Universal Credit Calculator (Great Britain)
Estimate a simple monthly Universal Credit award for Great Britain using 2026/27 rates. Enter household details, income, rent and savings. The tool covers standard, child and housing elements; check omitted elements and claim conditions before applying.
Read more
Many people assume any income disqualifies them from UC. The benefit uses a taper system where your payment reduces by 55p for every £1 earned above your work allowance. Savings above £6,000 reduce your UC, and above £16,000 usually disqualify you entirely.
A major change for 2026/27 is the removal of the two-child benefit cap. From April 2026, families can now claim the child element for all children, not just the first two. This means larger families may be entitled to significantly more Universal Credit than before.
Understanding your potential entitlement helps you decide whether to claim. Enter your household and income details below to get an estimate.
Universal Credit Calculator
A simple amount estimate for working-age households in Great Britain with confirmed claim conditions. This does not decide eligibility. Omitted elements, caps and deductions can change your award; see the scope below before calculating.
Only children qualifying for your UC child element, not everyone under 20.
Use the amount after LHA, bedroom and non-dependant rules. We do not calculate these limits from your rent.
Assessment-period earnings after tax, employee NI and allowable pension deductions; include your partner.
After any applicable disregards. Exactly £16,000 is included; above it is excluded in this simple model.
For example Carer’s Allowance, Maternity Allowance or New Style ESA, converted to a monthly amount. Do not include Child Benefit or PIP.
Use higher LCWRA where the condition was reported before 6 April 2026 (even with a later decision), for continuing protected awards / qualifying ESA transfers, or for an assessed severe lifelong condition or end-of-life case. Otherwise use lower LCWRA for a condition reported from 6 April 2026. Select an established category, not a self-diagnosis. The health element usually starts after the relevant waiting assessment periods. Couples receive one health element at the higher applicable rate.
At least 35 hours’ care each week for someone receiving a qualifying disability benefit. A claimant cannot receive both their own LCWRA and a carer element; different partners can receive one each.
Scope and exclusions — check before calculating
For working-age households with confirmed claim conditions. This does not decide eligibility. Enter counted capital and an already assessed housing amount. Residence, students, mixed-age couples, benefit caps, self-employed minimum income floors, disabled-child and childcare elements, historic LCW payments, transitional protection, sanctions and debt deductions are not modelled.
A positive estimate can be too high or too low. Check your award details or use an independent benefits adviser before relying on it.
Rules checked 2 October 2026 against GOV.UK award guidance and DWP’s two health rates.
What this means for your monthly payment
Universal Credit tapers at 55p in every £1 of earnings above your work allowance — so working more rarely makes you worse off, but the gain is much smaller than your gross pay rise. Savings between £6,000 and £16,000 reduce your award; savings over £16,000 usually stop the claim entirely.
The big change for 2026/27 is the removal of the two-child limit — families with three or more children can now claim the child element for every child, often adding £3,500+ a year per extra child. If you stopped claiming because of the old cap, it's worth checking your entitlement again.
How this Universal Credit calculator works
This Universal Credit calculator adds up the standard allowance for your household, plus any child, assessed housing, carer and established health categories you select, then deducts 55p for every £1 you earn above any applicable work allowance, tariff income from capital over £6,000 and other deductible income you enter. The result is your estimated monthly UC award for the 2026/27 tax year — no sign-up; calculations stay on your device. Full eligibility and omitted elements need a separate check.
Savings between £6,000 and £16,000 add £4.35 of assumed income per £250 held; savings above £16,000 usually end entitlement altogether.
| Element | 2026/27 rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard allowance — single, under 25 | £338.58 | Per month |
| Standard allowance — single, 25 or over | £424.90 | Per month |
| Standard allowance — couple, both under 25 | £528.34 | Joint claim, per month |
| Standard allowance — couple, one 25 or over | £666.97 | Joint claim, per month |
| Child element — first child born before 6 April 2017 | £351.88 | Two-child limit removed from April 2026 |
| Child element — each other qualifying child | £303.94 | Paid for every qualifying child |
| Limited capability for work-related activity (LCWRA) | £429.80 | Protected cases, pre-reform reporting, severe lifelong conditions or end of life |
| LCWRA lower rate | £217.26 | Condition reported from 6 April 2026 without higher-rate protection |
| Carer element | £209.34 | 35+ hours of care a week |
| Work allowance — with housing element | £427.00 | Earnings ignored before the taper |
| Work allowance — without housing element | £710.00 | Earnings ignored before the taper |
| Taper rate | 55.00000000000001p in £1 | Reduction on earnings above the work allowance |
Source: Universal Credit standard allowances & elements (2026/27) — last verified 2026-10-02.
Worked example: single parent, two children, £700 rent
Take a single claimant aged 30 with two qualifying children, the first born before 6 April 2017, and a £700 assessed monthly housing element. Assume no counted capital, other deductible income or benefit-cap restriction. Their maximum award is £424.90 (standard allowance) + £351.88 + £303.94 (child elements) + £700 (housing element) = £1,780.72 a month.
They earn £1,200 net from part-time work. Because the award includes housing costs, the first £427 is ignored; the remaining £773 is tapered at 55p, cutting the award by £425.15. Estimated Universal Credit: £1,355.57 a month, giving a total monthly income of £2,555.57 before Council Tax Reduction. If both children were born from 6 April 2017, the UC estimate would instead be £1,307.63. Other claim conditions and omitted elements still need an individual check.
What is Universal Credit?
Universal Credit is a monthly benefit payment for working-age people on a low income or out of work. It replaced six older benefits (Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit) and is now the main means-tested benefit for people under State Pension age.
The amount you receive depends on your circumstances – including your income, savings, housing costs, and whether you have children or health conditions. It's designed to ensure you're always better off in work than on benefits alone.
You apply for Universal Credit through GOV.UK and manage your claim through an online journal. Payments are made monthly and can include help with housing costs, children, disability, and more.
How Universal Credit Is Calculated
Your Universal Credit payment is calculated in three steps:
Step 1: Add Up Your Elements
Everyone gets a standard allowance based on age and whether you're single or in a couple. Additional elements are added for:
- Children: £351.88 for a first child born before 6 April 2017, £303.94 for each other child
- Housing: Your eligible rent (up to Local Housing Allowance limits)
- Health: £429.80 for protected LCWRA cases, including conditions reported before 6 April 2026 regardless of decision date, qualifying ESA transfers, assessed severe lifelong conditions or end of life; otherwise £217.26 for conditions reported from 6 April 2026
- Caring: £209.34 where carer-element conditions are met. A claimant cannot receive both their own LCWRA and carer element; different partners can receive one each
Step 2: Apply Work Allowance
A work allowance only applies if you have children or limited capability for work. It's £427/month if your award includes the housing element, or £710/month if it doesn't. Everyone else has a £0 work allowance, so the taper applies to every pound earned.
Step 3: Calculate Reductions
For every £1 you earn above your work allowance, your UC is reduced by 55p (the "taper rate"). Any savings over £6,000 also reduce your payment.
Example: A single parent under 25 with one child and £800 rent has total elements of £1,490.46. If they earn £1,000/month, the first £427 is ignored, and the remaining £573 reduces UC by £315.15 (55%). Their final payment would be approximately £1,175.
How Earnings Affect Payments
Universal Credit is designed so that working always pays more than not working. When you earn money, only a portion of your UC is reduced – you always keep some of your wages.
| Monthly Earnings | UC Reduction | You Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Up to work allowance | £0 | 100% of earnings |
| £500 above allowance | £275 | £225 (45%) |
| £1,000 above allowance | £550 | £450 (45%) |
Important: Your UC is based on your "assessment period" – usually a calendar month. If you're paid weekly or have irregular income, your UC may vary from month to month.
Watch out for the "cliff edge"
If your earnings push your UC to zero for a month, you may lose transitional protection if you were moved from legacy benefits. Seek advice before significantly increasing your hours.
Savings Rules Explained
Your savings (also called "capital") affect your Universal Credit entitlement. This includes money in bank accounts, ISAs, premium bonds, investments, and property you don't live in.
Under £6,000
No effect on your Universal Credit. You keep your full entitlement.
£6,000 – £16,000
"Tariff income" is applied: £4.35 per month is deducted for every £250 (or part) above £6,000. For example, £10,000 in savings = £69.60/month reduction.
Over £16,000
You cannot claim Universal Credit. You must use your savings until they fall below £16,000.
What counts as savings? Bank accounts, cash ISAs, stocks and shares ISAs, premium bonds, investment accounts, property (not your home), and some insurance policies with a cash-in value.
What doesn't count? Your main home, most personal possessions, business assets (if you're self-employed), and the value of your pension (until you take money from it).
Important Disclaimer
This calculator provides estimates only and should not be relied upon for financial decisions. Universal Credit is a complex benefit with many rules and exceptions that cannot all be captured here.
Your actual entitlement may differ based on your full circumstances. For an accurate assessment, apply through GOV.UK or seek advice from Citizens Advice or a welfare rights organisation.
Rates shown are for the 2026/27 tax year (April 2026 onwards).
Frequently Asked Questions
Universal Credit calculator: frequently asked questions
What's Next?
Not sure which calculators you need?
Answer 7 quick questions and we'll show you exactly which UK costs apply to your situation. Takes under 60 seconds.