Universal Credit rates are updated each April. In the examples on this page, earnings are take-home pay after tax, National Insurance and pension contributions, which is what UC uses. Here are all the amounts for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027), confirmed in DWP’s official benefit and pension rates publication.
Read more: See our Universal Credit guide for a complete overview of this topic.
Standard Allowance 2026/27
Every Universal Credit claim starts with a standard allowance. This is your baseline payment before any additional elements are added.
| Your Situation | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Single, under 25 | £338.58 |
| Single, 25 or over | £424.90 |
| Couple, both under 25 | £528.34 |
| Couple, one or both 25 or over | £666.97 |
Note: If you’re a couple, you make a joint claim. Your combined income and savings are assessed together.
Child Element Rates 2026/27
If you have children, you receive additional amounts on top of your standard allowance.
| Child | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| First child (born before 6 April 2017) | £351.88 |
| First child (born on or after 6 April 2017) | £303.94 |
| Second child and each additional child | £303.94 |
The Two-Child Limit Has Been Removed
Since 6 April 2026, the two-child limit no longer applies. Under the Universal Credit (Removal of Two Child Limit) Act 2026 (Royal Assent 18 March 2026), every child in your household now qualifies for a child element — there is no longer a cap at two children for third or subsequent children born on or after 6 April 2017. Families with an existing UC claim should have had this applied automatically from their first assessment period on or after 6 April 2026; if a third or later child’s element is missing from your award, report it through your UC journal.
Disabled Child Additions
| Addition | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Lower rate (DLA/CDP care at any rate) | £164.79 |
| Higher rate (DLA/CDP highest care rate, or child is blind) | £514.71 |
These are paid in addition to the child element, not instead of it.
Housing Element 2026/27
If you pay rent, Universal Credit can include help with housing costs. The amount depends on your circumstances:
| Situation | How It’s Calculated |
|---|---|
| Private renting | Based on Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates for your area and household size |
| Social renting | Usually your actual rent plus eligible service charges, reduced if you have a spare bedroom |
| Owner (mortgage interest) | Support for mortgage interest (SMI) — now a loan, not a grant |
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Categories
You’re allowed one bedroom for each of: you (and your partner), any other adult aged 16 or over, two children of the same sex under 16, two children under 10, and any other child. The LHA rate is then capped at 4 bedrooms.
| Household | Rate Used |
|---|---|
| Single under 35, no children (some exceptions) | Shared accommodation rate |
| Single 35 or over, or a couple, with no children | 1-bedroom rate |
| One parent or couple with 1 child, or 2 children who can share | 2-bedroom rate |
| 2 children who can’t share (for example a boy and a girl, one aged 10 or over) | 3-bedroom rate |
LHA rates vary significantly by area. Check your local rate at GOV.UK LHA rates.
Bedroom Tax (Under-Occupancy)
If you rent from a social landlord and have a spare bedroom, your housing element is reduced: see the housing element guide.
Limited Capability for Work Elements 2026/27
If a health condition or disability limits your ability to work, you may receive additional elements:
| Element | Monthly Amount | Who Qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Limited Capability for Work (LCW) | £158.76 | Only claimants whose LCW status was assessed before the April 2017 rule change — not available on new claims |
| Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) — new claims from April 2026 | £217.26 | Newly assessed as LCWRA from April 2026 |
| Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) — protected rate | £429.80 | Claimants already receiving LCWRA before April 2026, those meeting severe conditions criteria, or those who are terminally ill |
Important: From April 2026, DWP roughly halved the LCWRA element for people newly awarded it, while protecting the higher rate for existing claimants and those with severe or terminal conditions. The LCW element (previously £156.11 in 2024/25) has not been available for new claims since 3 April 2017 — only people with pre-2017 LCW status still receive it.
Carer Element 2026/27
| Element | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Carer element | £209.34 |
You qualify if you’re caring for someone for at least 35 hours a week who receives a qualifying disability benefit (PIP daily living, DLA middle/highest care, or Attendance Allowance).
You can receive the carer element even if you can’t claim Carer’s Allowance directly (for example, because you earn too much).
Childcare Element 2026/27
If you’re working and paying for registered childcare, UC can cover up to 85% of your costs:
| Children | Maximum Monthly Support |
|---|---|
| 1 child | Up to £1,071.09 |
| 2 or more children | Up to £1,836.16 |
Important: You must pay childcare costs upfront and claim them back through your UC journal. Keep receipts and childcare provider details ready.
Work Allowance 2026/27
The work allowance is the amount you can earn before the taper rate reduces your UC. It only applies if you have children or have limited capability for work.
| Situation | Monthly Work Allowance |
|---|---|
| UC includes housing element | £427 |
| UC does not include housing element | £710 |
If you don’t have children and don’t have limited capability for work, your taper starts from the first pound you earn.
Taper Rate 2026/27
Once your earnings exceed your work allowance (or from the first pound if you don’t have one), the taper rate reduces your UC:
| Rate | What It Means |
|---|---|
| 55% | For every £1 you earn above your work allowance, your UC is reduced by 55p |
Working always pays: Even with the taper, you keep at least 45p of every extra pound you earn. There’s no cliff edge where earning more suddenly leaves you worse off.
Taper Example
Worked examples on this page use 2026/27 rates.
| Situation | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Work allowance | £427 |
| Your earnings | £800 |
| Earnings above allowance | £373 |
| Taper (55%) | £205.15 reduction |
| Monthly UC before taper | £700 |
| Monthly UC after taper | £494.85 |
Capital and Savings Rules 2026/27
Savings over £6,000 reduce your Universal Credit and savings over £16,000 stop it: see Universal Credit and savings for how tariff income is worked out.
Deductions from Universal Credit 2026/27
Your UC can be reduced to repay debts and overpayments. Since 30 April 2025, DWP’s Fair Repayment Rate cut the overall maximum deduction from 25% to 15% of your standard allowance for most debt types.
| Type of Deduction | Maximum % of Standard Allowance |
|---|---|
| Overall maximum (most deductions combined) | 15% (reduced from 25%) |
| Rent/service charge arrears, fuel arrears, child maintenance (“last resort” deductions) | Up to 15% — can still be taken even if other deductions have already used up the general 15% cap |
| Fraud overpayment / civil penalty | 15% (reduced from 25%) |
| Ordinary DWP overpayment | 15% |
| Council Tax arrears (via Third Party Deduction) | 5% |
Maximum Deduction Examples (Single, 25+)
| Deduction Type | Maximum Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Most deductions (15% of £424.90 standard allowance) | £63.74 |
| Council Tax arrears (5%) | £21.25 |
Benefit Cap 2026/27
The benefit cap limits the total benefits some households can get: see the benefit cap explained for the amounts and who’s exempt.
UC Rates History
| Year | Single 25+ | Couple 25+ | Child (first, post-2017) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £424.90 | £666.97 | £303.94 |
| 2025/26 | £400.14 | £628.10 | £292.81 |
| 2024/25 | £393.45 | £617.56 | £287.92 |
| 2023/24 | £368.74 | £578.82 | £269.58 |
| 2022/23 | £334.91 | £525.72 | £244.58 |
2027/28 Rates
DWP confirms next year’s Universal Credit rates in its annual uprating statement, usually published in late November, and they take effect from April. Until then, any 2027/28 figure you see is an estimate. We’ll add the confirmed 2027/28 rates to this page once DWP publishes them.
Example UC Calculations
Example 1: Single Parent, 2 Children, Renting
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (single, 25+) | £424.90 |
| Child element (first, born 2019) | £303.94 |
| Child element (second) | £303.94 |
| Housing element (2-bed LHA) | £700.00* |
| Total before taper | £1,732.78 |
*Housing element varies by area
Example 2: Couple, No Children, One Disabled
Assumes the partner was already receiving LCWRA before April 2026 (protected rate). A brand-new LCWRA award from April 2026 would use the lower £217.26 rate instead.
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (couple, 25+) | £666.97 |
| LCWRA element (protected rate) | £429.80 |
| Housing element (1-bed LHA) | £600.00* |
| Total before taper | £1,696.77 |
Example 3: Single Carer, 1 Child
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (single, 25+) | £424.90 |
| Child element (born 2020) | £303.94 |
| Carer element | £209.34 |
| Housing element | £550.00* |
| Total before taper | £1,488.18 |
When UC Is Paid
| First Payment | About 5 weeks after your claim |
|---|---|
| Subsequent payments | Monthly, on same date |
| Alternative arrangements | Twice monthly available in Scotland, or if vulnerable |
If You Can’t Wait 5 Weeks
You can request an advance payment of up to 100% of your estimated monthly entitlement. This is then repaid over up to 24 months through deductions from your UC.
Worked Examples: Working Households
Example 1: Single Parent, Part-Time Work
Situation:
- Single person, aged 30
- One child (born 2020, so after 6 April 2017)
- Part-time work: £800/month
- Rent: £700/month (LHA covers £700)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (single, 25+) | £424.90 |
| Child element (1 child) | £303.94 |
| Housing element | £700.00 |
| Total before taper | £1,428.84 |
| Work allowance | £427 |
| Earnings above allowance | £800 - £427 = £373 |
| Taper deduction (55%) | £205.15 |
| Final UC payment | £1,223.69 |
Total monthly income: £800 + £1,223.69 = £2,023.69
Example 2: Couple with Children, One Working
Situation:
- Couple, both 28
- Two children (born 2019 and 2021, both after 6 April 2017)
- One partner works: £1,400/month
- Rent: £1,000/month (LHA covers £850)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (couple, 25+) | £666.97 |
| Child element (2 children) | £607.88 |
| Housing element | £850.00 |
| Total before taper | £2,124.85 |
| Work allowance | £427 |
| Earnings above allowance | £1,400 - £427 = £973 |
| Taper deduction (55%) | £535.15 |
| Final UC payment | £1,589.70 |
Total monthly income: £1,400 + £1,589.70 = £2,989.70
Example 3: Single Person, No Children, Working
Situation:
- Single person, aged 27
- No children
- Working: £1,200/month
- Rent: £600/month (LHA covers £550)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (single, 25+) | £424.90 |
| Housing element | £550.00 |
| Total before taper | £974.90 |
| Work allowance | £0 (no children/LCW) |
| Earnings above allowance | £1,200 |
| Taper deduction (55%) | £660.00 |
| Final UC payment | £314.90 |
Total monthly income: £1,200 + £314.90 = £1,514.90
Example 4: Couple, Both Working with Disability
Situation:
- Couple, both 35
- One partner has LCWRA, awarded before April 2026 (protected rate)
- Partner 1 earns: £1,000/month
- Partner 2 earns: £500/month (limited hours due to health)
- Rent: £900/month (social housing)
| Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (couple, 25+) | £666.97 |
| LCWRA element (pre-April 2026 award) | £429.80 |
| Housing element | £900.00 |
| Total before taper | £1,996.77 |
| Work allowance | £427 |
| Combined earnings | £1,500 |
| Earnings above allowance | £1,500 - £427 = £1,073 |
| Taper deduction (55%) | £590.15 |
| Final UC payment | £1,406.62 |
Total monthly income: £1,500 + £1,406.62 = £2,906.62
Note: an LCWRA award starting on or after 6 April 2026 would instead be £217.26/month, reducing the totals above accordingly — check which rate applies to your award.