How to use the Universal Credit calculator
- 1 Choose who is claiming: single or a couple, and whether you are under 25.
- 2 Enter how many children you are responsible for and when the eldest was born.
- 3 Enter your household take-home earnings, the rent covered by the housing element and any childcare costs.
- 4 Add any health or carer element, your savings and where you live, then read your estimate.
Worked example
A single parent, 25 or over, with two children born after April 2017, £650 rent and £1,200 take-home pay a month. The maximum award is £424.90 + £607.88 child elements + £650 housing = £1,682.78. With housing costs the work allowance is £427, so the taper takes 55% of £773 = £425.15. Estimated Universal Credit: £1,257.63 a month, making total income £2,457.63.
Getting the right Universal Credit
- Report changes quickly: earnings, rent and household changes all affect the next assessment period.
- Claim childcare back: send receipts so 85% is added.
- Check the health element: a work capability assessment can add LCWRA.
- Watch the benefit cap: working 16 hours at the National Living Wage removes it.
See what else you can claim with the Child Benefit Calculator and the Carer's Allowance Calculator, and budget housing costs with the Council Tax Calculator.
Features
Every main element
Standard allowance, child, childcare, LCWRA, carer and housing elements at 2026/27 rates.
Taper and work allowance
£427 or £710 work allowance, then 55p off for each £1 of take-home pay.
Benefit cap check
Applies the 2026/27 cap, including Child Benefit, and the exemptions.
When to use it
Starting a claim
See roughly what you could get before applying on GOV.UK. For your pay after tax, use the Take-Home Pay Calculator.
Working more hours
See how much of a pay rise you keep after the 55% taper. Check your hourly rate with the Minimum Wage Calculator.
Families after the two-child limit
Families with three or more children can see the extra child elements, and whether the benefit cap stops them.
Carers and health conditions
Add the carer element or LCWRA. If you care for someone, also check the Carer's Allowance Calculator.
Related Benefits tasks
Frequently asked questions
How much is Universal Credit in 2026/27?
The monthly standard allowance from April 2026 is £338.58 for a single person under 25, £424.90 for a single person 25 or over, £528.34 for a couple both under 25 and £666.97 for a couple where one or both are 25 or over. Extra elements are added for children, childcare, health, caring and housing.
Has the two-child limit been removed?
Yes. The two-child limit was abolished from 6 April 2026. Every child now gets a child element of £303.94 a month, or £351.88 for a first child born before 6 April 2017. The benefit cap still applies, so some larger families may not get the full increase.
How does the 55% taper work?
Universal Credit falls by 55p for every £1 of take-home pay above your work allowance. If you have no work allowance, the taper applies from the first pound you earn. You always keep 45p of every extra pound.
What is the work allowance for 2026/27?
£427 a month if your award includes help with housing costs, or £710 a month if it does not. You only get a work allowance if you are responsible for a child or have limited capability for work.
How much is the LCWRA health element?
From 6 April 2026 there are two rates. People who first qualify on or after that date get £217.26 a month. People already receiving it, or who meet the severe conditions criteria or are terminally ill, keep the higher £429.80.
How do savings affect Universal Credit?
Savings up to £6,000 do not affect your payment. Between £6,000 and £16,000, £4.35 a month is taken off for every £250 or part of £250. Above £16,000 you usually cannot get Universal Credit.
What is the benefit cap in 2026/27?
Outside Greater London it is £1,835 a month for couples or anyone with children, and £1,229.42 for single people without children. In Greater London it is £2,110.25 and £1,413.92. It does not apply if you get the LCWRA or carer element, or earn at least about £881 a month.
How much childcare does Universal Credit pay?
85% of your childcare costs, up to £1,071.09 a month for one child or £1,836.16 for two or more, if you are working. You cannot get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time.
Is this calculator exact?
No. It is an estimate. Your real award depends on your assessment period, the rent the DWP accepts, deductions such as advances, and details this calculator does not ask about. Check entitlement on GOV.UK.
Results are estimates based on the official rates linked above. Confirm important figures with the issuing authority or a qualified adviser before you act on them.
Built and reviewed by Hamza Farooq, founder and lead developer
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