Estimate your Universal Credit monthly payment based on your household, earnings, housing costs, and children. Uses 2025/26 rates.
Universal Credit (UC) replaces six legacy benefits: Income Support, income-based JSA, income-related ESA, Housing Benefit, Child Tax Credit, and Working Tax Credit. It is paid monthly and calculated using a formula: Maximum UC award − Taper deductions = Monthly payment.
Your maximum award is built from elements added together: the standard allowance, plus any applicable housing, child, disability (LCWRA), or carer elements. The DWP then deducts 55p for every £1 of net earnings above your Work Allowance (if you have one) — this is the "taper rate."
From April 2025, UC standard allowances increased by 1.7% (CPI uprating). Key monthly rates:
If you have a Work Allowance — which applies if you have a child or a limited capability for work — your UC is not reduced until your earnings exceed that threshold. From April 2025, the higher Work Allowance is £673/month and the lower Work Allowance (if you also get housing element) is £404/month.
Above the Work Allowance, UC is reduced at 55p per £1 of net earnings. This means you keep 45p of every additional pound earned — a higher effective "keep" rate than the 37p under the old tax credits system.
For the most accurate results, use up-to-date numbers from official sources. Double-check your inputs before calculating — small errors in the starting values can lead to significantly different outputs. If you are comparing scenarios, keep all variables the same except the one you are testing. Save or screenshot your results for future reference. This calculator uses standard formulas and is designed to give you a reliable quick estimate, though professional advice may be needed for complex situations.