Universal Credit Rates
How much Universal Credit pays each month, the extra amounts for children, childcare, health conditions and caring, and how earnings and savings reduce it.
Standard allowance: single, under 25 (monthly)
£338.58
Every household gets one standard allowance, and the amount depends on age and whether you claim as a single person or a couple.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Standard allowance: single, 25 or over (monthly)
£424.90
The standard allowance for a single claimant aged 25 or over.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Standard allowance: couple, both under 25 (monthly)
£528.34
One payment for both partners when they both claim.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Standard allowance: couple, either 25 or over (monthly)
£666.97
One payment for both partners when at least one of them is 25 or over.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Child element for each child (monthly)
£303.94
Paid for every child who lives with you, until the 31 August after their 16th birthday, or their 19th if they're in eligible education.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Extra for a first child born before 6 April 2017 (monthly)
£47.94
Added to the child element for your first child, which makes £351.88 in total for that child.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Disabled child, lower amount (monthly)
£164.79
For a child who gets any rate of Disability Living Allowance for children or PIP other than the highest.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Disabled child, higher amount (monthly)
£514.71
For a child who gets the highest rate of the DLA care component or the higher rate of the PIP daily living part, or who is blind.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Share of childcare costs you can claim back
85%
For working parents using a registered childcare provider. You pay the costs up front and claim the money back.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Most you can claim for childcare, one child (monthly)
£1,071.09
The monthly cap for one child.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Most you can claim for childcare, two or more children (monthly)
£1,836.16
The monthly cap for two or more children.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Health condition element, severe (monthly)
£429.80
For a severe condition that's unlikely to change, or if you're nearing the end of your life. Different rules apply if you reported a condition before 6 April 2026.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Health condition element, less severe (monthly)
£217.26
For a condition assessed as less severe or one that may improve over time.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Carer element (monthly)
£209.34
For caring at least 35 hours a week for someone who gets a qualifying disability benefit. You can't get it with the higher health element.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Taper rate on earnings
55%
Your payment goes down by 55p for every £1 you earn after any work allowance.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Work allowance with help for housing costs (monthly)
£427
You can earn this much before your payment starts to reduce, if you have children or a health condition and get help with housing.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Work allowance without help for housing costs (monthly)
£710
The higher work allowance, for people with children or a health condition who don't get help with housing costs.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Savings you can have before your payment is reduced
£6,000
Above this your payment goes down by £4.35 for every £250 of savings, up to the upper limit.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Savings above which you can't usually get it
£16,000
If you have more than this in money, savings and investments you normally can't get Universal Credit.
GOV.UK — DWP · checked 10 Nov 2026
Universal Credit is a single monthly payment for a household. It starts from a standard allowance, which depends on your age and on whether you are single or in a couple. Any extra amounts you qualify for are added, and anything that is taken off is subtracted.
Extras are not added for you
You have to tell the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) when something changes that makes you eligible for an extra amount. Starting a Carer's Allowance claim, for example, does not bring the carer element with it: you must report that you have become a carer too.
Several extras come with limits and conditions
The carer element is not available to anyone already receiving the health amount that is paid for limited capability for work and work-related activity (LCWRA). Couples where both partners have LCWRA receive a single extra amount, the higher one if either of them would qualify for it, and couples who look after the same person share one carer element. The carer element needs at least 35 hours of care a week for someone who receives a qualifying disability benefit, and the person you care for loses their severe disability premium once you claim it. Anyone who reported a health condition before 6 April 2026 is under a different set of rules for the health amounts.
Childcare is refunded after you pay, and has conditions
You cover the cost up front, and the refund arrives as part of your Universal Credit payment. You must be in work, as must your partner unless they cannot work because of a disability or health condition, and the provider must be registered.
Earnings reduce your payment, with a work allowance for some
Your payment falls by 55% of whatever you earn above any work allowance, and there is no limit on the hours you can work and still claim. A work allowance, the amount you can earn before the reduction starts, only exists for households with a child to be responsible for or with a disability or health condition that limits work. It is £427 a month if Universal Credit helps with your housing costs or your council has placed you in temporary accommodation because you are homeless, and £710 a month otherwise. Self-employed people follow different rules.
If earnings climb high enough, your payment stops. It restarts automatically if earnings fall again within six months of your last payment, and after that you have to reapply.
Savings, other benefits and some debts also reduce your payment
Savings and investments above £6,000 reduce your payment in steps. For every £250, or part of £250, over that figure, a fixed amount comes off, and once they pass £16,000 the payment can stop altogether.
Some other benefits come off your Universal Credit pound for pound. Carer's Allowance, or Carer Support Payment if you live in Scotland, is one, along with the State Pension, Maternity Allowance and several others. Payments can also be cut to repay an advance, to meet the benefit cap, to recover earlier overpayments, or to clear certain debts such as Council Tax and court fines.