Answers · UK 2025/26
How much Universal Credit can I get in 2026/27?
Universal Credit for 2026/27 starts with a standard allowance of around £400 a month for a single person aged 25 or over, or about £628 a month for a couple where one is 25 or over. Extra amounts are added for children, housing, disability and caring, then your earnings reduce the award by 55p for every £1 you earn above any work allowance.
Full answer
Universal Credit is a single monthly payment made up of a standard allowance plus extra elements for your circumstances. For 2026/27 the standard allowance is around £400 a month for a single person aged 25 or over (less if you are under 25), and roughly £628 a month for a couple where at least one is 25 or over. On top of that you may get a child element for each child, a housing element towards rent, a disability or limited capability for work element, and a carer element. Your maximum award is the total of all the elements that apply to you. The amount you actually receive then depends on your income, savings and earnings. If you have savings or capital over £6,000 your award is reduced, and above £16,000 you usually cannot claim at all. Earnings reduce Universal Credit through the taper: for every £1 you earn above your work allowance, your payment drops by 55p. You only get a work allowance if you have children or limited capability for work, in which case some earnings are ignored before the taper applies. Other benefits and certain unearned income can also reduce the award pound for pound. Because the calculation combines several elements with the earnings taper, two households on the same wage can receive very different amounts. Use a benefits calculator and check GOV.UK for the exact current rates, then model how taking on more hours affects your payment.
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This answer is informational only and does not constitute financial, tax or legal advice. Figures are for the 2025/26 UK tax year. See our methodology and sources.