Universal Credit

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What you'll get

Universal Credit is paid monthly. How much you get depends on:

  • your standard allowance
  • any extra amounts that apply to you
  • any money taken off your payment
  • if you鈥檙e working, how much you earn

See how much you could get by using a benefits calculator.

Standard allowance

You鈥檒l get one standard allowance for your household.

How much you鈥檒l get Monthly standard allowance
If you鈥檙e single and under 25 拢311.68
If you鈥檙e single and 25 or over 拢393.45
If you live with your partner and you鈥檙e both under 25 拢489.23 (for you both)
If you live with your partner and either of you are 25 or over 拢617.60 (for you both)

Extra amounts

You may get more money on top of your standard allowance if you鈥檙e eligible.

If you have children

You could get an extra amount for your children if they live with you. You would get the extra amount until the 31 August after their:

  • 16th birthday
  • 19th birthday, if they鈥檙e in eligible education or training 鈥� for example, they鈥檙e studying for GCSEs, A levels, BTECs, Scottish Highers and SVQs or NVQs up to level 3

You鈥檒l only get an extra amount for your first and second child. You will not get an extra amount for any more children unless:

  • your children were born before 6 April 2017
  • you were already claiming for 3 or more children before 6 April 2017
  • other exceptions apply

If your child has a disability

You might get an extra monthly amount if any of your children are disabled. You鈥檒l get this extra amount no matter how many children you have.听

You鈥檒l get:

  • 拢156.11 if you get the lower rate

  • 拢487.58 if you get the higher rate

The amount you get depends on the benefits your child receives and whether they have specific disabilities.

Childcare costs

You can claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs if you鈥檙e working. If you live with your partner both of you need to be working, unless one of you is unable to work due to a disability or health condition.

The childcare needs to be from a registered provider. You can get help paying for childcare including nurseries, childminders, breakfast clubs, after school care and holiday clubs.

The most you can get each month is:

  • 拢1,014.63 for one child

  • 拢1,739.37 for 2 or more children

You need to pay your childcare costs up front and claim the money back as part of your payment. You can get support to help you pay your childcare costs up front. Talk to your work coach after you鈥檝e made your claim.

Read more about childcare costs and Universal Credit.

If you have a disability or health condition

How much you鈥檒l get Extra monthly amount
If you have limited capability for work and work-related activity 拢416.19
If you have limited capability for work and you started your health-related Universal Credit or Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) claim before 3 April 2017 拢156.11

If you live with your partner and you both have limited capability for work and work-related activity, you鈥檒l only get one extra monthly amount.

If you get the severe disability premium and you鈥檙e moving to Universal Credit, you might also be entitled to a 鈥榯ransitional protection鈥� payment.

Read more about health conditions, disability and Universal Credit.

You could get an extra amount if you care for someone who gets one of the following benefits:

You need to provide care for them for at least 35 hours a week.

You鈥檒l get an extra monthly amount of 拢198.31.

This is on top of any extra amount you get if you have a disabled child.

Housing costs

You could get money to help pay your housing costs. The payment can cover rent and some service charges.

If you鈥檙e a homeowner, you might be able to get a loan to help with interest payments on your mortgage.

Money taken off your payment

Your payments might be reduced if any of the following apply:

  • you are paying back an advance on a Universal Credit payment

  • you would get above the amount limited by the benefit cap

  • you鈥檝e been overpaid benefits in the past

  • you owe money for Council Tax, court fines, electricity, gas, water or Child Maintenance

  • you pay your gas or electricity bill directly from your Universal Credit payment

  • you have a paid job

  • you have other income 鈥� for example, money from pensions or certain other benefits

  • you have more than 拢6,000 in money, savings and investments

If you have over 拢6,000 in money, savings and investments, your payment will be reduced by 拢4.35 for every 拢250 you have between 拢6,000 and 拢16,000. Another 拢4.35 is taken off for any remaining amount that is not a complete 拢250.

Find out more about money taken off your Universal Credit payment.

Benefits that affect how much Universal Credit you get

You can get Universal Credit at the same time as other benefits. Your Universal Credit payment will be reduced by an amount equal to the other benefit鈥檚 payment. This applies when you get Universal Credit and any of the following benefits:

  • Armed Forces Pensions
  • Carer鈥檚 Allowance
  • Carer Support Payment (Scotland)
  • Incapacity Benefit
  • Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit (excluding any increases where constant attendance is needed and for exceptionally severe disablement)
  • Maternity Allowance
  • New Style Employment and Support Allowance
  • New Style Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance
  • Severe Disablement Allowance
  • State Pension
  • Widowed Mother鈥檚 Allowance
  • Widowed Parent鈥檚 Allowance

Moving to Universal Credit from other benefits

If you鈥檝e applied for Universal Credit, you鈥檒l keep getting your current benefit paid for 2 more weeks. You must still be eligible for your current benefit.

This only applies if you鈥檙e getting:

  • income-based Jobseeker鈥檚 Allowance

  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance

  • Income Support

  • Housing Benefit

You will not need to pay back the extra payments and they will not affect the Universal Credit you might get.

If you鈥檝e received a Migration Notice letter telling you to claim Universal Credit, you might also get a 鈥榯ransitional protection鈥� payment.

Other support you could get

If you receive Universal Credit you may also be able to get other financial support depending on your circumstances.

If your Universal Credit claim is reviewed

Your claim might be reviewed to make sure you鈥檙e getting the right payment and support. Find out more about Universal Credit reviews.

View a printable version of the whole guide

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