Universal Credit rates are updated each April. Here are all the amounts for the 2026/27 tax year (6 April 2026 to 5 April 2027).
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 | £311.68 |
| Single, 25 or over | £393.45 |
| Couple, both under 25 | £489.23 |
| Couple, one or both 25 or over | £617.56 |
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) | £333.33 |
| First child (born on or after 6 April 2017) | £287.92 |
| Second child and each additional child | £287.92 |
Two-Child Limit
The two-child limit means you generally only receive child elements for your first two children if they were born after 6 April 2017. Exceptions include:
- Children born before 6 April 2017
- Multiple births (twins, triplets, etc.) where they take you over the limit
- Non-consensual conception
- Adopted children from local authority care
- Kinship care arrangements
Disabled Child Additions
| Addition | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Lower rate (DLA/CDP care at any rate) | £156.11 |
| Higher rate (DLA/CDP highest care rate, or child is blind) | £487.58 |
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 covers your actual rent (excluding service charges) |
| Owner (mortgage interest) | Support for mortgage interest (SMI) — now a loan, not a grant |
Local Housing Allowance (LHA) Categories
| Household | Property Size Used |
|---|---|
| Single under 35, no children | Shared accommodation rate |
| Single 35+, or single parent with 1 child | 1-bedroom rate |
| Couple, or 2 children of same sex under 16 | 2-bedroom rate |
| 2 children of different sex, or 3+ children | 3- or 4-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 spare bedrooms, your housing element is reduced:
| Spare Bedrooms | Reduction |
|---|---|
| 1 spare bedroom | 14% of eligible rent |
| 2+ spare bedrooms | 25% of eligible rent |
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) | £0 | Not available for new claims after April 2017 |
| Limited Capability for Work and Work-Related Activity (LCWRA) | £416.19 | Assessed as having very limited capability |
Important: The LCW element (previously £156.11) is no longer available for new claims made after 3 April 2017. Only the LCWRA element is available for new claimants.
Carer Element 2026/27
| Element | Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| Carer element | £198.31 |
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 £1,014.63 |
| 2 or more children | Up to £1,739.37 |
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 | £404 |
| UC does not include housing element | £673 |
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
| Situation | Calculation |
|---|---|
| Work allowance | £404 |
| Your earnings | £800 |
| Earnings above allowance | £396 |
| Taper (55%) | £217.80 reduction |
| Monthly UC before taper | £700 |
| Monthly UC after taper | £482.20 |
Capital and Savings Rules 2026/27
| Savings Level | Effect on UC |
|---|---|
| Under £6,000 | No effect — fully ignored |
| £6,000–£16,000 | Tariff income assumed: £4.35 per £250 (or part) above £6,000 |
| Over £16,000 | Cannot claim UC |
Tariff Income Examples
| Savings | Tariff Income Added to Assessment |
|---|---|
| £6,000 | £0 |
| £6,500 | £8.70/month |
| £8,000 | £34.80/month |
| £10,000 | £69.60/month |
| £12,000 | £104.40/month |
| £15,000 | £156.60/month |
Deductions from Universal Credit 2026/27
Your UC can be reduced to repay debts and overpayments. Maximum deductions:
| Type of Deduction | Maximum % of Standard Allowance |
|---|---|
| Total maximum deductions | 25% |
| Third-party deductions (rent arrears, utilities) | 25% |
| Advance repayment | 25% |
| Fraud overpayment | 25% |
| DWP overpayment | 15% |
| Council Tax arrears | 5% |
Maximum Deduction Examples (Single, 25+)
| Deduction Type | Maximum Monthly Amount |
|---|---|
| All deductions combined | £98.36 |
| Advance repayment | £98.36 |
| Rent arrears | £49.18 |
Benefit Cap 2026/27
The benefit cap limits total benefits you can receive if you’re not working enough hours or don’t qualify for an exemption.
| Location | Single/Childless Couple | With Children |
|---|---|---|
| Greater London | £1,517.46/month | £2,110.90/month |
| Rest of UK | £1,324.42/month | £1,835.92/month |
Exemptions from Benefit Cap
You’re exempt if you or your partner:
- Work enough to earn at least £722/month
- Get Carer’s Allowance or Guardian’s Allowance
- Get disability benefits (PIP, DLA, ESA Support Group)
- Get LCWRA element of UC
- Are over State Pension age
UC Rates History
| Year | Single 25+ | Couple 25+ | Child (first, post-2017) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026/27 | £393.45 | £617.56 | £287.92 |
| 2025/26 | £393.45 | £617.56 | £287.92 |
| 2024/25 | £393.45 | £617.56 | £287.92 |
| 2023/24 | £368.74 | £578.82 | £269.58 |
| 2022/23 | £334.91 | £525.72 | £244.58 |
Example UC Calculations
Example 1: Single Parent, 2 Children, Renting
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (single, 25+) | £393.45 |
| Child element (first, born 2019) | £287.92 |
| Child element (second) | £287.92 |
| Housing element (2-bed LHA) | £700.00* |
| Total before taper | £1,669.29 |
*Housing element varies by area
Example 2: Couple, No Children, One Disabled
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (couple, 25+) | £617.56 |
| LCWRA element | £416.19 |
| Housing element (1-bed LHA) | £600.00* |
| Total before taper | £1,633.75 |
Example 3: Single Carer, 1 Child
| Element | Amount |
|---|---|
| Standard allowance (single, 25+) | £393.45 |
| Child element (born 2020) | £287.92 |
| Carer element | £198.31 |
| Housing element | £550.00* |
| Total before taper | £1,429.68 |
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.