earnings, address, household composition, childcare costs) to the DWP within one month via your Universal Credit online account. Failure to report changes can result in overpayments that must be repaid, or underpayments that are not backdated.